Page 53 of The Naughty List

That fist he has around my heart squeezes tightly.

I panic, looking around for my things.

My thoughts scatter like the sprinkles in the floor last night. I can’t remember what I had when I came here.

Elf outfit. Gingerbread houses. My purse and phone.

I gather up what I can, avoiding where Jonah sits on the edge of his couch facing away from me. Ever since he hung up with Miss Nancy and then told me to leave, he’s been on his phone, speaking sternly to someone.

He hangs up and it rings again. He silences the call only for another one to come through a moment later.

This time he lets it ring. Once, twice, a third time, while he stares at it.

He looks ten years older when he finally glances over at me.

I stand with my hand on the doorknob, wondering what the next step is. Are we done with one another for good? Does he hate me? Am I fired?

“I’m so sorry, Jonah. I didn’t think.”

He nods curtly. “Neither did I. Goodbye, Hollis.”

With that, I leave.

Carrying my silly elf costume, a bag full of broken gingerbread, and my battered heart with me.

* * *

Mikey and Addidon’t live far from my parents’ house so I stop by there on my way home.

After I beat on the door for five solid minutes, Addi whips it open, standing disheveled in her bathrobe, looking like she just rolled out of bed.

“Jesus, Hollis. You knock like the damn Fire Department.”

I blow into the house past her.

“Addi, who did you tell about last night? I need to know right now.”

She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Feels like I might have. “What are you even talking about?”

“About me helping Jonah out at the group home. Who did you tell?”

Her face scrunches as if she’s smelling something unpleasant. “No one. Your brother got home late. I haven’t even told him. What you do with your boss is your business, Hollis. I learned my lesson after he went all Rocky Balboa at the boutique. I promise I didn’t say anything to anyone.”

“Addi, seriously. Think. Did you talk to anyone or text anyone at all?”

Now she looks annoyed. “Hollis, I love you, but I promise, your life isn’t exactly late breaking news. I know they gossip at the bar, but I don’t.”

I wring my hands, trying to figure out what might’ve happened.

She moves closer to me, her voice softening. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

I glance up, wondering if she can see it—the change in me. I’m different. I can feel it.

Her eyes widen. “You slept with him.”

So she can see it too, then.

“That’s not even the point right now.” I sigh. “The group home we volunteered at last night…” I don’t know what I should or shouldn’t say. The last thing I want to do is make things worse. “Jonah has history there and now some reporter is snooping around, asking personal questions about his past. You know how he likes to stay out of the spotlight.”