The Vacation

Chapter Eighteen

"Ugh. Christ. I just realized. I have to work tomorrow. Dang it, Jess." Marco heaved a sigh from the bed but I was guessing his resignation wasn't directed at me...more like he was taking out his sadness on the closest living thing.

My interest piqued, I sat up on my bed. "You do? Where do you work?" I asked.

"I'm an executive chef. I work Sunday's, Tuesday's, and Wednesday's  at a steakhouse downtown. Mostly I oversee and "coach" younger hires. But when we're swamped I do the cooking because I make good meals fast. I'm the best one there - obviously - but since the place is known for "the helping in furthering the career of people just out of college," well, I often am stuck giving them pointers. It's not really like I care. I have more, you know, interaction with people that way and I'm not eating the food so if it's bad I am not offended or to blame. Win win for me.

"Well, let's get on back to Chez Cararra. There are pancakes waiting for us after all." He finished by standing from his bed and pulling on his shoes.

"Um, that was a really abrupt topic change. But yeah, okay." I answered.

Marco called a cab, who we had drop us at the bar where we left his beautiful white car. Then we drove back to his house. It was actually a short ride, which was good because it was silent. Almost a tense silence but not quite.

Marco pulled the keys off his keychain and unlocked the front door. We walked in, expecting to be the only ones home, when Lindsey came around the corner wearing a baggy shirt - a shirt that looked like a boy shirt - and guy's sweatpants. Her hair was wet and wavy and her face was green. She was singing at the top of her lungs something that went like "Just another LA de-vo-tee!!!!"

I don't think she saw us though, because she didn't even stop walking. She just kept singing and dancing down the hallway.

I saw her do a double take and back up. She took out her earbuds and smiled sheepishly.

"Hey guys. Didn't know you were here. I thought I was alone OMG." She looked from Marco to me and then at our clothes, which were wrinkled and the ones from yesterday. Her left eyebrow raised and, pretending to ignore the fact, said only "there are pancakes left." And walked away.

When she came back, we were chowing down on the most delicious pancakes I had ever eaten. Her face was normal colored again and she had put makeup on.

"So, what did you guys do last night?" She said.

At the exact same time, Marco, with his mouth full, said "I didn't think you would still be here."

So I answered Lindsey's question first. "After you and Ali went to bed, we went to a bar and then next thing I know I wake up in a hotel bathtub not five feet away from Marco's inchworm -"

"HEY!" Marco interrupted, offended.

"- So yeah, that's what we did. Your turn." I finished, ignoring him.

"Okay well, no one was here, so I decided to put my clothes from last night in the wash and then get a shower. I was doing an avocado face mask and listening to Panic! when you walked in."

"Oh. I gotcha." I said. "So what's on the agendas for you guys for the rest of the day?"

"Christmas shopping for that loser and his brother," Lindsey retorted as she stuck out her tongue and pointed to Marco.

"Ooh have fun. The only thing I want for Christmas this year is your ass!" Marco joked. "But seriously though, I'm probably going to go to the London Wanderers football game with my friend Charles since I have season tickets."

"Oh." I replied creatively. "Well then, Lindsey, do you care if I tag along with you? I don't have anything to do today and I don't really want to spend the rest of the day at my apartment being lonely."

***

She said sure, so we first drove to my place to change our clothes and apply makeup since I had a better selection than the various items she had left at the Cararra's over time and I had tons of clothes.

Lindsey chose to wear my light skinny jeans, a purple satin shirt, and wedged booties. I decided on black leather leggings and a transparent black shirt over a black bralette. I completed our looks by giving her a jangly bracelet and myself large hooped earrings.

After she curled her hair and I pulled mine into a tight bun, we grabbed our purses, walked out, and locked the door.

We took the Underground from my apartment complex to the mall in London's shopping district. It took about twenty minutes, including all the various subway stops along the way. When we got out, the mall and all the surrounding streets were dressed with green and silver tinsel and giant artificial red bows. Lindsey made a joke that it was giving her a Slytherin type of vibe. I just nodded but I didn't really know what she was talking about. She probably was nutso.

The first store we walked in was a House of Fraser department store and we immediately got hit with a wall of mixed perfume and colognes.

"I can't really spend a whole lot because all my money goes to my college but you seem like an avid shopper. So can you help me look for some good deals? I'm looking for a bow tie and matching suspenders for Alessio, maybe some cologne for Marco, and I need something to send to each of my siblings and my parents back home. Can you help me with that?"

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Hello my lovely readers!

Wow. It's been a long time. How have you been? Well, I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll try not to do this again. Thank you all so so much for reading and love you all!

Don't forget to vote/comment/share!
Hannah