Stuck With My Christmas Crush (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Charlie

T he bed is super comfy, although it dips in the middle the way old beds do. I’m snuggled under a heap of blankets still wearing all Jason’s clothes as it’s a good bit colder in the bedroom than the living room.

And Jason. I could tell that he didn’t really want me to stay in his house tonight. But he has a good heart underneath that gruff, tough exterior. He’s not used to sharing. Anything. At all. Ever. He’s used to having his own space without a glittery entertainer messing up the place. But I think, as we are stuck together in this predicament, he is resigned to the fact that he just has to put up with me. And I’ll just try and be useful, and not get in his way.

It’s a good thing I have Rocko to cuddle. At least the dog seems to like me.

And so, with thoughts of firelight, my feet all toasty under a big furry dog, and Jason’s handsome face, all brooding and complex, my snooze turns into sleep. My final image is of Jason’s eyes meeting mine in the soft orange glow. They seem to plead, leave me alone , but then, there’s something else that says, I’m not as tough as I make out. Please don’t hurt me . The candlelight showed something sad in his eyes. His tough rugged bone structure was sculpted beautifully in soft amber. When he turned toward me, I could tell there were a million thoughts that wanted to crash out, but he slowly shook his head and looked away. I guess there are some things he can’t let go of yet. At least not with me.

I drift off to sleep to the sounds of the storm outside. I’m so grateful to be here. Safe. Warm. My situation could have been so much worse. I don’t even want to think about that.

I’m not sure how long I slept but suddenly I’m awake. Eyes wide and all my senses on high alert. For a second, I don’t know where I am, and it takes a couple of beats before the drama of the previous day allows me to make sense of my shadowy surroundings. The storm is still thrashing around and whistling about the house. But it’s not these sounds that wake me.

In the darkness, I poke my head over the blankets and peer at the door. Even in the pitch black, I can make out the shape of the doorframe and detect motion as the door slowly swings open. I hold my breath for a moment and listen as footsteps approach the bed. There’s someone in my room, breathing heavily with raspy inhalations.

“Jason?” I call out pretending to be brave. “Is that you?”

I pull the blankets up over my head as if they have the power to shield me from the maleficent presence close to my face. Then, I shake off my bleariness and suddenly remember where I am.

“Rocko. You devil,” I say, laughing at myself and how my imagination had run away in my semi-sleepy befuddled brain.

Rocko’s nose snuffles my face across the pillow. Then I hear him lick his chops before he bounds up, uninvited, onto the bed beside me.

“Well, hello fella. I’m not sure you’re supposed to be in here.” I pat the big dog’s head.

At that moment, there’s a knock on the open bedroom door .

“Oh, sorry about Rocko,” Jason says from the doorway. “He thinks it’s bedtime and, um, this is where he usually sleeps. I hope he didn’t scare you.”

I reach out for the Zippo, flick a flame, and light the candle. I squint to focus in the dim wavering glow.

“I was asleep and then, you know how your mind plays tricks on you when you’re not fully conscious.” I laugh. “I thought it was you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Heavy breathing. Bad smell.”

“Oh. Thanks.” There’s a moment before Jason says, “Come on, Rocko. We’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”

Rocko lifts his head and looks at Jason as if he’s a stranger who hasn’t yet been introduced. Then, he lowers his head back to the comfy spot next to me on the blanket with a luxuriant sigh.

“Gosh. He’s so perfectly well trained, isn’t he?”

“I’ll try that again,” says Jason. He claps his hands and whistles. “Rocko. Hey buddy. Let’s go. Quick… Now would be good. Alright. All in your own time.” The dog doesn’t move. Rocko has closed his eyes as if to block out the annoyance of a person trying to tell him what to do. “When you’re ready. Okay… one, two, three… Go!”

This performance is hilarious. I’m trying to suppress giggles, but they bubble out of my mouth and cause the bed to wobble. Jason reaches for Rocko’s collar and tries to lead him off the bed.

“You are in so much trouble and if there wasn’t a storm, I’d throw you out right now,” Jason says to his beloved hound. Then he turns to me and says, “He’s not usually like this. I think he’s showing off to get attention.”

“Look. If he wants to sleep on the bed, you know, that’s fine with me,” I smile up at Jason who sits down and ruffles Rocko’s ears. “I mean, who’s to say that he won’t try it again, right?”

“That’s true. He’s smart and he knows how to open doors. I mean, short of taking off the door handles, what else can I do? He can let himself in any time.”

Rocko lifts his head again as if he’s telling us off for making too much noise.

“Come on, buddy. Time’s up,” Jason says more direct and firmer this time.

Rocko thinks for a bit then heaves his bulk up to a standing position, gives himself a quick shake, then hops off the bed and out of the bedroom.

“Good boy… eventually,” I say smiling at Jason.

“I’ll put a chair in front of the door,” Jason says standing to leave. “That should keep him out.”

“Alright.” I sit up and hug my knees up to my chest. “Are you going to be okay on the couch? ”

“Yep. I’ll be fine.” Jason moves toward the door. “I’ll try to persuade Rocko to sleep on the floor.” He laughs. “I’m not sure how successful that’s going to be.” Jason pauses in the doorway and prepares to pull the door shut behind him. “Let’s see if we can get some sleep now.”

“Yeah. Goodnight Jason.”

“Goodnight, Charlie.”

I blow out the candle and wriggle back down under the blankets listening to the storm but thinking about Jason.