Page 40 of Holiday Hook Up

She picked up an envelope off the register and handed it to Bethany. “Adam’s waiting for me at the Majestic Theater. I found this wedged in my door this morning. Apparently, the wild card date is tonight.”

Bethany wrinkled her nose. “Already?” Usually the wild card date happened after Christmas but before the First Kiss Ball.

Bethany opened the envelope, pulling out the card that held the time and location for said date. They were to meet at the theater for the late showing ofIt’s a Wonderful Life. She handed Rachel back the card. “My favorite holiday movie. You’ll have fun.”

Rachel smiled slyly and twisted her hair into a neat bun, pinning loose strands with a bobby pin. “Want to go in my place again?” she asked, and this time it was her turn to raise her eyebrow.

“I only did that because you were sick. Apparently, you were struck down with the same illness that caused Will to stand up Zoe. Glad to see you both are feeling better and able to do mundane tasks like lift heavy garbage bags and break down boxes.”

Rachel threw her hands up in the air. “Okay, fine. I’m having sex with Will Jenkins and it’s been freakin’ amazing. There. Are you happy?”

Bethany was taken aback by Rachel’s bluntness. In all their years as best friends, Rachel had never been so revealing of her sex life with Adam, and of course, not wanting to knowthosedetails, Bethany never asked. However, she did want to know about Will. “When did this start up?”

“Only this week. The night you got hurt on the ice rink and Adam left me to take you home. So, it’s kind of your fault.”

Bethany gave a sarcastic chuckle. Her friend wasn’t going to pin this on her. “What about Adam?”

“I don’t know. I mean . . . maybe I got a tiny bit carried away thinking we should get back together.”

“A little? Rachel, you wanted him to do the Batter Up spell on you and for his name to show up in your batter. Did you forget that?”

“I know. I know.” She sighed. “I just didn’t feel any of our old sparks. We went out for a beer before the ice skating date and it was so . . .” She paused. “It was so boring. I was really going to try that night, but then when you got hurt and he took you home, I—”

“Turned to Will,” Bethany finished her sentence.

“Yeah. He walked me back to the shop to get my car, and we decided to stroll through the park and check out the lights on the gazebo.”

“And that led to sex?”

“No.” She shook her head, but then nodded. “We went for a drink—that led to sex.” She waved her hand. “But it’s not serious. There’s no way that this thing with Will Jenkins is anything more than a casual fling.” She wiggled her nose. “He’s a grease monkey.”

Bethany cocked her head to the side. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Yes.” She went behind the counter and grabbed her coat. “And please don’t think I’m awful for not going through with my Holiday Hook Ups with Adam. It’s not like I’m going to break his heart. Rumor has it that he made out with some woman before I purchased him anyway, and now he can’t stop talking about her.”

Yeah, he can’t stop talking about making out with his pal that he has zero romantic feelings for.

“So you are going to stand him up?” Bethany asked, looking at the card in Rachel’s hand.

Rachel smiled and handed it back to her. “You guys are friends, and you said it was your favorite movie. I’m sure he’ll have a great time with you.” She glanced over her shoulder out the store window and then rifled in her purse, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. “You could take him a sausage and mushroom pizza from Ralph’s on me. They’re still open.”

Bethany took the invitation and the twenty. Darn right Rachel would be paying for one large pizza half sausage and half mushroom with a few sides of Ralph’s special sauce. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Rachel grabbed her purse and walked over to the door, opening it. “I’ll be fine.”

“And you really are over Adam?” Bethany walked out but didn’t want to leave Rachel until she’d heard the admission once and for all from her friend’s mouth.

“I think so.” She slipped on her gloves. “I know so. We are definitely over, and making him my Holiday Hook Up was a mistake. I realize that now.”

“And do you promise me you’ll be honest with him?” Bethany folded her arms in an attempt to block the cold. “Soon.”

“Yes. I promise I will talk to him. You’ll take my place?” Rachel asked with a noticeable hint of hope in the question.

“Go. Try not to get grease all over your pretty coat.”

“Bethany!” Rachel giggled, said good-bye, and dashed down Main Street in the direction of the auto body shop.

Bethany blew out a cold breath. Wow, she hadn’t seen that coming. Did this prove that Adam hadn’t gotten the spell correctly for Zoe and he was still outing last kisses? Or was Rachel a mere detour on Will’s route to his endgame partner?

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