Page 15 of Jingle Bell Jilt
Finally, my phone stops ringing. But just like before, a moment later, it dings.
I laugh awkwardly. “I thought I had silenced that.” But my eyes drift over to the screen. The first word I see is a swear word.Nice, Nathan. Then he proceeds to rant about how immature I’m being because he knows I can hear him but I still won’t answer the door.
I’m the immature one? Whatever.
Another text comes through on the heels of the first one. Or the second one? Does it matter? This time there’s an even worse swear word. One he knows I hate. It seems he’s just discovered that I changed the locks on my apartment. Maybe all of Maggie’s advice wasn’t errant.
I don’t need to see Nathan to know he’s mad.
When my phone dings again, I flip it over and look up at Evan. “I’ve decided to stay.”
A look flickers across his face and I don’t know what it means. Had he only offered obligatorily, hoping I’d refuse? “Unless you’ve changed your mind,” I mumble and fiddle with my hair.
He shakes his head. “No. Not at all. I just thought with all that noise on your phone that you might have decided to go home.”
I shake my head, suddenly exhausted by it all. “No. I think it’s best if I stay away for a while.”
He leans back against the counter like he had earlier. I think maybe he thinks it makes him look casual.
It makes me smile because he’s looking anything but casual right now. Maybe we’re both having the same worries. Although I doubt he is worried that I will attack him and ravish him in the dark of night. But then, maybe he is. How am I to know?
“Okay.” He sighs. “Do you want to just stay in the room where you showered?”
Part of me wants to move down to the lower-level bedroom. It’s closer to the front door and exit. But I think he already thinks I might be a bit of a weirdo, so maybe I should just stay in the upstairs room. I nod. “Sounds great.”
“Why don’t you call and cancel the other two rooms you booked? There’s no sense in you moving three times just to end up back here.”
“Oh, yeah. I should do that.”
A knock sounds at the door and he goes to answer it. I pick up my phone and call the first hotel to cancel.
I’m just hanging up with the second hotel when Evan comes back. “Did you have any problems?”
“Nope.” I grin. “Take that, Universe.”
He gives me an odd look.
“The Universe has been telling me this trip was a bad idea every step of the way. I just want it to know I won this battle.” I don’t think my explanation helps matters any. In fact, he looks even more leery.
So I just shrug.
CHAPTERSEVEN
SHAY
We both stare at each other like we aren’t sure what to do now. It feels a little like I just found a roommate on Craig’s List. Is that even still a thing?
“So,” I start. “I’m guessing this isn’t how you planned to spend your Christmas.”
“Yeah, I’m guessing the same goes for you.”
I snort out a laugh. “Not. Even. Close. This was going to be my best Christmas yet. What better way to start a new life together than at Christmas?” I stop talking because thinking about how wrong things have gone, makes my vision a little blurry. I push it all back. “So, what do you usually do at Christmas? I notice you don’t have any Christmas decorations up.”
He glances around the room. “Nope. I’m not normally here for Christmas. I’m usually in New Hampshire with my family.”
“Oh? That’s really cool that you can take time off. I would think that the vacation rental is really busy at this time of year.”
His lips twitch. “Yeah, I have a really cool boss.”
