Monsters Under Mistletoe

5. Brody

Chapter 5

Brody

I ’m not avoiding her. I’m not. I just decide that after my shameful hand job in the shower I need to cool off. Which is why I skip the gym for two days in a row and bury myself in work.

The morning of the Christmas party though, all I can think about is how much I miss Shawna. I blame the loneliness that’s eating at me on the season. It’s the holidays and that makes the cold knot in the pit of my stomach so obvious today. Obviously, there’s no work to do today. There is a skeleton crew on call like there is for every holiday, but nobody’s at the office. None of the shops are really open, except the gym and a handful of take away places.

There’s nothing for me to do but wait around.

Everyone else is spending time with their loved one, with their family. It’s never bothered me to be alone, but now my bed, my house, feels empty. You’re supposed to fill the space you occupy when you move into it. My space is half full. Since I bought it after the divorce, I’ve just left it half complete. It’s decorated nice enough, but when I wander around the place waiting for it to be time to head to the gym’s party, I see all the places I could imagine Shawna - in the kitchen watching me meal prep for us, in the living room snuggled up on the couch watching movies, in the garden sharing a drink after a long day. I want to share my space with her, share more of me with her.

I realise as I’m getting dressed for the party, I want to have domestic bliss with Shawna as much as I want to have feral, passionate sex with her.

Me: Piper.

Piper: Brodrick.

Me: It’s not that serious for one, but for two Merry Christmas

Me: I think I’m going to do something drastic

Piper: Are you finally going to grow the moustache out?

Me: No. I’m going to ask Shawna out

Immediately after the message is read, my phone lights up with an incoming call.

“This is the best gift you have ever given me,” Will announces.

“Second best gift to me,” Piper says.

“Is there anyone else in the room?” I ask, not surprised I’m on speaker phone.

“We’re driving to my mom’s. Julie say hi to Uncle Brody.”

There is a pause between Piper’s command and my godchild’s little voice. “Hi Didi.”

It’s weird and adorable. Piper was pregnant for two years and Julie’s still kind of a baby, but she talks and hobbles around on her hooves like a three or four year old. I never expected to take this role on for my ex-wife’s kid, but it’s kind of nice. I get to watch Julie grow up and make sure she plays all the best video games.

It doesn’t make me want to have kids, but she does give me hope for the future.

“Hi, champ, are you excited for Christmas?” I ask, trying to muster up a bit more cheer than normal.

“Uh-huh,” she mumbles.

“You’re finally pulling your head out of your butt,” Piper says, pulling the conversation back. “So exciting. You should wear that cologne you save for special occasions, and don’t forget to brush your teeth.”

“And wear tight pants,” Will adds.

“You’re both weird, I’m hanging up the phone now. Enjoy Christmas. Julie, make sure you eat all the cookies you can.”