Page 9 of Dark Christmas
“I made plenty, so don’t be shy,” I say with a wink. They thank me and after some quick goodbyes, I’m on my way back, my mind still on those damn photos.
Upon arriving home, I unlock the door to my small but cozy place, and step inside. It’s nothing fancy but I love it—soft pastel walls, a small sectional couch, and a killer view of the city— the perfect space for me to unwind after a long day at the bakery.
I toss my bag aside, grab my laptop, and settle onto the couch. Time to figure out what the hell happened to those photos.
I open my laptop and check the email. Sure enough, it says the photos were delivered yesterday. But I check my mail every day, and there’s been nothing. My eyes scan the email again, and that’s when I spot it.
No. No, no, no.
I live at 719. The photos were delivered to 718.
My stomach drops. I grab my phone and call Claire, pacing around the living room while I wait for her to pick up. On the second ring, she does. "What's up?"
"Claire!" I practically shout. "Those boudoir photos? They were sent to the wrong address!"
“Okay?” she says, sounding like she doesn’t see the problem. "Calm down, it's not the end of the world."
"Not the end of the world? Claire, someone out there has a packet of racy photos of me in a sexy elf costume! What if they end up in the wrong hands and get plastered all over the internet? They could go viral!”
She laughs, completely unfazed. "Relax, Am. Look up the address and see where it is."
I go cold as I realize who it is. "I don't need to look it up." I swallow hard. "718 is right across the street. Mr. Sexy Accountant himself."
There’s a beat of silence before Claire bursts out laughing. "Oh, shit. That’s one way to make an impression!"
“It’s not funny, Claire,” I grumble.
Claire’s laughter turns into a chuckle. “Okay, okay, I’ll go easy on you. But come on, you gotta admit it’s alittlefunny.”
I throw myself onto the couch, burying my face in a pillow. “I have to figure out what to do.”
Then it hits me hard, like ice water running down my spine. “What if he opened it and looked at the pictures?” My voice is barely above a whisper but the panic in it is screaming.
Claire doesn’t miss a beat. “If he did, he probably has a huge boner.”
I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the world on my chest. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
Claire’s voice softens. “Look, he probably didn’t open it. It was addressed to you, right? Maybe he just set them aside, figuring itwas a mistake and plans to bring them over to you later.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Before you start imagining your sexy elf pics going viral, though, just go over and talk to him. Explain the mix-up. It’s a little embarrassing, but that’s life.”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. “I guess so. I mean, it could be worse, right?”
“Exactly. It’s not like you’re the first person to have a package sent to the wrong address.”
"Yeah, but how many have accidentally sent provocative photos to their hot neighbor?”
“Hey, you might get lucky out of the deal.”
“Shut your trap,” I snap, though I can’t help but laugh a little through the panic.
“Girl, you definitely need to get laid,” she teases, and I can practically hear her smirking.
I sigh dramatically. “Okay, I’m going over there. I’ll just face the music, I guess.”
We hang up after she makes me promise to call her back afterward and tell her how it goes. I toss my phone on the couch, nerves frayed. But then, as I stand up, a horrifying realization hits me like a ton of bricks.