Stuck With My Christmas Crush (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Jason

B ack on the couch, I’m not sleepy at all. Rocko has jumped up beside me and is turning around in circles before curling up to snooze again. I reach over to the stove, pick up the tongs and open the door, then toss in a couple of logs. Sparks rush around in a flurry when I poke the orange embers.

There’s something deeply satisfying about poking a fire. Maybe that’s what cavemen did. Sometimes I feel like a caveman, sitting in his cave with his big old obedient hunting dog. Except that, my big old dog is far from obedient. And tonight, he showed up my lack of dog skills, alright. But I wasn’t really trying, and he knew it. Good boy.

The newly stoked fire burns brightly, and I’m cheered by the warmth. Is it just the fire? Or is it my house guest that has placed a contented glow somewhere in my chest. And just now, I didn’t want to leave her. Not that I wanted anything to happen physically at all. Not that she isn’t cute and attractive and…

I reach out and pat Rocko.

“You feel it too, huh?” I say to my doggie best friend.

Since Charlie entered my space, I just want to be around her. My attention switches to a sprinkle of pink glitter that’s sparkling on the back of my hand.

“Has she put a spell on me, bud?”

My gaze turns to the fire again and think about the following day. Maybe the storm will blow itself out tonight, and I’ll get Charlie’s car going. Or I’ll tow her to her house. Or maybe the storm will keep going and we’ll be here, stuck together, for a week or more. How do I feel about that scenario? Pretty good, as it happens. I don’t think that would be a bad thing at all.

“What do you think, Rocko? Would you be happy if Charlie stayed for a few days more?” Rocko is snoring happily. “Yep. Thought so. You like her. I can tell.” I watch the flames consume the firewood. “Me too.”

“Awww. It’s so cool how you talk to Rocko. I’m sure he understands everything you say. He’s a very smart dog.”

I swing around to face Charlie. She’s standing in the doorway wrapped in a blanket. Did she overhear me say out loud how I feel about her? I don’t want her to know. I’m embarrassed and annoyed.

“Do you always sneak up on people?” I say, gruffly, hoping she’ll just go back to bed and leave me alone.

“Not sneaking. No.” Charlie shuffles into the room. “I’m going to get a glass of water. Do you want one?” She dumps the blanket on the couch.

“Sure. Thanks.” I clench my jaw but resume politeness. “That would be good.”

Charlie disappears into the kitchen and soon reemerges with a glass of water in each hand. She walks over to me and gives me one of the glasses.

“Thanks.”

She sits next to Rocko on the couch and pulls up her feet, like she did earlier, then fixes me with her twinkly blue eyes. “I like you too, by the way.”

I’m still embarrassed and defensive. “You don’t even know me. ”

“Alright. I like what I know so far. And besides. Yesterday wasn’t the first time I’d seen you.”

“No? Sorry. Have we met before?” I set my expression to what I hope is ‘mild surprise’ and cross my fingers that my face doesn’t betray me. I’m doing my best to protect myself. I don’t want to admit to seeing Charlie before. That would give too much away. And I can’t allow that. “I’m sure I would’ve remembered a fairy covered in pink glitter.”

“Well, we didn’t actually meet. But, I was an entertainer at Maddie’s friend’s party. Isabel, I think her name is… Does that ring any bells?”

“Tinkerbells?”

“Ha! You’re so funny.”

“Yes. Maddie reminded me.” I sigh and look into the fire to hide my lie. “She told me when we saw you stranded at the side of the road. She said, ‘Hey, there’s Charlie the fairy.’ Or something like that. But I don’t remember seeing you at the party. I think I got there at the end. I was on uncle duty and stopped by to pick Maddie up.”

“So. Yes. I have to admit that I was driving away with Lou, my friend, as you pulled up. And she mentioned something about your nice… car. Yes. That’s what she mentioned.”

“My nice car, huh? ”

“Yes. And I looked over and saw you get out of your nice car.” Charlie smiles awkwardly. “I know how lame that sounds.” She laughs. “But I just wanted to let you know that it’s because of Maddie that I feel comfortable here.”

“Okay.”

“I mean, you get a green light because you’re a caring uncle and owner of a massive smelly dog.”

“I had no idea the kudos attached to small children and large smelly dogs.”

“Oh yes. You might have a glowing resume, but it means nothing but a string of words on a page. If I see how you are with kids and animals, well, that speaks volumes about who you really are. As a person who can be trusted… or not.” She fixes me with an impish grin.

Charlie sits quietly for a while stroking Rocko. She sips her water. The fire crackles happily and we’re quiet for a moment. In fact, everything is quiet.

“Hey,” says Charlie. “The storm. Listen. I think it’s gone. For now, at least.”

“I think you’re right. Let’s hope so.”

I drink some water, then put my glass down on the table beside me. Then I move down to the floor, stretch out my legs, and relax my back against the couch. Rocko snores peacefully.

I must have dozed off because when I wake up, it’s morning. I’m covered with a jacket on the floor in front of the fire. Charlie is curled up under a blanket on the couch. And Rocko is nowhere to be seen. But I think I can guess where he is.

I open the stove and, quietly as possible, I place a couple of logs on the glowing embers, then close the door which squeaks on its hinges. The logs take a minute before they burst into flame. I watch with satisfaction as they begin to roar.

Charlie stirs but I don’t think I woke her. I stand and walk to the bedroom as quietly as possible. And there, sure enough, is Rocko stretched out diagonally on the bed with a ridiculously happy face.

“Good morning, you scallywag.”

Rocko doesn’t move his head but gently beats his tail on the bed cover in response to my greeting.

“Come on. Your bladder must be fit to burst,” I say at the bedroom door.

“Well, yes. You’re right. Excuse me, please.” It’s Charlie. She stops and pokes her head in. “Look at that dog! Someone had a good sleep.” She peers at Rocko and then at me with half-closed eyes, then shimmies past on her way to the bathroom. “Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning. How are you?”

“Sleepy,” Charlie says from behind the closed bathroom door.

I haul Rocko off the bed and usher him to the front door. Luckily it opens inwards without a struggle, and I look out onto a magical wonderland of white sparkling snow. Rocko bounds out and leaps onto clean and even drifts where the driveway used to be. The cars are shapeless white mounds. I listen to the silence that is disturbed by a spatter and splat of dislodged snow that slides from a branch and onto the ground with a final plop. My breath billows and I rub my hands together to warm them.

Rocko is clearly delighted by the winter scene, so I leave him to roam around outside while I find my jacket and boots. The snow looks beautiful but all I see is a day of shoveling.