Page 84 of Christmas Bubble

I hear the sound of the ringtone. It rings a few times until someone answers.

“Hello?”

Juju stares at me and mouths, “Is that her?”

I nod as tears start running down my face.

“Who is this? Your name comes up as Bubble, which must be a joke. Either way—”

Juju disconnects the call and wraps her arms around me.

“I fell in love with him, you know?”

“I know, sweetie. You have such a big heart.”

“Why does no one want it?”

She rocks us in a soothing motion while running her hands up and down my back.

“I think it’s time to open that bottle of wine you have in the fridge,” she says.

“And then margaritas.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And rum punches?”

“Whatever you want, babe.”

We collect all the alcohol I own plus what Juju’s bought while she’s been staying with me, and it all goes on the coffee table. I don’t remember going to bed, but that’s where I wake up the following morning.

And because it’s New Year’s Eve, we decide to remain drunk because no one wants to be hungover on New Year’s Eve before the party.

We eat and drink ourselves silly.

Within reason, of course. Juju, the saint she is, makes sure I keep drinking water and eating carbs.

New Year’s Day passes in a flash, and then Juju is gone.

I’m left to patch my wounded heart on my own.

I haven’t heard from Riley since our last call. Although, to be fair, I turned my phone off, so maybe there were calls. I don’t know.

In a moment of weakness, when I know Juju is up in the sky flying back home, I turn it on.

There are some voicemails from Riley, but I can’t bring myself to listen to them.

I’m too scared.

So I keep ignoring them and the new calls that come through.

The day before class starts, there’s an email from the principal asking all teaching and administration staff to come in for a meeting.

I know I’ll see Riley then and consider resigning from my job until Juju’s voice in my head tells me to stop being dramatic.

There’s only one thing to do.

I’m not Bubblelicious for nothing.