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“Nah,” I said aloud. “Besides, he’d be silly to fall for me. I’m leaving, and he knows it.”
I told myself we were simply playing a game and nothing more.
“Nothing more,” I mumbled as I jumped into my car, turned over the ignition, and drove home… alone.
LATER THAT NIGHT, once I finally got around to that bubble bath, I couldn’t believe how good it felt to sink into the tub. A mixture of battery-powered candles and real scented candles that Sarah had given me in her present under my tree, along with French soap and liquid bubbles. I’d strategically placed all the candles around the small bathroom and imagined that I was in some sort of luxury hotel, enjoying the plush ambiance after a long day.
And it had been a long day, a very long day and night.
Not only had I skyped with my parents and siblings, but there were a few cousins that contacted me as well. And Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t talk to my two best friends back home. Jenna explained what had happened with the dating app, but for some reason, I didn’t want to tell her about the whole Shannon and Jonathan thing. I didn’t quite know why, but I kept that to myself. I didn’t even tell Layla when she asked about my Christmas Eve.
After all of that, I’d fallen asleep on the sofa for a good three or four hours, until Sarah woke me up and invited me once again to come by. She hated the fact that I was all alone on Christmas, but I assured her that I was fine. I was so not in the mood. Instead, I made Christmas fettuccini and watched one of my favorite movies:The Holidaywith Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet.
It was just going on ten now, and Sarah had sent yet another text to tell me she was spending one more night with Gary and his family. They were in the throes of what seemed like an endless Monopoly game, and no way would she walk when she felt certain she would win this time.
All was right with the world, I thought as I tossed in a double dose of the luxurious bubble bath Sarah had given me and watched as the splashing water produced so many thick bubbles, it was like walking into a cloud.
I shoved my earbuds in my ears, put on a Michael Bublé’s Christmas album, and sank into what had to be one of the most luxurious baths I’d ever taken.
And of course, the first thing I thought about when I finally settled in was Jonathan. What was he doing right now?
Was he getting ready for bed? Or was he already in bed? Was he naked? Was he thinking of me?
Once again, the bold Shannon took over, and I decided to text him.
I’d placed a small round stool next to the tub. It held my phone and a full glass of bubbly pink wine.
I was just about to text him, when, instead, as if he’d heard my thoughts, his text to Shannon came through.
Jonathan:
Hope your Christmas was merry!
“Oh God, so wearestill doing this,” I said aloud, sitting up and pulling one of the earbuds out.
Shannon:
Very. I spent it skyping with friends and family back home. You?
A momentary pause… then:
Jonathan:
My family was all around me. Tired now. Just getting into bed. Thinking about you. You left something here.
Shannon:
My panties
Jonathan:
Did you leave them on purpose?
I didn’t know how to answer, so I hesitated for a moment.
Shannon:
What if I had? Would that turn you on?
