Page 25 of Holiday on the Rocks
“Everything taste okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s okay.” For some reason I couldn’t stop nodding.
“Good.”
Still nodding. “Yeah, good.”
“So what’s up with the church stuff?”
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through messages. “Well, Emily’s had two Christmas trees shipped to the church so that’s good.” I looked up. “But I’ll get it, really.”
“You’re going to haul two Christmas trees in, assemble them, put all the lights on, and decorate?”
“Yeah.” Huh, that did not sound fun.
“That seems like a lot for one person.”
“It kinda does.”
“How about I come along and just help you get the trees up, and then I can take off?”
I didn’t want to be near him. I didn’t think I liked not hating him. I needed the hate.
“Levi—”
“I know we’re not friends.”
My eyes shot to him.
He cleared his throat. “I mean, I know how things are. But I want to help you get those big trees into the church. I just can’t sit around here knowing I could lighten the load for you.”
I popped a brow and he flexed.
“Come on.”
Eyeroll. “Fine.”
I looked back at my phone despising the fact that I might’ve been a tiny bit glad he was coming.
“So how do you know Emily?”
“We went to college together. She’s great but is particular about things.” I scrolled on. “Crap, she also wants me to go and cut twenty-five Evergreen branches, approximately fifteen inches in length, and use the ribbon she sent with the Christmas trees and attach a four inch bow to each of them and put at the end of each aisle. Clearly she’s not a control freak, right?”
He tossed a piece of bacon into his mouth. OMG how could he make eating bacon sexy?
He pointed out the large kitchen window. “Easy peasey. We’re surrounded by Evergreen trees.” He rummaged through a drawer and held up a pair of pliers with a pointy tip. “You use these, and I’ll find something in the garage to cut it with. Do you have boots?”
I let out a huff. “Do I have boots? Of course I came to Colorado with boots.”
His hands clapped together. “Meet you outside in five minutes.”
I pulled on my boots realizing this was maybe okay. Yeah, Levi helping with church stuff would be fine. He knows we’d never be friends so I’ll use him for his muscles. Yes, that’s almost hating him again.
I stomped through the snow while digesting my beautiful surroundings. The crisp air filled my lungs as my eyes dance around from the mountains in the distance to the snow covered trees in front of me, and I could think of no prettier place in the world to be.
I soaked in the sound. Or lack of. So different from my apartment in D.C. I’d only lived there for six months after I got an unbelievable job opportunity. I was strong and on my own and achieving my career goals. While I love living in the city with the hustle and bustle, this was a pallet cleanse for my senses. I couldn’t hear a single car or noise at all. It was the sound of silence. (Cue up Disturbed)
But I did miss Chicago where I’d lived since after college and absolutely loved. You might be wondering why I’d moved away from a place that was amazing. Well, it turns out when I date people and start having a serious connection, I sort of cut and run sometimes. Edit: every time.
