At this point in the interview, Hollie Berry removed her microphone. So while we can’t know exactly what she said to Mr. Tucker as a parting shot, the middle finger salute she gave him as she stormed off stage was pretty clear.
CHAPTER 1
JUSTICE
I have popcorn ready to go into the microwave when my sisters get here, but I know the moment I put it in one of them will show up. The delicate balance between perfectly popped and burnt will be lost and my whole apartment will stink. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take because it’s a lingering smell.
I’ve had enough linger lately. Like a few weeks ago when the one night stand I brought home would not fucking leave. Yikes. You’d think he would make a run for it when I clearly indicated that our time together was done, but nope. He looked at me like I hung the moon because I rotated my hips counterclockwise while I rode him. I don’t and commitment isn’t my thing.
I made that very clear when I picked him up at the bar. I had already parted ways with Corbin, my best friend and the best wingman there is, and I had the guy I was going to spend the night with on my hook. I guess I wasn’t clear enough because he spent the night and then wanted breakfast in the morning.
No, thank you.
When I called Corbin after I finally got the guy to leave, he thought it was hilarious. He had already had his fun with the woman he picked up and had spent the night in his own bed. It’s not like the tables haven’t been reversed and he’s found a clinger who just won’t take the hint. That’s where I usually come in and run interference.
Clingers don’t like me and my solid position as best friend. They think I want in Corbin’s pants and have been harboring some sort of longtime love for him. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the man and I can appreciate he’s attractive, but that’s where the line in the snow is drawn.
One of my sisters knocking on my door pulls me from my thoughts of Corbin. He’s a great best friend, but he would not be down for the movie marathon we have planned. The grumbling he would do the entire time would ruin the whole night.
Now, you want to watch action movies or superheroes? He’s down and the only one I would call for such a marathon. But romantic comedies and all things Hollie Berry with a Christmas twist? Not so much.
I swing my door open to be greeted with Raegan, my younger sister, and Isabella, my older sister. I’m in the middle of the Torres girl sandwich which probably explains a whole lot about why I am the way I am. Why a commitment has always been difficult. Why I brush off a lot of things as if they don’t matter when they matter the most.
My parents are awesome, and they love all of us, including our brother, Hale, who is the oldest of all the kids. Still, it was hard being somewhere in the middle growing up. If it manifests itself in me having one-night stands, is it really so bad? I’m safe and I keep things casual.
I don’t need more than that.
Except the one thing you really want.
Raegan pulls me into a hug and squeezes before she heads into my apartment, not even batting an eye at the Christmas decorations I have up. It’s a huge improvement. I was already bracing for a lecture on how commercialism has ruined the holiday and how buying decorations is only feeding the machine.
Bella hugs me as well and breezes into the room. “I can’t believe the interview, it was wild,” she gushes. Then she screws up her face, “I’m officially boycotting the Adored Network.”
I laugh and shake my head, my tone teasing, “How can you boycott a channel you didn’t even have which is why we always ended up here watching it?”
Bella waves her hand dismissively as she heads into my kitchen and pops in one of the packets of popcorn. “That’s hardly the point. I can’t believe they dropped her because she had a little fun.” Her eye roll is dramatic; I love it. “The pictures weren’t even bad. The man was hot, and he was a fan.”
Raegan’s voice carries from the couch, “I guess I can understand about the lap dance, it’s hard to spin that into wholesome.”
I scoff, “That’s not the point. She wasn’t on set. She wasn’t promoting a movie. It was her best friend’s bachelorette party.”
Raegan shoots me a look. “I know, I’m just saying. It’s not right, I’m not saying it is, but I can also see the other side of things.”
“Yeah because they have a stick up their ass,” I mumble and Bella laughs.
“It’s okay. She’ll come out on top, I’m sure. This might be the best thing to happen to her,” Bella muses.
“Have you seen how many women are posting about claiming their coal?” Raegan’s voice is bright, “It’s kind of amazing and she makes a great point. Why shouldn’t we do what we want?”
I bite my lip and nod as my thoughts swirl. That’s exactly what I’ve been wrestling with all day. I want to claim my coal. I don’t know if anyone would put me on the good list, considering I haven’t had an issue claiming my own sexuality and enjoying my life, but I don’t think that’s all there is to it with this whole claim your coal campaign.
It’s about what you really want and who you really are.
Who am I? What do I really want? What is the thing that scares me because of the judgment of others?
Bella’s voice is full of amusement as she teases Raegan, “I think you’ll be doing what you want very soon.”
I giggle softly. Raegan is a ball of sunshine year-round, except for Christmastime. It seems the season is looking up for her because a customer of ours at Éclair Wishes, who clearly has wanted her for a while, finally made his move. I hope he makes her happy even though it’s still brand new. She’s already less Grinch-y.