Page 49 of Mister Curb Appeal
“I’m going to get back to some serious hot chocolate making,” I tell the both of them. “Then we resurrect the tree, how does that sound?”
Meg slings an arm around my mom casually, the pom-pom on the end of the red sequined santa hat bobbles around. “We get it, butter us up with hot chocolate and cookies so we’ll partake in turning your house into a Christmas grotto? Bring it on!”
“I’ll drink to that,” Mom chimes as they both laugh and I shake my head, walking to the kitchen to get the treats ready.
“Can I have extra marshmallows in mine?” Meg coos after me.
It’s become a bit of a tradition every year, and I’m so lucky to have such a great mom and a best friend like Megs, they always have my back. Even if they jibe me about my love of too many Christmas decorations. I always say there’s worse things you could be doing than buying more tinsel and putting up mistletoe.
My phone pings as I’m frothing the milk and humming a Christmas jingle to myself, all the while wondering if Mom is going to come with me to meet Josh’s family at Christmas. It’s usually just the two of us and a couple of family friends, so this year is going to be a lot like stepping out of our comfort zones having the Lucas family in the picture. But it’s a good kind of new, the kind I’ve been vying for and hoped I’d have one day.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I could see my future with him, a wedding, kids and the works. It makes my heart flutter every time and I feel it deep into my bones.
The way he looks after me and makes me feel safe and loved, it’s more than I ever knew possible. He really is the most decent man I’ve ever met, and I’m so glad his family is on board.
I glance down at my cell, expecting to see a sexy message from Josh because we’ve been teasing each other for most of the day.
His last message read:
Josh
Bring the tinsel baby, wrap yourself up in it
To my reply:
Me
Yes and that’s all I’ll be wearing
But I’m surprised to see an unknown number flash up on the screen.
Unknown
Lex, we need to talk
My heart immediately hammers in my chest. Clearly, someone has my number and I don’t have theirs. It’s definitely not my ex, I mean, unless he changed his number?
Curiosity gets the better of me, so I type back.
Me
Who is this?
I set my phone on the counter while I prepare the mugs and grab the marshmallows and the drinking chocolate out. I see the gray bubble appear as I look down while I work. The person typing back.
Unknown
It’s me. Julia
Oh god no. My heart rate thunders at an alarming rate at the sight of her name, my pulse skyrocketing.
It’s my ex-best friend that cheated with Rick. Of all the freaking nerve! She wants to talk to me now? The time for talking was last year when they both pulled the rug out from under me.
Rick has made several attempts to contact me since the incident, one not so long ago, but I always ignore him. What could there be to say?
I don’t even know if they’re still together. And I don’t care.
Me
