Chapter 36
Santa fell off the roof
NICK
I pounded my fist on my pillow for the hundredth time. Why the fuck wasn’t it comfortable? I was going to wake up with a goddamn neck ache.
That’s not why you’re upset.
Finally, I pushed it down and slammed my head on it in record time, hoping that helped it. End result? It didn’t do shit. Not a thing. This night was going to be never-ending. I’d hear Santa on the roof, come down the chimney, and those stupid jingle bells on the reindeer.
Maybe I should have gone downstairs and left milk and cookies for Old Saint Nick.
No, what I should have been doing was giving my wife my own version of a sleigh ride as she held on to the headboard for leverage and cried my name.
That would have been a very Merry Christmas Eve, indeed.
My phone vibrated on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with a notification.
Candy?
Yes, and then the elves are going to call you later in an SOS moment. Santa fell off the roof, and you’re to replace him, or else Christmas will be ruined for all of the children around the world. Think of the devastation.
Eloise: Candy’s going to be at that place she loves so much with the frozen hot chocolate tomorrow, but you didn’t hear it from me.
Nick: Why are you telling me this?
She left, remember? At least, that was all I remembered Eloise telling me.
Eloise: Because you two are not over. She doesn’t want this to be the end of your story, so don’t screw it up. That’s advice you can take to the bank.
I’d much rather take it to the restaurant where my wife will be.
Eloise: I’ll text you when she’s on her way there, okay?
Nick: Thank you, Eloise.
Eloise: Now delete these messages so there’s no evidence.