Mistletoe Motel

5. Mack

Chapter 5

Mack

M ack leaned back against the headboard, wine glass in hand, trying not to stare too obviously at Holly. They had finished their makeshift dinner and decided to get more comfortable, settling onto the bed with the remaining wine. Holly wore an oversize T-shirt that rode up slightly, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her thigh. Mack found her eyes drawn to it repeatedly, each time forcing herself to look away.

“So, Holly,” began, swirling the wine in her glass, “have you always lived in Minneapolis?”

“Pretty much, other than college. How about you?”

“Same, though I was born in South Korea. I was adopted as a baby by my parents here in the States. They’re Minnesotans through and through.”

“Oh? You’re adopted?” Mack wasn’t sure why that surprised her. Maybe because she’d never met anyone who was adopted. “How was that, growing up?”

Holly tilted her head from side to side, her expression turning thoughtful. “It was tough at times. I always felt different, you know? I stood out, and kids can be cruel. There were times I wished I looked more like my parents or the other kids at school.” She paused, reaching for a pretzel.

Mack watched as Holly dunked the pretzel in her wine before eating it.

“And then realizing I was gay on top of that,” Holly continued, “it was a lot to process. I didn’t want to be different in yet another way.”

Mack felt a pang of empathy. “That must have been really hard. How did you finally come to terms with it?”

Holly shrugged. “Time, I guess. And meeting other queer people who helped me see that being different wasn’t a bad thing. It’s still a journey, but I’m getting there.”

“And your parents? You mentioned they’re quite religious?”

“Yeah. They’re kind, loving people, but their faith is a big part of their lives. It’s been difficult for them to reconcile their beliefs with who I am. I’m not religious anymore. I decided a long time ago it wasn’t for me, but I still go to church with them sometimes, just to keep them happy. Well, I used to before we fell out, anyway. We’ve spoken on the phone, but I haven’t seen them in almost a year, even though they only live a half-hour drive away from me.”

“Are you nervous?”

“Very,” Holly admitted. “But they’ve taken a step in my direction, so I have to meet them in the middle. It’s up to me now, I guess.” She turned to Mack. “Anyway, enough about me. Tell me more about your family. Your sister who’s about to give birth—do you know if it’s going to be a boy or a girl?”

“No, they’ve decided to keep it a surprise. My sister says there are so few true surprises left in life, she wants to experience this one fully.”

“That’s sweet.” Holly reached for another pretzel, and again, Mack watched as she dunked it in the wine. “Okay, I have to say something.” She pointed to the bag of pretzels. “That’s just weird, what you’re doing.”

“What?”

“Soaking the pretzel in the wine. Who does that?”

“Oh.” Holly laughed. “I’m a dunker. I dunk everything. You should see me with cookies and hot cocoa.”

“Yeah, but that makes sense. Dunking in wine, however…”

“Why?” Holly stared at Mack as if she were the odd one out. “They’re both going to end up in my mouth eventually. I might as well combine them before they enter. You should try it. It’s good.”

“Before they enter,” Mack repeated with an amused smile. “I will have you know I chose that wine carefully. It’s a nice bottle and you’re polluting it with your pretzel crumbs.”

Holly rolled her eyes and held out the bag. “What? You’re a wine snob?”

“Would you be surprised that a woman with brightly colored hair likes good wines?”

Holly took a moment to consider that. “Yes,” she finally said. “I would have never taken you for a wine connoisseur, and I know,” she continued, holding up a hand, “I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Not that I think you look…” She winced and let out a nervous chuckle. “I mean, I think you look great. More than great, just not like the type to…never mind. I’m digging a hole for myself here, so I’ll shut up.”

“Well, I am very much a wine connoisseur.” Mack felt amused as she watched Holly blush. It was cute. Just as cute as the pretzel-dunking, but she was not going to give Holly the satisfaction of telling her that. “This particular bottle,” she said, lifting it, “is a 2018 Chateau Bellevue Bordeaux. It’s a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of black cherry and a hint of oak. Not exactly what you’d expect from a convenience store, right?”

“Uhm…I don’t know.” Holly was clearly clueless.

“Just take my word for it,” Mack said. “It was hidden behind a bunch of cheaper bottles on the top shelf and covered in dust. They must have had it for years.”

“Was it expensive?” Holly asked.

“Not really. Forty dollars for a bottle like this is a bargain, although it hurts me to drink it from a paper cup.”

“Forty dollars seems a lot for a bottle of wine from a convenience store,” Holly said, glancing down into her pretzel-clouded drink. “Paper cups and pretzels. Did I make the hairs on your back rise? I guess I owe you some more money too…”

Mack laughed. “No, this one’s on me and the dunking… It’s cute,” she said before she could stop herself. “I mean, I…” She swallowed hard, cursing herself. Now she was the one stammering.

“You think I’m cute?” Holly joked teasingly, batting her eyelashes.

Mack felt her face grow hot as she fumbled for words. “I mean, not cute like… I didn’t mean… It’s just the pretzel thing is…endearing?” She winced, realizing she was only making it worse.

A smirk played at the corners of Holly’s mouth. “Endearing?”

“No, I mean yes, but…” Mack took a deep breath, deciding to just bite the bullet. “Look, you’re attractive, okay? Like, really attractive. Pretty. Beautiful, even. I’m not blind.” The words tumbled out in a rush, and Mack wanted to hide under the bed.

Holly’s eyes widened slightly, her smirk transforming into a genuine smile. “Oh,” she said softly. “Thank you.”

Mack plowed on, unable to stop her undoubtedly destructive verbal diarrhea. “And it’s not just your looks. You’re smart and funny, and the way you eat pretzels is weirdly captivating, and I know we just met, and this is probably incredibly inappropriate given our situation, but…yeah. You’re cute. In an objective, stating-the-facts kind of way.”

There was a moment of silence as Holly absorbed this clumsy confession, and Mack held her breath, mentally kicking herself for potentially ruining the easy camaraderie they’d developed.

Finally, Holly spoke. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty cute too. In an objective, stating-the-facts kind of way, of course.”

Mack let out the breath she’d been holding. “Oh. Good. I mean, not good, but…you know what I mean.”

Holly laughed, the sound breaking the tension. “We’re quite the pair, aren’t we? Stranded in a motel, sharing a bed, and now awkwardly complimenting each other.”

Mack couldn’t help but join in the laughter. “Yeah, this is definitely not how I expected today to go.”

“Me either,” Holly agreed, reaching for another pretzel. She held it up, a mischievous glint in her eye. “So, wine snob, want to try my ‘endearing’ pretzel-dunking technique?”

Mack pretended to consider it seriously. “Well, I suppose in the spirit of new experiences…” She took the pretzel from Holly, their fingers brushing lightly in the exchange. Mack tried to ignore the little jolt that ran through her at the contact. She dipped the pretzel into her wine, eyeing it dubiously before popping it into her mouth. Chewing thoughtfully for a moment, she finally nodded. “Okay, I hate to admit it, but that’s not half bad.”

“See? I told you.” Holly smirked mischievously. “Sometimes the best combinations are the unexpected.”