I open my eyes to my room, the room at my parents’ house I fell asleep in what feels like ages ago. Underneath me, I feel the comfortable mattress of a well-used bed. Touching my pajamas and pulling them out from me, I look down and they appear how they did when I went to sleep.
Standing, I’m not sure what to do with myself. The sun is just coming through the window. The curtains have separated a little and I open them more, tying them back so I can sit on the bed and watch the sunrise. My parents rarely wake quite this early, so I stay quiet and watch the sun come over the horizon before standing and getting ready for the day.
By the time I’m in the kitchen starting the coffee, my mom comes out and says, “Good morning, Callie. How did you sleep?” Her hair is tousled from sleep, and she wears her pajamas and fuzzy slippers.
“You ask the same thing every time I’m here.” I smile at the cabinet in front of me. Moving to sit at the table, I decide to wait for the pot to completely finish brewing before getting my coffee.
“That’s because I know how it can be sleeping in a strange bed…” She trails off in thought. “Don’t mind me. What’s on the schedule for today?” she asks as she pours herself a cup of coffee and prepares it just the way she likes it.
“I was thinking about going back into town and spending more time looking through the booths at Holiday in the Park since I didn’t get to do much shopping yesterday.” Usually, the vendors are only here for a couple of days. Today is the last day, so I need to get an early start before they pack up early this afternoon.
“That sounds like fun. Do you mind going by yourself? I think your father wanted to do something together today.” My parents are so cute. They’ve been married forever but still enjoy their time together. They even have date night once a week. When we were kids, they would hire a sitter every Friday night. As soon as Jake was old enough, he was forced to stay with me and Andy when they left. My parents weren’t crazy enough to leave us completely unattended. The neighbor would also watch us out of her window and report any shenanigans to my parents the next morning.
“Of course, Mom, you two kids have fun today.”
My dad walks in, wraps his arms around my mom from behind, and kisses her on the temple.
“Who you calling kids?” he asks with a big smile on his face. His arm still wrapped around my mom, he continues to smile down at her.
“Oh, you know, just my sickeningly in love parents.”
“Will you be okay today on your own, kiddo?” Even though I’m twenty-four, my dad will probably always call me kiddo. He usually adds something like “Just because you’re grown up doesn’t mean you’re not still my kid.”
“Of course, Dad, you guys have fun today. I’ll see you for dinner?”
“We’ll pick something up on the way home,” Mom says.
I stand and move to the coffeepot that has now finished brewing. My favorite cup to use when I’m here is an oversized flowered mug. I finish making my coffee and sit at the table enjoying talking with my parents before getting up and grabbing my stuff for the day, including the journal, which I shove into the bottom of my purse.
* * *
Walking around looking at all the booths in town for Holiday in the Park, I’m browsing through some pretty scarves when I see Mason out of the corner of my eye. He’s perusing the booth next to me, which has homemade knives and other metalwork. I select one that reminds me of the dream world with different colored flowers all over it, and pay the woman behind the table, thanking her for the beautiful scarf and decide to head to get some coffee.
As I walk away, I remember my strange dream and pull out my phone to send off a text to Huxlee.
Me
Huxlee
Chuckling quietly to myself, I’m startled when I hear, “Hey, long time no see,” from behind me. Turning, I see it’s Mason with a big smile on his face.
Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I reply, “Hey, what are you up to?” There is no whiny girlfriend with him today. Good riddance, I think.
“I rushed out of here so quick after our ride yesterday, I thought I would come back and look around, you know, help the local crafters and all. What do you think?” He holds out a beautifully handcrafted knife. The artist has used metal to create beautiful designs on both the handle and blade. It is definitely a show piece.
“That’s beautiful. Is it a gift for your girlfriend?” I know I’m being a bit of a bitch by bringing her up, but it was only just yesterday this man was dating someone. Albeit a whiny someone, in a nails-on-a-chalkboard way, but a girlfriend nonetheless.
“Yeah, we’re no longer together. I tried calling her right after I left here yesterday and she was with the other guy, so I told her we were through.” Well, that sucks for them, but my stomach does a little flip-flop at the smile he gives me.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Totally not sorry.
“I’m not. I knew from the first time I saw her with him they had something going on. I didn’t know the true extent of it until her tantrum yesterday.” I think people in relationships usually know something is wrong, even if they can’t figure out what it is. Secret texts, whispered phone calls, and God forbid if you stumble across sexts on their phone that aren’t to you.
“Well, I’m sorry all the same. It’s a terrible thing to find out you’ve been cheated on by the one who is supposed to be loyal to you.” Been there, done that. It hurt my heart like a son of a bitch.
“I was just about to get some coffee. Would you like to join?” He holds his hand out to me, a smile on his face, dimples showing on his clean-shaven face.
“I was just about to get some myself. I’d love to,” I take his hand, it’s warm. I feel tingles up and down my arm with the contact.
We walk to the café with the best coffee, and we talk about our lives and growing up here. When we were on the sleigh, he said he was from Beaver Creek, just north of where my parents live in Jackson. He tells me more about it while I talk about my favorite places around where I live in Laramie.
“How do you enjoy living in such a big city?” The entirety of his focus is on me. I stare into his brown eyes and can’t help but think I’ve never felt so paid attention to with any guy I’ve been out with. Not that this is a date. It’s just coffee, with someone who was dating someone else just yesterday.
Dammit, Callie, stop it.
“When I first got there, I thought I was some bigshot, living life on my own going to the University of Wyoming. But I still feel nostalgic every time the holidays come around. I come back here every year for Thanksgiving to help my parents get everything ready for Christmas.” I don’t tell him that Christmastime has always been my favorite and I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I didn’t get to spend these few days with them every year.
“So it’s kind of like you are still on the college break schedule?”
“Well, I’ve never thought of it like that but, yeah, I guess so.”
The barista takes our order, and he pays for both of us, despite my protests. This is not a date, this is not a date, this is not a— oh, who cares?
I start to walk toward the door when I feel his hand on my lower back, guiding me toward one of the tables in the café. “Why don’t we stay here and finish our coffee?” I’m not going to complain. I’m enjoying his company, and it’s much warmer in here than outside in the snow.
* * *
Looking out the window, I realize a lot of time has passed; the sun is now setting. We’ve been laughing and talking for hours, and I lost track of time.
Standing, I smile at him and say, “I am so sorry. I didn’t realize what time it was. I really have to get home. My parents are probably worried about me, and they’re bringing dinner home.” I gather my things as I talk, putting my coat and scarf back on before pulling my purse over my head, the long strap easily settling across my body.
He watches me as he stands, holds out his hand. “It was wonderful getting to know you today. I hope we can do this again soon.”
Reaching out my hand, I’m again amazed at the warmth of his hand as it engulfs mine. His large hand dwarfs my small, feminine one.
“Callie, it’s important to remember looks can be deceiving.”
I pull my hand back. “Maybe we’ll run into each other again.” I pull my gloves on as I walk away from the table, pull the door open, and step into the cold air.
* * *
My parents’ house has never looked so welcoming. I don’t know what it is about Mason, but he makes the butterflies in my stomach take flight. It’s nice to take a breath that’s not full of his scent, with his brown eyes watching me over his coffee.
And yet, I really hope we get to do that again soon. I can’t help wondering how long he and his ex were in a relationship, and if dating him so soon after their public breakup would be a mistake. Can it really be considered public when only a few people were nearby? How many people have to witness it for it to carry that classification?
Who am I to make that judgment call? Also, I live a few hours from here, so it’s not like a long-distance relationship is on the immediate horizon. At least, I’ve never wanted to be far away from the person I am dating. Especially not in the early stages. Early stages are for butterflies in the tummy and stolen kisses, not wondering where they are or what they’re doing on the other side of the state.
I don’t think I’ve ever clicked with someone as immediately as I have with him, though. It really made up for the awkwardness of our mostly silent sleigh ride when we first met, which was hardly his fault.
As I walk to my car, I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to my dad.
Me
Dad
Then, because I can’t leave my girls hanging, I open up the group chat.
Me
Jen
Me
Stacy
Huxlee
Jen
Me
Huxlee
Stacy
Me
Reaching my car, I get in and stick my phone under my thigh for the trip back to my parents’ house.
* * *
After dinner with my parents, I finish packing my bags and shoot off a quick text to Huxlee before pulling out of their driveway.
Me
Huxlee
I tuck the phone away and drive the couple of hours back home. Tomorrow morning, I’m supposed to be back at work, and really, I miss Huxlee. I can’t wait to give her a big hug.
As always, I’m careful while I’m driving on the snow-swept streets, but I can’t help my mind drifting, wondering more about the journal world. I can’t wait to read some more throughout the week. Briefly, I wonder if I’ll dream more of the world from the journal.
It’s still tucked in the bottom of my purse, but I can’t be disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to read this afternoon. I immensely enjoyed my time with Mason, and I wonder how we’ll bump into each other when we live hours apart.
As soon as I get home, I unpack my bags, get ready for bed, and snuggle under the covers. Then I snag my phone from beside me and shoot off a couple of texts to make sure everyone knows I’ve made it home. First, I send one to my mom.
Me
Mom
Then I open the Besties Group Chat, seeing they’ve been chatting back and forth, speculating on Mason and what he looks like. I roll my eyes and text:
Me
Huxlee
Jen
Stacy
Fumbling around, trying to find my charger on the floor, I finally snag it and plug my phone in. Then, I fall quickly to sleep.