Page 6 of Home for Christmas

“Come on Danni! Let’s go!” I would laugh if I wasn’t trying to keep my balance on the driveway in the heels I chose to wear. “Hurry up! We’re going to be late!”

This time I do giggle as she pops out the door and does the same. I have to go back to help her. Neither one of us have the best balance and now we’ve screwed ourselves by choosing the sexy shoes on the damp pavement.

By the time I make it to the car and slam my door, Tannen is at my window. I met the look Danni gives me and finally roll down the window.

“Whose your friend, Marley?”

I roll my eyes at him. He thinks he is so smooth and charming…and sexy in that soft, blue sweater that matches the color of his eyes perfectly.

“This is Danni. Don’t even think of hitting on her! She’s not a cheerleader or snobby enough for you. And besides that, she’s my friend.”

Better to cut him off right out of the gate so he doesn’t even try. Not that I think Danni will flirt back or anything. “What makes you assume I’m going to try to fuck every vagina I'm around?”

Wow! Whoa! My head snaps toward him and I try to come to terms with the fact Tannen said fuck and vagina in the same sentence. Danni doesn’t even try to hide her snicker.

“I…,” I try to answer as truthfully as I can but how exactly would you say what I want to say to him, “she’s pretty and you like pretty girls.”

“Aww, thank you, Bestie. But I think out of the two of us, you are the pretty one.”

I blush and turn my entire focus on Danni and ignore Tannen, “You’re blind but I love you.”

Chapter Six

Tannen

I dreamed of her all damned night long! And when I wasn’t dreaming about her, I was thinking about her. When I hear her yelling for Danny, a little after noon I can’t help but make my way over to the window to find out what this kid looks like. You could call it summing up the competition.

“Danni, come on! We’re going to be late!”

My eyes go right to her standing in a bright red sweater with a big glittery green tree on it with rainbow ornaments. She looks so bright against the gray sky it almost hurts to look at her. When I spot movement out of the corner of my eye I stiffen ready to take in the sight of the man who has my Peach. The only person that starts walking towards her though is a small blonde girl. They both laugh and help each other to the car.

Thankfully they go so slow that I can pop out the door and head for my truck like that was my end goal all along. I wait for them to get in the car before I walk over and lean against her door, waiting for her to roll the window down. She might think that eye roll is going to dissuade me, or I might find it annoying, but she is way off. I think it’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen.

She introduces me to her friend…Danni with an ‘I’ and a vague memory of sleepovers for Marley with a little blonde girl with braces and braids comes back to me.

“Don’t even think about it?”

“What?” Could she tell I was thinking about kissing her in front of her best friend?

“Don’t hit on my best friend just because she’s beautiful. She’s not your type anyway. She’s not a cheerleader or snobby enough for you.”

“So, wait, let me see if I got this right. You think if I see a pretty woman I what? Can’t help but have sex with them?”

The two girls look at one another before grinning. Marley turns to me and gives me a pretty solid answer. “Yeah. Pretty much.”

“You’re pretty and I haven’t fucked you.”

“Yet.”

Marley whips her head around to stare down her friend who said the word in a soft whisper but made it loud enough that we all heard it. I can’t fight the grin that stretches across my face. Why fight it?

“Whose side are you on, Danni?”

Danni gives a mischievous smile before looking away from Marley, “You want to go with us, Tannen? We’re going to the Cherry Lounge to hang out with some friends.”

“Oh yeah. Absolutely.” I’m in the car before Marley can make an excuse for why I shouldn’t come with them.

I can feel Marley’s ire and frustration as we drive to the Lounge, a place I spent most of my high school Saturdays. When we get there, a few people I know along with the friends the girls meet up with, makes us quite a large group. I make sure I stayclose to Marley and that my arm is around her for most of the night, especially when a guy happens to be closer than I would like.