Page 38 of Under The Meh-stletoe

I didn't spend much time admiring the space, as Ren inspected me with a raised eyebrow.

"I wouldn't have seen him outside if it weren't for my city ways." Ale closed the door behind me and invited me to sit on the one armchair.

I shook my head. "I wasn't sure I was going to come knock at the door, or text you, or hell, figure out what window was yours and throw a few pebbles that way."

"Mmh." Ren squinted my way. "That makes me think you're not here to inquire after my health."

I shook my head again, but Ale was the one to answer.

"He wants totalk."

"No, no, no." Ren pointed a finger at the door behind me. "That sounds like code to having his way with you. We have thin walls, remember? Our beds share a wall, for heaven's sake. I'm not having you bothtalkingin here."

"I think he actually meant talking, Ren—"

"I don't want to talk ortalkhere—" I crossed my arms.

Ren burrowed into her blankets and opened her book. "Go. Go somewhere and talk… ortalk… or whatever."

"Are you sure?" Ale asked.

Ren sighed. "Yes, I'm sure. It's Christmas Eve Eve. Go be merry and find a reason for the season."

"Shut up." Ale laughed.

"Let's go to my place." I put a hand on Ale's back. "I haven't had dinner yet. We'll talk while I make something, then I'll bring you back."

"Or not," Ren said. "Depends on how merry you get, right?"

Ale

Daniel's small condo did not shock me in the least. Somehow, I fully expected the dark gray walls, broken by big prints framed in white, and a charcoal sofa in front of a big TV. An armchair in caramel leather plus a wooden center table gave the room warmth, and the mostly-white kitchen opened the space.

"Wow." I gave my jacket to Daniel, who hung it from bronze hooks by the door. "This is very modern and tasteful, and just what I imagined your place would look like."

He guided me to the sofa with a hand on my back. "I used to live the high-up-the-ladder corporate life. I got used to some comforts."

We sat in the small loveseat, side by side but angled towards each other. Daniel gazed at me with eyes that periodically narrowed, and lips that quirked randomly.

"You're thinking hard." I rested an elbow on the back of the sofa, my head in my hand. "Want to let it out?"

"No."

I laughed. "You're terrible. Then why bring me here?"

"To talk. But I wasn't sure I wanted to talk tonight, remember? You caught me parked outside your house and one thing led to another. Now we're here."

"Okay. Are you taking me home, then?"

"No. Let's talk."

"Oooh... kay." I settled deeper into my position, fully resting and watching him struggle.

"The thing is..."

"Uh-huh?"

"What I was thinking was..." He frowned. I pursed my lips not to smile. "Well..."