AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Theo’s in Houston.”
“Sure, he is.” She kisses my hair and then stands before gathering our empty mugs. “When he pulls up, invite him in. I bought him some cologne.” I wince because I know it’s cheap, and probably not anything he’d wear. We can’t afford much, and I’m hoping he’s a good sport about it. I’m already worried enough about my present. Rattling with anticipation, I look toward the road and smile when Mom’s suspicions are confirmed, and his Honda comes into view.
It’s unexpected and amazing as butterflies swarm around me, and I prepare my lips for the perfect Christmas kiss.
But when I see the speed at which he’s traveling, alarms go off.
“Uh, Mom, he’s coming in hot.”
Just as I say it, Theo slams on his brakes, his car sliding over the ice a few feet before it fishtails and stops. Theo gets out of the car looking like he’s just been electrocuted while shouting at the top of his lungs. “Great, you’re awake! Of course you’re awake!” He says, waving a hand of crazy into the air. “You should know I left at three a.m.! Three a.m. to take a two-hour drive to get to you before you woke up!”
“Mom.”
“Yes, baby?”
“Pour some bourbon in Theo’s coffee,” I whisper-shout over my shoulder.
“Already on it,” she says through a laugh as Theo continues his rant. “Do you have any idea what happens to Texans who get out on icy roads at three in the morning!?” He juts his chin out and cups his ear with his hand.
I slowly shake my head, my hands behind my back.
He rips at his hair before spreading the loose strands into the wind in front of him. “Jesus must have been celebrating his birthday really big last night because he sure as hell didn’t take the wheel the two thousand times I screamed his name!”
My mother’s laugh rings out behind me as I try my best not to do the same while he’s in this state. I’m biting my lips so hard tears spring to my eyes.
“I-i-it was rough, huh?”
He cocks his head, his eyes bulging as if it’s the dumbest question I could ask before opening his back-passenger door and carefully stacking presents in his arms. “Leave it to life to let me know that attempting to do something romantic for my girl is a foolish notion.” He slaps the door closed; his arms full as he looks up to me exasperated. “So, I sure as hell hope you appreciate these blood-stained pre—”
Those are the last words he speaks before the rubbery soles of his Converse connect with a slick patch of ice.
“Oh shit, Mom! Man down! Man down!” She collapses behind me in the kitchen in hysterics.
Theo sleeps peacefully sprawled on my mattress, one foot hanging off, and I gaze on at him, watching his chest rise and fall. After breakfast, Theo and my mother exchanged presents. He’d put the cologne on the minute he opened the box, earning a bigger piece of me. And she’d thanked him profusely for the fancy cashmere scarf he’d picked, which suited her. But as soon as he drank his coffee and his breakfast started to digest, he could barely keep his eyes open, so I put him to bed. My bed. Where he rests now. With the day half gone, I decide to rouse him with a kiss to his cheek. “Merry Christmas.” He groans and then reaches for me. “What time is it?”
“Six p.m.”
That jars him. “Really?”
“It’s okay. It’s been a good day. You needed the sleep.”
He pulls me to lay with him, and I snuggle close in his arms. It takes a few more minutes for him to come to.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard my mother laugh that hard in my entire life,” I say with a giggle. “I’m sorry you busted your ass, but I have to say that was awesome.”
“My ass disagrees,” he says, tilting my face up and pressing a kiss to my lips.
“You are a hot mess, Houseman.”
“That was the scariest drive of my life.”
“I’m sorry.”
He brushes the hair from my shoulder. “I’m glad I did it.”
“Me too. When you wake up, I have something for you.”
He moves to sit and runs a thumb down my cheek. “You didn’t have to.”
