“So, I’m staying here?” Brice asked, unsure of what to think of her taking the left side.
“Well, I guess it’s okay, since mom suggested it.” Maddie didn’t look at Brice; she just started putting things away from her suitcase into her dresser drawers.
“Well, I thought I was going to…”
“Look, Brice, it’s so early. Can’t we just decide what we’re doing in the morning? I mean, when we wake up?”
“You want me to stay here?”
Maddie blushed. “Well, I… you know it’s just a bed. It’s not like we haven’t been in the car for the last million years. We’re going to sleep. We’re both adults.” Maddie looked like she was trying to convince herself, and if she were honest with herself, she already knew she wanted Brice to stay. He became something to her these last few hours.
“I find it kind of odd that your mother would allow a stranger to sleep with her daughter under her roof…”
“Well, not exactly,” Maddie winced.
“What do you mean, not exactly?”
“Look, Brice, don’t get mad. Mom thinks that you are Thomas.”
Brice’s eyes widened. “She thinks that I’m the guy that slept with a nineteen year old actress?”
“Shh! What if they hear you?”
“Are you kidding me right now, Madelyn?”
“My name is Maddie!”
“Why would you want to turn such a beautiful name into a nickname?”
“You think it’s beautiful?” Maddie said, downright happy.
“Focus, Madelyn. Your mom thinks I’m that lowlife?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she call me Brice?”
“I told her your name was Brice.”
“I am completely confused. You said she thinks that I’m your boyfriend.”
“Yes, she does.”
“But your boyfriend’s name is Thomas.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Maddie fumed.
“Okay, ex-boyfriend.”
“Yes.”
“Maddie, so you are telling me that she never knew his name?”
“Yeah, she didn’t.”
“And she never met the guy?”
“Nope.”
Brice was surprised. “You never brought him home to meet your parents?”
Maddie looked into Brice’s eyes. “He just wasn’t that kind of guy.”
“And I am?” Brice wanted her to answer. He waited for her to answer, and then she did.
“Listen, I’m going to get my pajamas on, I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Maddie said, grabbing some clothes and then shutting the door, leaving Brice to wonder just what kind of guy he was.
Once Maddie was in the bathroom she could have died. Brice was in her bedroom, under her purple sheets, lying in her childhood bed! A bed that a guy of two years dating never stayed in! The whole situation was enough to have her heart racing out of her chest. Not only was it strange, but she just met this stranger less than 12 hours ago, and already she was in love with him. Brice Reynolds, officer. Holy crap, I need my head examined!
***
When she walked into the bedroom, Brice was sitting on the edge of the bed. There was something wonderful about seeing him there, shoes off, trying to relax. You could practically see the tension in his shoulders.
“If you want to leave, I’ll understand.”
Brice looked up and saw the snowflakes on Madelyn’s pajamas and smiled. “I think I’m where I’m supposed to be. I just need to use the restroom, and then I’ll be back.”
“Okay, it’s just in there,” Maddie said pointing to the next room.
“I’ll be right back.”
***
A few minutes later, Maddie lay in the bed under the covers waiting for Brice to return. When he came out of the bathroom, his face looked fresh, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No,” Maddie said. “That’s okay.”
“Listen, if you want me to sleep on the floor, Maddie, I can.”
“Brice, I’m not going to make you sleep on the floor.”
“Okay,” he said, then sat on the bed and proceeded to take off his jeans. It was going to be a long night!
***
“Oh my God,” Maddie said, as she wrapped the blankets further around her. “You’re freezing!”
“I know! My feet are cold!”
“Where are your socks?”
“I can’t sleep with socks on!” Brice said, wrapping the blankets around his feet.
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I just can’t… feels weird.”
“But your feet are freezing!”
“Hey, you’re not so warm yourself!”
“What?”
“I can feel your feet. They’re cold, too.”
“No, they’re not!”
“Are, too.”
That’s all it took. Maddie poked him in the side, and then he turned on his side and faced her. The part of the mattress that Maddie hated so much was now becoming her favorite. She dipped down and was practically on top of Brice. Not wanting to move, she sat still, hoping that he would kiss her. And then he did.
At first the kiss was slow, and then it moved on to something more passionate. “Oh, Brice,” Maddie said as she put her hands in his hair. He smelled fresh of soap and he tasted like mint.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you all night,” Brice whispered.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“I was hoping that you would make the first move,” Brice laughed. “I know, but I pulled you over tonight. I didn’t want you to think I was taking advantage.” Brice moved his arm so that she was now laying on it. He put both of his arms around her and was stroking her back.
“I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
Brice swallowed. “I feel that way, too.”
It was Maddie that kissed him next. Her body moved into his and she nipped his lips with her teeth. And then she was touching him. His body was heating up and hers was, too.
“I can’t believe we just met.”
“Me, neither,” she said, rubbing his chest with her hand.
She loved the feel of his body. “You are perfect.”
“You like me, huh?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said, going in for another kiss.
“This is turning out to be a great Christmas vacation.” Maddie smiled. “Merry Christmas, Brice.”
“Merry Christmas, Maddie.”