“Business…” The woman at the front desk takes a moment to look at my hand and see there’s no wedding ring on my finger. “Or pleasure?”
“Privacy,” I clip and pass her my credit card. Her bright mood dims a little as she completes the transaction and hands me the key to my room.
The inn is nice, even if it’s a little crowded. I should have known in a town like Troping the holidays would be busy, but this is next level. It’s like Buddy the Elf shot a load of Christmas cheer over every available surface. I wouldn’t call myself a scrooge, but this place makes me look like the Grinch's evil twin.
“There’s a hot cocoa bar in the lounge in ten minutes if you’d like to join in for the sing-along,” the receptionist chirps, and I just stare at her blankly. “Or not.” She passes me a map of the town that I’m pretty sure has glitter on it. “Tomorrow there’s a cookie crawl happening downtown. You can go to any of the starred locations for free treats and to see the decorations.”
“Was a bar crawl too spicy?” I ask, and when she looks at me in confusion, I sigh and take the map.
I mumble my thanks as I wade through the crowd and then wait entirely too long for the elevator. Once I finally get to my room, I drop my bags and look out the window at the view below. I asked for the best room, and as much as I want to hate this little town, I’m impressed. The ski slopes go on for miles, and the surrounding mountains are incredible. Now that I’m closed off away from the candy cane lickers, the quiet is peaceful. I can see why someone might want to live here.
Enough of this crap. I check my phone and see what Noel is doing. The thing I got from her was a text saying she’s about to have dinner. I grind my back teeth as I think about what she told me earlier and how she thought a lawyer wasn’t her love story. Why do I even care? What the hell am I so mad about?
Deciding that I need this day to end sooner rather than later, I grab the bottle off the mini bar along with a glass. Walking into the bedroom, I give myself a heavy pour and kick my shoes off. I place the bottle on the nightstand and kill the amber liquid in one gulp. Without missing a beat, I pour another and then unbutton my shirt. By the time I climb into bed wearing only my boxer briefs, I’m further down this bottle than sensible. But hey, what about this trip is sensible?
The sun is long gone, and it’s been hours since Noel last texted me, but I can’t sleep. Maybe if I just see a few words from her, it will settle my racing mind and I’ll be able to pass out. When I see the phone in my hand sway a little, I know for certain this is a bad idea. Oh well.
Me: How dinner?
Shit. I glare at the message with one eye closed and then I see a text from Noel appear.
Noel: As I imagined it would. It’s late, why are you still up?
She changed the subject. What’s she trying to hide?
Me: Long day. Was the layer a love?
Noel: A what?
Fuck, I’ve got to slow down my fingers.
Me: Was the lawyer your love story?
Noel: Not from the lack of our mothers trying. But thankfully he’s gone for now.
Me: For now? He coming back?
Noel: I’m sure my mom isn’t done yet. How's the pirate romance I sent you?
Again with the change of subject. I finish my drink, and when I go to pour, the bottle is empty. “That’s not good,” I mumble to myself.
Me: Not enough fucking.
I reach down and adjust my cock as I think about the story that left me hard up on the plane.
Noel: LOL! I told you it wasn’t as dirty as the last one, but that scene at the end was swoonworthy.
It takes me a second to type my reply because I’m still seeing double.
Me: I liked when he cut off the guy's hand for touching his bride.
Noel: So possessive
Me: And when she said she would heal him with her love
Noel: Gah, you’re making me want to read it again.
Before I can type my reply, she’s already sending another text.
Noel: I’ve got work early tomorrow. We’re doing a cookie crawl, and I’ve got to set up treats.
Me: Okay
Noel: Night, Snow!
Me: Night Noel
The phone stays in my hand until the screen dims and then eventually cuts off. The snow is coming down outside, and I watch it, thinking that Noel and I are under the same cloud tonight. The same flakes that blow by my window might just reach hers, and that promise has me closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep.
I jerk awake when the sunlight comes across my face and I realize I slept more soundly last night than I have in weeks. Maybe it was the bottle of whiskey? That hasn’t helped in the past, so maybe it’s something else I’m not willing to admit.
After showering and getting dressed in a black sweater and jeans, I grab my coat and check my phone. I got a text from Noel first thing this morning, and it’s a picture of a plate of cookies. Looking at the map the lady at the reception gave me last night, I realize that I’ve got the perfect built-in excuse to visit the library and start up a conversation.
Sending Noel a quick drooling face emoticon, I make my way out of the hotel.
Once I’m on the street, I notice a few things right away. The first is that the town is just as crowded as it was last night, and there’s a line for coffee at what seems to be the only bakery in town. The other thing that sticks out is me. Apparently black isn’t a Christmas color because literally every person is dressed in something sparkly and bright.
“What the fuck?” I mumble to myself as I put on my black jacket and turn the collar up around my neck.
Deciding I have to have coffee no matter how long the wait is, I get in line. After only a few seconds, a tall man in a bright red suit comes up to me and holds out a card. He’s also wearing a Christmas tree tie that lights up, and although I don’t think it’s meant to be serious, this town has me second-guessing everything.
“Hi, I’m Mayor North. We're glad you’re here in Troping. Have a free coffee on me.” He passes me the card and then walks away like some kind of GQ Santa Claus.
“What the fuck?” I say again, and the person in front of me turns around.
“He does that a lot,” the older lady says, and then she smiles before moving forward.
When I’m inside the coffee shop, I’m greeted by the overly happy owner and given my free coffee. Then she slides me a free cookie and tells me about the crawl happening today. I’m barely able to make it out of there without more people trying to talk to me, and when I’m back out in the cold, it’s a relief.
“What the fuck?” Is that all I can say about this damn town?
Taking a sip of coffee, I’m surprised when it’s good. Really fucking good. Lifting my grimace a little, I drink some more, and the grouchy mood that I couldn’t seem to shake melts away. Or maybe the hangover is starting to subside. Either way.
Once my cup is almost empty, I look down the street and see the place I’m after. It’s been a long time since I was inside a library, but I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this.