Page 24 of Not Another Christmas Movie

“We should figure this out,” Annie said. “For research. Think of something sexy,” Annie ordered, staring at his pajama pants for movement.

“Annie—” Nick breathed out in exasperation. Annie got an idea and started taking off her sweater. “What are you doing?” Nick sputtered.

“I’m trying to test things,” Annie said. She lifted her sweater up and something snapped into place around her torso. When she looked down, she could see the sweater back in place. She tried it again, only to get the same results. Nick moved closer.

“It’s like you’re a GIF, your clothes keep looping,” Nick said, marveling.

“You try—take off your pants,” Annie ordered, breathy from her attempts. “Do it!”

Nick, knowing he couldn’t refuse her, unbuttoned his pants. He had unzipped his fly, and Annie brought her head down to his pelvis to get an up-close view. When the pants moved down, they too were immediately replaced and looped back on. She let out a frustrated huff and stood back up.

“Let’s turn our backs and see what happens when we look past our underwear,” Annie said, turning around and unbuttoning her pants. She hadn’t paid attention earlier that morning when she changed, as she had kept on the basic white undergarments. When she looked down at her sweater, she gasped. She thought maybe she was having a seizure. All she could see was a pixelated blur. “No, no, no,” she groaned, trying her pants and getting a similar image.

“It’s censored?!” Nick cried out in surprise, his back to Annie. When he turned to face her, they both looked shell-shocked.

“Okay, okay, this is just another part of being here. And another reason we have to get out,” Annie said, trying to convince herself more than anything. She paced in nervous thought. “Back to the storyline recipe. We’ve had our introduction, a timely opportunity, reestablished some sort of something with past flames, and we’ve got this awful play and other holiday activities to do … We still need a near kiss, more mix-ups, a reawakening, someone saying a sad ‘Merry Christmas,’ and then a proposal. Did I get everything?” Annie asked Nick, and he gave a small nod. “Right. Okay, so we can assume from … that,” Annie said, gesturing to the missed kiss left unspoken and unanswered. “That you’re here for Bailey and I’m here for Chris?”

“You’re probably right,” Nick agreed. Annie couldn’t get a read on what he was thinking or feeling. “Okay, let’s meet outside tomorrow morning. We’ll walk over to the inn and see what town event awaits before rehearsal,” Nick said, and Annie made a face, clearly not interested in attending the rehearsal. “That’s where Chris and Bailey will be.”

“Should we assume the made-for-TV Christmas movie time will wake us up and we’ll both be ready and outside ready to go when we’re supposed to?” Annie asked, realizing Nick was suggesting she leave.

“That’s sort of what I’m assuming, yeah,” Nick said, walking her to the door. “Wait. Should I walk you home?” Nick asked.

“Nah, I’m fine, this is probably the safest place to be a woman walking home alone at night, right? Might as well enjoy it while I can,” Annie said and waved, leaving Nick to watch her go.

Back at her house, things were more or less as she had left them. Arthur was pleased to see her and greeted her at the door.

“Do I need to feed you?” Annie asked him, and Arthur led her into the kitchen, where he rubbed against a timed feeding device that spat out a handful of dry cat food. “Well, that was good timing. Enjoy, bud!”

After triple-checking that her phone still wasn’t usable, Annie tried not to make eye contact with her own censored nudity and put on the silk pajamas and cuddled under the quilt’s festive fabric. Please let me sleep, Annie pleaded to the made-for-TV Christmas movie gods. The last thing she wanted to do was lie awake scheming about how she was going to get her ex to almost kiss her. Or let me go back to my life, Annie tried to bargain. I’ll stop being such a Scrooge or whatever landed me here in the first place. Luckily for Annie, the made-for-TV Christmas movie gods granted her the former.

CHAPTER TEN

It was the sound of bells that woke her from a notably dreamless sleep, still very much not in her real life. Or at least, Annie thought it was bells. But when she opened her eyes, the only sound came from Arthur, who was purring loudly, apparently ecstatic that Annie was now awake.

Annie searched the room for a sign that things were back to normal, but it was all as it had been the night before. She grabbed her phone from the side table, knowing before she checked to confirm it that it would indeed still be wearing the “No Service” banner across the lit Christmas tree.

The suitcase appeared to be glowing under its own ring light, inviting her to explore today’s outfit and needed toiletries. Another white sweater, this one with delicate pearls sewn into the shape of snowflakes paired with black leather leggings. “How edgy,” Annie said to the pants and grabbed travel shampoo and conditioner bottles from the cosmetic bag.

Annie’s current real-life rental only had a shower stall, so it was a pleasant surprise to find her bedroom now contained an en-suite complete with a bathtub lined with glass jars of what Annie assumed must be bubble baths. Compared to the cramped bathroom inside her small apartment, the concept of a warm bath in a pristine tub sounded so luxurious and clearly something the made-for-TV Christmas movie Annie would embrace.

Twenty minutes later, Annie was blissfully submerged in bubbles when Arthur pushed the bathroom door open. He placed himself on the bathmat, purring loudly again.

“You’re going to let cold air in, you jerk!” she yelled in Arthur’s direction. Already, she noticed the temperature of the room changing and her bathwater losing heat. Arthur didn’t move and continued to gaze at her without blinking. “Ugh, fine, I guess it’s time to get out,” Annie muttered, carefully stepping out of the tub and avoiding Arthur’s obnoxiously flicking tail.

She wrapped a thick towel around herself, marveling at how luscious it felt against her skin, relishing its softness and full coverage. Annie glanced at herself in the mirror above the sink. Her face was dewy and rosy and, once again, she regretted not having access to social media to document this thirst trap because, dang, this made-for-TV Christmas movie natural beauty filter was nice.

When she met Nick outside, her hair now hanging in soft waves across her shoulders (mainly thanks to the magic hair dryer that had somehow managed to style her hair in seconds) and dressed in her leather leggings, Nick stopped in his tracks and his jaw dropped.

“You look like Sandy at the end of Grease,” Nick applauded and Annie laughed. There didn’t seem to be a trace of awkwardness apparent after last night’s tongue touch attempt, but Annie couldn’t help but wonder if it was also on Nick’s mind. “Ready for another big day? I’m curious what town event awaits and how today’s rehearsal will unfold,” Nick said. Annie let out a loud groan, remembering the stupid play.

“Those creepy children performing in an already lame story are going to haunt my dreams,” Annie said.

“Isn’t that kind of the point of the show?” Nick asked as they walked onto Main Street. He looked left and saw a sign for the Nutmeg Nest and pointed. “Wow, that was even easier than I thought it would be.” Annie and Nick approached the inn and stopped outside the big white staircase leading to a large porch covered with holiday decorations. On the large red double doors was a huge wreath.

“Looks like Chris has been here,” Annie said, gesturing at the greenery. “This place is legit. I wish my old dead aunt had left me one of these. Oh, or a vineyard. Is that ever a thing in these movies?”

“Maybe, but I imagine the winery part would consist of people who actually spit out the tasting wine so they don’t risk getting tipsy,” Nick mused.