Page 26 of Midnight Ash

Xander:Aww, that's cute.

Ash:What's your favorite Christmas treat?

Xander:Sugar cookies with no icing.

Ash:Wait, what? No icing? Were you dropped as a child?

Xander:I may have been. I don't know, I just like the taste. Plus, without the icing you can dunk them in your hot cocoa.

Ash:Good point.

Xander:What's yours?

Ash:Sugar cookies with ALL the icing.

When I was walkinghome from work earlier, I stopped to look at the Christmas decorations on all the stores. They've been in for weeks, but somehow, I've only noticed them today, which is what started the chain of messages with Ash.

It's also the perfect excuse to find out more about him, and after our last hotdog date, I’m not only thinking about him all the time, I'm craving his company.

We've known each other for almost a month, but we haven't seen each other that much. Why is it I'm so fascinated by him?

My phone dings again, and I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Unfortunately, the message isn't from Ash.

Mark:What time shall I pick you up for the Ellison's Christmas party?

What the hell?

Xander:I'm not sure why you’re under the impression you're picking me up because I'm not going.

Mark:Don't be like that, it'll be a good opportunity for people to see us together.

Xander:I am not looking for anyone to see us together. If anything, I'm looking for the exact opposite.

Mark:I don't understand why you're being so hurtful.

Xander:I don't understand why you're still messaging me. Mark, we've been over for almost a year.

Mark:Please, Xander, we were great together.

Xander:No.

Ugh,I want to kill my parents.

I walk to the kitchen and open the fridge. I need to get some groceries, but thankfully there's still milk, so take it out and get the ingredients I need to make myself a hot cocoa.

While the cocoa heats up on the stovetop, I unlock my phone to send Ash a message, but he beats me to it.

Ash:How early is too early to decorate your Christmas tree? Asking for a friend.

Xander:Is the friend you? You know, you're allowed to do it as early as you want. The first year after I moved out of my parents', I did it in September.

Ash:No way! And no, it's my sisters. They want to do it now. Feels weird though. The Christmas lights in the city aren't even turned on yet.

Xander:...speaking of which, would you like to join me for the turning on of the lights?

Ash:I'd love to, but I promised the girls I'd take them.

Xander:Let me rephrase my question. Can I join you and your sisters for the Christmas lights?