Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Which was yet another reason I liked being around him.
I smiled. “I thought all guys—”
“Do me a favor, Elle. Don’t think about other guys when you’re with me.”
I rolled my eyes, but I still found myself smiling.
“Are you a Leo?”
He nodded.
“That makes so much sense.”
“What are you?”
“A Libra.”
“I don’t know much about signs.”
“Well, we’re complete opposites; however, we line up the best in the zodiac signs for any kind of relationship. You’re the yin to my yang and vice versa.”
He chuckled. “Grumpy, sunshine?”
“Something like that.”
He was a relentless tease. His eyes bore into mine and once again rendered me speechless. He stared at me with that same swagger and confidence he exuded all the time. Another thing I liked about him was how he looked at me.
There was something about him since the first time I laid my eyes on him that I couldn’t tear my gaze away from. This magnetic pull I was instantly drawn to.
It came from something deeper.
More meaningful.
A connection I couldn’t explain grew stronger with each minute passed between us. I knew he felt it; he was the type of guy who would notice everything. Neither of us said a word for a few seconds, but it didn’t matter. Our eyes spoke volumes, causing the nervous feeling in my core to subside.
“Tell me some more about yourself, Elle.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything.”
“You say that like you mean it.”
“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.”
I ignored his response, asking, “What do you want to know?”
“I mean, you don’t have to tell me your blood type or anything, but I do want to know if you’re a psycho, and I need to be worried that I’m in your house. Especially because your house looks like Santa took a shit on it with Christmas lights.”
“I’m not a psycho. I just love Christmas.”
He flopped onto the couch in front of mine. “And what’s so great about it?”
I shrugged. “What’s not great about it?”
He shrugged back. “Where do you want me to start? How about with the fact that we’re just supposed to believe some man can travel all over the world in one night, breaking into people’s homes? In what universe does that make sense because, in this one, that would get you arrested.”
I smiled. “I didn’t say it was logical.”
“So…” He paused for effect. “You’re admitting it’s all one big lie we tell children to con them into being nice to stay off the naughty list. This is simply a disciplinary tactic adults use and is used far too much if you ask me. Honestly, I don’t see how kids aren’t scared of the jolly old fat man. To me, he’s scarier than Freddy, and that lunatic can get you in your dreams.”
“You are seriously comparing Santa Claus to Freddy Krueger?”
“They’re on the same playing field. I mean, they’re both after children.”
My mouth fell open. “That’s horrible.”
“You’re telling me. I’ve been saying that shit forever.”
“I’m saying you’re horrible.”
“I know…” He leaned back into the couch. “I’m too honest. I’m sorry to burst your bubble if you thought I’d be different. I don’t believe in the mayhem that this holiday creates for everyone. It’s all about presents and decorations and traditions, ugh… it makes me exhausted just thinking about it. The stress and pressure parents put on themselves to create core memories and magical experiences could cause high blood pressure alone, and we both know what that leads to. I bet they hide all the medical records proving it does.”
“Who hides them?”
With a cheeky expression, he winked. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“And you’re worried I’m the psycho?”
He grinned.
“Why would they hide them?”
“To keep the masses spending money.”
“Hmm…”
“Makes sense, right?”
“Yeah, from a realist perspective. I’m an idealist.”
“You know what they say, opposites attract.”
Feeling ballsy, I blurted, “Does that mean you find me attractive?”
“I’d be blind if I didn’t find you attractive, Noelle, and even then, I’d sense that you were beautiful.”
I blushed.
“The red in your cheeks matches nicely with the candy canes on your onesie.”
We locked eyes. “Well, besides that.” I changed the subject. “You really are the Grinch.”
He grinned again. “I’ve committed to it my entire life.”
“I see. So you’ve never been in a relationship? Never had a girlfriend?”
“And that surprises you, why?”
“I don’t know. Your family seems like they have their shit together.”
“I guess as much as a family can with putting immense pressure on their son to be someone he doesn’t want to be.”
“Hmm…”
“Are you judging me now? I’ll never lie to you, Elle.”
“You’re implying that you’ll see me again? I thought you didn’t do relationships?”
“I don’t count making you smile as a relationship.”
I giggled. “How you can go from making me sad that you hate my most favorite time of year to making me laugh is beyond me.”
“What can I say?” He smiled. “It’s a gift.”