His Christmas Cookie

“That’s a display…or it’s for a child, though I’m sure that will happen soon enough.” She puts her hand over her stomach.* * *“Are you…?” I ask in shock. If she is, she should have said something hours ago!

“I’m not sure yet, but I’m sure it’s coming. It’s not like we’re preventing it.” Now that would be a gift Miller would love.

“I’m going to be a killer aunt.” I think about holding a little one in my arms, and my mind drifts to being in a hospital bed holding my own baby as Frost stands next to me.

“You’d be a killer mom too.” She plucks the thoughts right out of my head.

What the hell? I need to place a better defense from this man and my sister. “I’m not sure I want kids. I’ll just stick to the aunt thing.” The lie doesn't come easy, and it twists my insides.

Pumpkin rolls her eyes. “Food?” Now it’s her turn to change the subject.

“We have to get mall food. It’s the whole point of coming to the mall.” We can go to the food court and stop by a few places to make our meal. Like getting a cheeseburger with a side of crab rangoon.

“I’m dying for a pretzel.”

“Oh. That sounds good too. I might have to rethink what I want.” Pumpkin doesn't even offer to share hers so we can split something else. We normally do, but that doesn’t look like the plan today. Maybe she’s already knocked up.

I snag us a table and see the food court is filling up fast. I let out a small sigh when we sit down and my feet can rest. The bags are getting too heavy to carry around.

I watch the kids running around while we eat and note that there’s a line for Santa.

“You think Dad will dress up as Santa when we have kids?” I ask Pumpkin. He always did that when we were little, and some of my favorite memories are from that time.

“Did you say we?” I stare at her, and she smiles. “Yes, I bet he will.” She dips her pretzel into her cheese and does a little dance in her seat as she stuffs her face.

“I was going to see if Lewis could use some help. It’s almost tax season. Don’t you think they might need extra hands?” After winter break I have one semester left to finish my accounting associate’s degree. Lewis has an accounting firm and lives next door to my parents. We’ve all been friendly over the years, and I’ve done some clerical work for him in the past.

“Maybe.” Her nose scrunches.

She doesn't look like she likes the idea very much, and even though I’m not sure I do either, I have to do something. I picked accounting because I’m good with numbers and needed a job. But it’s possibly the most boring job ever.

I’m flailing right now trying to grab on to something. I can’t live at home forever, but I think my parents have it very much in their minds that you don’t move out until you’re married. They can be a little old-fashioned at times, and traditions are a must for them.* * *We talk some more about what options I have, and it doesn't take us long to finish off our food. I start to pack up our stuff, not wanting to hold the table when the place is so busy. When I go to drop our trays, I see Nathan out of the corner of my eye, and a chill goes down my spine.

I dump the trays and look over toward him and see he’s staring right at me. This is the third time in the last few weeks I’ve run into him. Then I see the blonde he cheated on me with standing beside him.

I want to get out of here.

For a second I think he’s following me, because that’s too many times to run into the same person. I doubt someone would stalk me with their new girlfriend in tow, but I wouldn’t put anything past him.

I don’t feel anything toward him romantically, but when I see him I have this resentment I can’t let go of. I hate the way seeing him makes me feel—it ruins my whole mood.

When I get back to our table, Pumpkin is standing up and has a sour look on her face. She has all our bags in her hands, and I have no doubt she sees Nathan.

“Let’s roll,” I say, taking some of the bags from her.

She nods in agreement, but under her breath, she says, “He’s watching you.”

“I know.” I can feel it, and it gives me the creeps. So I do the only thing I can right now, and we go home.Chapter 4FrostI hear Cookie and Pumpkin come into the house with packages, and I get up from the couch and go to help. Cookie scowls at me as if daring me to help her, and I smile at her as I take a bag, almost forcefully.