Page 15 of Playful Kris

Still avoiding talking to me?

I’m not doing much today, thanks for asking.

What are you wearing to the wedding? We should match.

I sigh. I’m so not ready for the energy that I will have to exert to spend an entire weekend with Kris. I’ve already requested that Thursday and Friday off, Kris apparently wants to drive up Thursday so he can spend time with his brother during the day Friday, and won’t be as rushed from our seven hour car ride.

I’ve told him multiple times that I’m capable of getting myself to Gatlinburg alone, but he insists I ride with him. Something about it would make him look bad, then he proceeded to blackmail me into riding with him.

Which is honestly probably the better option, considering I still don’t have a car and I wouldn’t want to leave Cora stranded all weekend long without hers.

Me

I’m working today, and I don’t know. I haven’t thought much about the wedding.

His response is nearly immediate, like he had his phone in his hand waiting on my response.

Kris

Well, I need to know. I forgot you had that event today, what time does it end?

Me

It runs all night, until like midnight I think. And why the hell do you need to know what I’m wearing?

Kris

Purely selfish reasons, of course.

I roll my eyes before firing off another text.

Me

I don’t know what I’m wearing.

Cora and I volunteered to work the later shift since most of our coworkers have kids or grandkids to take trick or treating too. Besides, it gave us the chance to sleep in this morning and we didn’t have to be here until one o’clock today.

Kris

Oh, surprise me! That’s more fun. Talk later.

I frown at his text. It’s not his normal tone or verbiage. Considering he’s been blowing me up every day, and his texts from forty minutes ago prove just how manic he has been in the digital world since our agreement was finalized.

Sitting my phone back down, I cover it with my jacket that I brought for tonight. Hopefully that’ll keep Cora’s ass from snooping anymore.

Hours go by as we work the information booth, visiting with everyone that comes in. The sun is finally setting, and we’ve been given the okay to break down our table and move on. All the volunteers today are wearing matching neon colored shirts. That way, if anyone needs help, it’s easy to spot us and tell us apart from those just attending today.

I’ve been assigned to help work the firefighters haunted house tonight, which should be kicking off in about twenty minutes. Cora and I work quickly to get everything packed away before heading that direction.

She’s not at the haunted house, but she’s just a little ways over working the hot chocolate stand. All the money for it goes to the local children’s home. Fifty cents a cup doesn’t seem like much, but when you’ve had hundreds of customers, it’ll help more than we realize.

“Hi,” a deep voice says from behind me as I make my way down the street to my destination.

I freeze. I know that voice, and so help me God.

I slowly turn around, coming face to face with the man I haven’t seen in years.

“Kris.” I almost laugh because his name comes out all whisper-like.

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