A Very Reckless Christmas

Maya

"Oh, Charlie, I've missed you," I cried scooping him up. He licked my chin with his scratchy tongue, making my heart melt.

"What about me? Did you miss me?" asked Tasha.

"Yeah, I missed you too," I said without taking my focus away from Charlie. I scratched underneath his chin, making him close his eyes in delight. "How was everything?"

"Everything went great. He was a perfect little angel." As I knew he would be.

Of course, he was. "Did Crystal come over?" I asked with a raised brow.

Nodding, she said, "Yes, she did."

I looked down the hall to make sure Nick wasn't hanging around eavesdropping. Once I was sure he was in our room, I whispered, "Did anything happen?"

"Nothing new," she replied. "Don't worry we didn't have sex on your couch."

"I wasn't the one that was worried about that." But it is good to know we won't have to get the couch cleaned.

"You can assure him that I had a sex-free weekend," she laughed to herself. "And will for the foreseeable future." She toyed with a curl that had come undone from her bun. "We're taking things slow."

"She'll come around," I assured her. Crystal was crazy about her, she just needed some more time to settle into herself.

"She won't be able to resist my everlasting beauty," Tasha exhaled, posing. "I'm what they call irresistible."

"I'm sure they do," I laughed. With her long legs, and curves Tasha had an undeniable beauty.

"I should go," she said, picking up her bags. "There's a Sephora package waiting for me at home."

"Bye." I hugged her all while trying not to squish Charlie in the process. "Text me when you get home, and thanks for house-sitting."

"Anytime," she smiled. "Bye, Nick!" she yelled down the hall.

"Goodbye, Tasha!" He yelled from our room.

"Ugh, he is so fine," she said low enough so only I could hear. "I don't see how you can take it."

"He snores really loud," I said bluntly.

"Oh, yikes."

Once Tasha left, I dropped onto the couch with a deep sigh. As much as I loved living a life of luxury for a few days it was nice to be back home on my used sofa with my cat with no tail. Charlie burrowed his head under my chin.

"You're covered in cat fur," Nick said standing over the two of us.

"I don't care," I muttered laying my head on top of Charlie's in utter bliss."We have plenty of lent rollers."

He sat down next to us. "You know I don't think I could live in the city."

"Me neither," I agreed. "As much as I love Savanah and Mary." And luxury hotel rooms with heated floors, "I could never handle living there." It's too busy and loud, and the people ruin the snow with their dirty boots.

"We're small-town people," he smiled. Leaning over he gave me a kiss on the cheek, "You did a great job driving today, my love."

"Thank you." I don't know why he sounds so surprised, I'm an excellent driver. "But I hate driving your car."

"I knew you did."

"It's so big, I feel like I'm in a spaceship or something. I'm always scared I'm going to crush the other cars on the road."

"I thought you said you were a good driver." Nick scratched the top of Charlie's head, making his chest rumble with purrs.

"I am, but I think I'm better in smaller cars, like mine."

"I'll remember that," he said. "We should go back."

"Maybe during the summer," I suggested. "I'll let you plan that one."

He laughed. "I think that would be for the best." He put his arm around the back of the couch. "Despite, getting sick, I had a great time."

"Me too," I replied. "I can't wait to go more places with you."

"We should go to Colorado next Christmas." He reached for the remote on the coffee table. Turning on the tv, he began searching through Netflix. "There's an Ainsworth Ski Lodge there."

"With a spa," I gasped.

"Probably. I'll call Savannah and ask her about see if she can make reservations for us."

My eyes widened as I thought about being on top of a snow-covered mountain. "I'm going to have to pack so many extra pairs of socks."

He shook his head, while still smiling at me. When Nick smiles it makes me feel warm from my head down to my toes.

"What?" I asked, squirming under his gaze.

"This has been the best Christmas I've ever had."

"Really," I said, disbelieving. "I still hate that I only got you one present."

He pulled me closer to my side. "You are my present."

This is normally the moment where I would melt into tears but I was proud of myself for holding it together. I brushed my nose against his. "Nick Ainsworth you are too charming for words."

"I thought you said I was corny."

"Two things can be true at once." 

The End.