Page 19 of Holiday on the Rocks
I twirled the cart in a circle. “Is this a weird addiction?”
“No. I want to bake cookies for everyone when they arrive.”
I tossed some butter and it bounced off her shoulder. “Sorry.”
“Ya Ding Dong.”
“I believe Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s, and all Little Debbie snacks would be found in aisle seven. Hold on.”
NINE
ALLIE
TRUCE?
Did I imagine hauling ass down the aisles at the store in the back of a grocery cart would raise my spirits after flying off a cliff and the awful Ski resort experience? No. Was Levi being about the best person I could hope for right now? Appears so. Was laughing with him the thing I’d missed most? A concerned yes.
He stacked Christmas sprinkles, Hershey kisses, and frosting into the cart. Lastly we grabbed candy canes. No particular reason except it felt Christmasy.
I quickly scrolled through my phone which I hadn’t looked at in hours. Messages from Emily about wedding details I never wanted to know, and one from Lexi assuming I’d gone to bed early and wasn’t responding.
“Rachel sent money for me to get a little Christmas tree for the deck. She wants pictures with everyone by the outdoor fireplace. If we bought rope from the hardware aisle, do you think we could tie one from the holiday aisle to your SUV?”
“Oh, hell yes.” He pointed. “We can get decorations here too.”
I bit my lip at his smile which sent a little shock to my heart at 10:17 p.m. at cash register number thirteen.
Now that it was dark, the house looked even more beautiful as we pulled up on the circular drive. The bright moon above highlighted the thick Evergreen trees wrapped in snow and bright white twinkly lights that surrounded the house.
I put the groceries away while Levi got the tree into the tree stand before he put it on the deck.
“It’s late, but I think I’m going to decorate it. You can go to bed.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “Are you kidding? Christmas is my favorite holiday. I’m staying. Besides, you’re too short to get lights or anything even close to the top.” He nodded. “Without me this thing will be all lopsided.”
“I’m not short. I’m just cuteness in a concentrated, easy-to-carry-around container.”
He let out a chuckle. “You know, they say short girls are mean because they’re closer to hell.”
“If you think I’m short, you should see my patience.”
He shrugged. “Okay, I’m picking up what you’re laying down, girl. Now brace yourself, Christmas music is coming.” He hit a button on his phone and Holly Jolly Christmas filled the space. “Can’t decorate without tunes, right?” He grabbed some lights.
“But Christmas songs can be a little crazy.” I bit the sides of my cheeks to try to not smile as he did a weird thrusty dance, but failed.
“Crazy? What the hell are you talking about, Langley?”
“It’s like the endless carousel of Christmas tunes is enough to make me want to set my hair on fire.”
“Well, you sound like a Holiday card written by Gordon Ramsay over there.”
An hour later the tree was twinkling at us like one million diamonds. It was filled with silver, red, and green ornaments and a big light up star sat at the very top.
We reached the stairs. “Well, good night. I guess I’ll be heading to my wing now. If you need me I’m the third room to the right.”
I popped my hands on my hips. “I will not be needing you.”
His chuckle was like a warm blanket. “I mean as a friend, you perv.”
