Chapter Nine
Lumi
Ithink I have fallen in love with the entire Frost family.
Luka’s mother and sister stayed to help decorate and invited me to stay for dinner.
They did it in such a way I didn’t know how to tell them no.
It made me come home a little later than I normally would.
The SUV is in the parking lot when I pull in.
I don’t linger and put my head down and pray I can make it inside without someone trying to stop me.
To make matters worse, I got yelled out by my supervisor, Doris, over my torn costume.
Needless to say, she nor my boss thought I had torn it plugging lights in under the tree.
It didn’t help that I was still in Luka’s sweater.
He insisted I take it since I didn’t have anything else to wear.
They both spent over an hour reiterating the rules they have for the elves, putting emphasis on the rule about doing anything naughty on company time or with the company uniform and informing me the repair for my outfit will be coming out of my pay.
I’m tired and just want to go to bed. I don’t even bother turning the lights on and instead go straight to my bedroom.
I drag myself to the shower berating myself for having dinner with the Frost’s.
I shouldn’t have let myself get so close, shouldn’t have been doing anything other than what I’d been hired for.
Now, my job is on the line with Doris telling me I’m on thin ice because girl’s like me will do anything for extra money and I’m exhausted.
What’s even worse than all that is the fact being with them makes the loneliness even worse.
I don’t have a tree with lights and decorations up because I can’t afford one, I don’t have little mementos from my past because there is none to have.
I don’t have someone to come home to or share my life with.
The merriment of the family I just left is in cold contrast to the reality I am living and it sucks!
I spend most of the time I’m in the shower having a good cry and throwing myself a pity party.
Once I’m out, I pack all that away and work on thinking about tomorrow.
Then my phone buzzes. I think it might be my boss calling me to remind me to be a ‘good little elf’ again but am surprised to find it’s Luka.
“Luka, hi. Is everything alright?”
God, please don’t let my boss have called him. Please.
“Everything is fine, but I was wondering if maybe we could postpone tomorrow. I need to be out of town for a little while and…”
“No, um, that’s alright.”
“What happens if you don’t come help me? Do you have to go to another client?”
“Um, no. I was told to make you my top priority until our two weeks are through.”
“Good. Then…just take tomorrow off.”
“Okay. If you need anything just call or text. I guess I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Yeah. You okay? You sound…off.”
Shit!
“Yeah, I’m…just tired.”
“Get some rest, little elf. I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon.” Once I hang up, I can’t help but feel this might be a good thing.
It gives me a little time to put things back in perspective and to acclimate myself back to my regular instead of the glitzy, fun world Luka lives in.
I glide past the window in my bedroom and notice the biker is back.
He’s parked close to the SUV, and I think they might be talking to one another, but I can’t be sure since the biker still has his helmet on.
Knowing that they can’t see me makes me brave enough to linger and really take in the man on the back of the bike.
I assume it’s a man since the shoulders are broad and the build is…
thick. In fact, the guy brings to mind when I was burying my face in Luka’s broad chest trying to hide from his sister.
I shouldn’t be thinking about him. I know that.
I understand that. But something about the biker…
weirdly reminds me of him. Not that they are anything alike.
This guy has an aura of danger about him that has me pretty sure he’s doing something illegal.
I can’t help but wonder what color his eyes are.
Bet they’re not electric blue. No one has eyes like Luka’s.
And I’m back to being all wrapped up in my client again. Damn it! How am I going to get Luka out of my head?
At that moment, the biker looks up causing me to gasp out and take a step back.
It was like he was looking right at me. I realize that’s stupid and he couldn’t possibly, but it sure seemed like he was looking up at my window.
Not that I could tell of course. He still has his visor pulled down and from here in the dark I would never be able to tell.
I’m just letting my imagination run wild because I’m all fucked up over everything going on with Luka and my job and… everything really.
I slump off to bed and try to find some relief in my sleep but even then, Luka follows me.