Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
When I return home with the missing ingredients, I set them on the counter in my kitchen and get to work, baking my holiday cookies. I started the project before I saw the hostile yet gorgeous man on the ladder, but then I ran out of butter and brown sugar, so I had to make a trip to the store. It’s my only day off for a few days. Plus, I actually have a date tonight, something I absolutely never do, and I’m almost positive I’m going to regret it.
An hour and a half later, my cookies are baked, racked, and cooled, so I decide to take a small batch over to my neighbor across the street to apologize for startling her boyfriend or whatever he is.
He hasn’t returned, so I rapidly knock on the door, hoping to do a quick apology and hand off.
“Oh, hello. Come on in,” she says as she opens the door, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
Shit, I don’t remember her name. “Carrie, isn’t it?” she says as she continues to stroll into her kitchen. Her house mirrors mine in layout, and the décor is similar except she has green and white with hints of gold. Everything feels woodsy and whimsical here.
“Carrie is a nickname. My name is Caroline,” I answer as I trail after her, waving my tin of cookies.
“Sorry. It’s Chloe, by the way.” She turns around, stopping so quickly that I nearly slam into her.
“I don’t mind being called Carrie at all.” I straighten myself and set the tin on the counter. “So, I don’t know what happened outside earlier, but I just want to apologize for my brother.”
My head tilts slightly as I try to process the words. “Your brother?”
“Yes, that big old beastly man. He’s a little grumpy since he ripped his jacket on the ladder.”
“Oh, no. That’s totally my fault. I’m so sorry. I just thought he was having a problem up there. I was about to call for help, and I accidentally startled him.”
She covers her mouth to stop herself from giggling. “I shouldn’t laugh. That wouldn’t be nice if my brother fell, but startling him is extremely hard to do.”
“No, it wouldn’t be nice if he fell, but he was so upset with me.”
She waves my concern off. “Oh, he’s fine. My brother just does not like the holidays. He particularly hates Christmas.”
“He does?”
“Totally, like the worst holiday ever to him. He’s got the idea that people give gifts to people they don’t care about just to make themselves look good.”
“Oh, wow.” My mouth falls open and closed in slow motion.
“I personally love the holiday; it brings great memories.”
“Me too; I find it comforting. Well, I brought you some cookies that I thought you could enjoy as a peace offering, and I just wanted to apologize again.”
“Thank you. He’s supposed to come back later, so maybe I’ll save him some.” She giggles. “Or not.” We both laugh.
“Honestly, I thought he was your boyfriend.” I bite my lip, waiting to see what she says, and her face instantly contorts into a grin before she flips into hysterics.
“Oh my goodness.” She gasps as she tries to catch her breath. “That’s hysterical. I’m totally telling him you thought that. He’s going to be grossed out.”
I don’t think it’s that funny, but then again, if I was in her shoes, I would crack up too. “My brother would say the same thing if people thought that too.” Immediately I think about my brother, and I’m sad because I miss him. My brother is in the military, so I don’t see him that often. He’s definitely not around for the holidays this year, which is so depressing. He hasn’t even seen my new house that I bought with my first grown-up money.
I check my smart watch, and it’s past time for me to jump in the shower. “Actually, I have a date, so I need to go get ready.”
“Oh, where are you going, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Not at all. It’s that taco place, Julio’s, on Ridge.”
“I love that spot.”
“Me too; that’s why I picked it because at least if the date sucks, the food will be good.”
“Oh, so this is like not like a boyfriend date?”
“Nope some blind date, actually,” I cringe.
“That’s interesting. I tried that one time, and it didn’t go so well.”
“Do they really ever, though?” I ask, even though this was my second attempt at one. No one I’ve ever met has had a good one.
“I have no idea. You know, you should stop by more.”
“I’d like that. By the way—I love your decorations. I thought I loved Christmas, but you could give me a run for my money.”
“I’ll have to check out yours.”
“You should. I have to go,” I say, feeling much better about having stared at her brother like a crazy person.