Stuck With My Christmas Crush (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Charlie

“ L isten, Charlie. I’ve been trying to call you,” Lou’s voice is strained and high-pitched on the line. “On your phone and that other number. The hotel guy. What’s his name?”

“Jason.”

“Yes. Jason. Anyway. So, Charlie. I can’t come for you. I’m so sorry.” She’s trying to keep anxiety in check. “Emergency services are telling everyone, do not drive anywhere . ”

“I know. I heard it on the radio. It’s pretty bad.” The wind is howling outside and I’m still in shock at the idea that I could be out there, stuck at the side of the road in my broken car; or walking to the highway in my impractical outfit; or frozen solid like a popsicle. I shiver, although I’m toasty warm, with my feet tucked under me, on the couch.

“They’re telling people to stay put. Don’t go out. It’s a blizzard. Code R.E.D.” There’s a brief pause then she says, “Are you okay? Are you safe?”

“Reasonably.” I hear the shower turn on in the bathroom.

“What does that mean? Reasonably.”

“I’m just joking. I’m fine. Gosh. Actually, I’m more than fine.” I snuggle into the warm cozy couch beside the roaring wood stove.

“I don’t think this is the time for jokes, Charlie. I’m really worried.”

“Don’t be. I’ve been rescued.”

“What? Where are you?”

“You know that birthday party we did in the summertime. August, I think. Isabel was the little girl’s name. In the big house near the golf course.”

“Yes. But…”

“You know when we left, there was that drop-dead-gorgeous dad who turned up as we were leaving. Looked a bit like Chris Hemsworth mixed with Austin Butler. Kind of moody; sexy; brooding.”

“Oh yes. Who could forget him?” Lou’s voice relaxes into her usual tone. “Although I thought he was more like a young Harrison Ford. Or, or, or, who’s that guy in the TV show Lucifer ?”

“Oh no. Not that guy. Too smooth.”

“But handsome.”

“Definitely handsome. But Jason is more like Chris Pratt in the Jurassics . All rugged and capable.”

“Yeah. I see what you mean there. Anyway. We’re off-topic. The dad at Isabel’s party? What about him?”

“Well, he’s not a dad.”

“Charlie. What are you talking about? You’ve lost me. And why are you talking about a guy we saw at a kid’s party months ago?” Lou shows signs of exasperation.

My voice drops to a hiss. “Because I’m in his house.”

“What?”

“Lou. He’s Jason, the hotel guy. I borrowed his phone to call you when mine was too wet to plug in.”

“Okay. Go on.”

“He, Jason, rescued me. He tried to jump-start Bertie, then when that didn’t work, he towed me back to the hotel. And I thought, oh great, I’ll just check into a room at the hotel, because, you know, it’s a hotel. But it’s closed. ”

“Oh, no.”

“But, it’s alright, because Jason owns the hotel.”

“Yay. So, he can let you in and you can stay in a room?”

“Well, no. Because it’s shut and there’s no one there. Like no one.”

“So, if you’re not in the hotel, then where are you?”

“In the gatehouse, where Jason lives with Rocko, his dog, which is tiny. The house, not the dog. Rocko is enormous. One bedroom, a lounge, a kitchen, and a bathroom.” I breathe and listen as the shower turns off. “Lou. I think I’m in love.”

“Are you really?”

“Yes.”

“But Charlie. Look. I don’t want to catastrophize, but maybe he’s an ax murderer.”

“He’s not.”

“How can you be so sure?” Lou’s voice is panicky again. “Wait there. I’m coming to get you, right now.”

“No. Lou. You can’t. Roads are closed and we’ve been told to stay put, remember?”

“Yeah. I know. But I’m scared for you.”

“Lou. I’m okay.” I can see how my situation looks from the outside. If it was Lou in my spot right now, I would want to come get her too. “Listen. I wasn’t convinced, because you hear this sort of thing on… What’s that TV show, Don’t Be a Dumbass , something like that. And I’ve seen Psycho . I know what happens. But I spoke to his sister.” Rocko ambles over, climbs up onto the couch beside me, and rests his big old head on my lap. “Lou. He’s about the nicest person ever. Okay, so he’s given me a lecture about road safety and what to pack to get yourself out of trouble on a trip. And he’s a bit judgy about fairies and Christmas and whatnot. But that’s because he’s never been to Coachella.”

“The hot guy from the party, huh? Wow. You’re going to be snowed in with him?”

“Yes.”

“Charlie.”

“Yes?”

“Be careful.”

“I am. And Rocko is a very cool dog. He is really big. About the biggest dog I’ve ever seen. But I think he likes me.”

“Charlie. I’m so pleased you’re safe. Thanks for calling me back. I was out of my mind with worry.” There’s a pause and I hear Lou talk with someone. “Calvin says hi. And if anything happens… Gosh. We’re both going to come out there and…”

“Alright. I got to go.” Jason opens the bathroom door and closes it behind him. “Lou. I love you. ”

“You too. Muah!”

Jason pauses in the living room doorway as he towels his hair. “Lou. Is that your boyfriend?” He smiles then walks through to the bedroom. “I have a bunch of missed calls from him on my phone.”

“No. Lou. Louise. She’s my best buddy,” I say stroking Rocko’s ears as Jason comes into the living room and sits on the wingback chair. “And also, my business partner. Well. There are three of us at Sparkle Entertainers. Lou’s boyfriend, Calvin, is the third partner. He’s a wizard.”

The storm has fully set in and rages outside. Jason relaxes back and appraises me across the room.

“A wizard, huh?”

“Yes.” I sit up tall. “I can sense that you’re skeptical about the world of magic and wizardry, but I can assure you it is very much alive and real… in certain realms.”

“Realms, huh?”

“I think you may have been deprived as a child and missed out on a little fairy magic.” I tuck my feet under Rocko’s warm furry body.

“You could be right.” Jason carefully opens the stove door with the tongs and tosses in a log. Then he settles back into the chair. “It’s going to be a long night.” Jason sighs. “We don’t have TV, so, please, tell me how you got to be a fairy. Is it a calling, like being a doctor or a teacher? Did you get picked out from a lineup? How does it work, Charlie? Enlighten me. Please do.”

“I’m not sure that you are in the right frame of mind to be enlightened.”

“Oh yeah?”

“You’re very closed off, Jason.”

“I am?”

“Uh-huh. If I’m going to share my fairy journey with you, I need to feel that you are not sitting there belittling me and having a laugh at my expense. We may be snowed in together and I fully appreciate you rescuing me, but if I am purely entertainment for you, I will need to charge by the hour.”

“Oh. Alright then.”

“If, however, you are genuinely interested in me, what I do, and my passion. Then, that is different.”

“Got it.”

“Are you sure?”

Jason laughs. “Yes. Charlie... And you’re right. I approached the getting-to-know-you conversation in the wrong way. I apologize. Should we start over, do you think?”

“Yes. That’s a good idea. How about you leave the room and come in again.”

“You want me to leave the room and come in again? ”

“That’s right. But with a better attitude.”

“A better attitude?”

“Exactly. If you go out there...” I nod toward the bedroom. “... give yourself a shake, you know, to shake off your negativity, then come back in, and we’ll start over.”

Jason stands and walks out to the corridor. After a beat, he comes back and sits down on the chair again. He’s smiling.

“I can’t quite believe that I just did that.”

“But do you feel less negative?”

“I’m going to say yes to that, Charlie.” Jason settles back into the chair. “So, you’re a professional fairy. That’s unusual. I’ve never met a fairy before. Tell me. How did you get into it?”

“Well, Jason. Thanks for asking. When I was at design school, my friend, Lou, dressed up as a fairy for her niece’s birthday party. She did such a good job that all the parents who were there, booked her to entertain at their kids’ parties. Maybe you don’t know, but parents talk, and word gets around. Pretty soon, she was getting booked out left and right. And she asked me if I wanted to join in with some of the parties. So, I had this fun side hustle that was paying for my studies, and one day, I said to Lou, why don’t we make this our business? We did the math and made a website. That’s when Lou met Calvin. And we started booking other entertainers and branched out into festivals and parades and even corporate events. Sky’s the limit. I’m mostly doing admin and marketing now, but the run-up to Christmas is our super busy time, so I’ll pull on my wings and get the glitter out.”

“I had no idea.”

“Yeah. We are doing very well. And overall customer satisfaction feedback is a four-point-eight, out of five, average.”

“Well, that is interesting.”

“Thanks. I think so.”

“And you didn’t finish your design degree?”

“No… But I could. If I wanted to.” We’re quiet for a few minutes both watching the firelight. “And what about you?”

“Oh, I never had wings. Or glitter.” Jason stretches out his legs.

“I think you would look good with a little sparkle here and there.”

Jason looks at me and laughs. “Oh, man. Maddie would love that. She’s always trying to get me to dress up.”

“And you don’t? Dress up, I mean.” I smile at Jason who shakes his head .

Jason sighs as if he’s trying to picture himself in wings and glitter. “I suppose we should allocate sleeping quarters.”

“Jason.”

“Yes.”

“Were you in the military?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“Allocate sleeping quarters.”

Jason smiles. “I forget, sometimes, that I’m not in uniform anymore.” Jason stares at an unfocused point on the far wall.

“So, you quit?” I blurt out. I’m intrigued. I want to know all about my enigmatic, handsome host.

“Did I quit?” Jason says slowly. Then he follows with an upbeat, “No. I served out my contract and now I’m a respectable, upstanding, tax-paying civilian.”

“With a hotel.”

“Ah yes.” Jason sighs. “It’s temporary. I’m getting it ready for sale.”

“You want to sell it?” I’m incredulous.

“Look. It was an inheritance from a distant relative who I never even met.” He glances at the ceiling. “I know what you’re thinking. How nice to get gifted a hotel. But it’s actually costing me and…” He reaches his hands above his head and clasps his fingers together. “I just want rid of it. But nothing is happening before Christmas. All sales agents and lawyers are closed up for the holidays. So, here I am. With a hotel I don’t want, for six weeks, at least.”

“Oh. That seems…”

“What?”

“Oh no. It’s not my business to say.”

“I know what you’re going to say. Because I had the same conversation with Meredith. Why don’t I find out about the people who owned it? Why don’t I take an interest in the history of the place? I could do something amazing. Bring it back to life.” Jason snorts a laugh. “I’ve heard it all.” He drums his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I’m just not… I’m not that person.”

“So, you’re going to sell it and… What happens after that?”

“Man, you’re nosy.”

“Sorry. Yes, I am.” My hand reaches down to Rocko’s head. “But, you know, we have all night. There’s no TV. So, we can talk about all sorts of things. Dreams. Wishes. Ideas. Whatever you want.” I shrug. “We can even make up stories. Doesn’t have to be real or serious…”

Jason smirks across at me. I get the sense that there’s something stopping him from just relaxing. He’s so uptight. If we weren’t snowed in together, would I be so intrigued? If he wasn’t so attractive, would I be bothered trying to get through his obvious barriers?

“So, who were they, these people who built the hotel and lived here?” I ask gently.

“A great aunt on my father’s side. Great Aunt Alice. That’s her in the photo there.” Jason points to a framed black and white picture of a young woman in an elegant evening gown, possibly taken in the fifties. She is styled like a Hollywood actress: Ava Gardner or Ingrid Bergman. High cheekbones. Harsh dark makeup.

“She’s gorgeous. Was she famous?”

“I don’t know.”

“And you don’t want to know?”

“That’s right.”

“Well. I want to know.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jason laughs and our eyes meet in the warm cozy room. He holds my gaze for a brief moment of connection, then I sense his defensive walls again. His look says, leave me alone. But then. There’s something else. Something softer, more vulnerable behind the tough manly exterior. I’m the first to look away.

“So, how come you called your dog Rocko?” I feel the need to lighten the mood .

“I had a roommate like Rocko one time. Lenny. A big old friendly, ridiculously generous guy with absolutely no sense of personal space. He was a dead ringer for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. And when I called him out on his stuff that he’d leave all over the place, on the floors or furniture, I swear, he’d look at me with the same expression as Rocko – mildly surprised and a little bit hurt, but ever so apologetic.”

We’re quiet for little while, then I say, “Jason. I’m pretty tired after all the drama today. So, um, I was wondering about the sleeping arrangements.”

“Of course. Yes. Sleeping arrangements. Well. You have my room. And I’ll grab the couch with Rocko.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind sleeping on the couch. It looks comfy and…”

“No. Please. You’re my guest. I’d feel better if you had my room.”

“Well. In that case. Thank you. Again. For everything.”

Jason shows me to the tiny bedroom. It’s only just big enough for the double bed and a set of drawers.

“The sheets were clean yesterday. I don’t have another set, sorry.”

“That’s okay. It’s five hundred percent better, a thousand percent better than sleeping in my car. ”

Jason steps past me to the set of drawers, pulls open the top drawer, and takes out a freshen-up pack with a fancy monogrammed logo on the side.

“I have a bunch of these. From the hotel,” he says as he hands me the zip-up toiletries bag. “There’s a toothbrush, toothpaste, some other lotions and stuff you might want. “I keep them handy, just in case.”

“Just in case a fairy lands in your backyard.”

“Something like that. Yes.”

“Goodnight, Charlie. I hope you sleep well.”

As Jason says these words the lights snap off and we’re standing in inky blackness.

“Ooh. What happened?”

“Wait a minute,” he says as he turns on his phone creating a feint eerie blue light that’s only just bright enough to illuminate his face. “The power’s out. It could just be a fuse for this house or perhaps it’s the whole neighborhood. I’ll go check.”

“I’m coming with you,” I say grabbing Jason’s arm and staying close as we walk back into the living room.

Rocko, sensing something’s up has hopped down from the couch and wags his tail, expecting orders.

“Lie down, boy. We’re alright.” Jason pats Rocko’s head reassuringly. “Wait here.” It takes me a moment to realize that he’s talking to me, and not the dog .

“Oh, okay.” I sit obediently on the couch. But then, Jason could have been talking to Rocko who jumps up beside me.

Jason disappears into the kitchen again leaving Rocko and I snuggled together. I wrap my arms around Rocko’s warm, muscular body which instantly soothes and calms me. He leans into me, and I stroke his head. We sit together listening to the sounds of the storm outside that seem amplified by the enveloping darkness, and the additional noises of Jason opening and closing drawers and closets in the kitchen.