Wrapped Up for Christmas. Katlyn Duncan

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       Chapter 3

      Angie bolted across the street, holding the paper bag against her chest. She didn’t dare look behind her until she walked through the entrance of the mall. She couldn’t believe she had embarrassed herself like that. The first cute guy in a suit she saw brought her back to the foolish woman she had been with Brett. Then, her card was denied.

      The reminder that things like food and clothing cost money reeled in her head. She didn’t think she had spent that much in her move back home, but last-minute plane tickets after Thanksgiving were expensive, along with moving her furniture into storage until she had found a permanent place to live. The severance check should have been enough to cover all her budgeted expenses.

      Heat seared her cheeks as she glanced over her shoulder. From the furious expression on that guy’s face, she fully expected him to come after her. Thankfully, he was nowhere in sight. It wasn’t her fault those kids had knocked the door into him. She supposed he was upset she hadn’t thanked him for paying, but she was too embarrassed to stick around. Reese’s voice screamed in the back of her mind to run away. This was her chance to get a break from men like Brett, and she had failed her first test.

      While the guy was attractive, their short conversation reminded her so much of Brett – the suit, the slick-backed hair, and throwing money around like it wasn’t a big deal. While it was nice of him, the fact that she had no money to pay for bagels loomed over her like a thick cloud.

      Brett had said she would get a severance check. She hadn’t bothered to review her bank account; she had simply assumed the money would be there. He couldn’t have lied about that too. It was a silent deal they had made. She didn’t want to make a big deal of their breakup, and she got what she needed to get out of there.

      With two bagels in her hands and Reese waiting for her, Angie would have to wait to find out what was going on with her finances. She located Reese outside of Bloomfield’s department store. Somehow, her friend appeared even more tired than when she had seen her last. As she neared, the bags around Reese’s eyes darkened.

      ‘Finally,’ Reese said. ‘I’m starving.’

      ‘Sorry. Did you eat breakfast?’ Angie asked, sitting next to her on the bench.

      Reese cut a look at her. ‘If I say yes, don’t judge me.’

      ‘I won’t,’ Angie said, grinning.

      They were the type of friends who could pick up where they left off every time they met. Reese dug into the bag and pulled out a bagel.

      ‘I’ve been dreaming about this,’ Reese said, admiring the food from all angles.

      ‘Really?’

      ‘It’s my favorite place to eat down here. I needed some fuel this morning. I hate coming to the mall after Thanksgiving, though.’ Reese narrowed her eyes at the people walking past them. ‘Especially this year. I’ve realized how many shoppers don’t care about mowing down a pregnant woman as long as it means they get their cheap television.’

      ‘Turning a little green there,’ Angie said.

      Reese tilted her bagel toward Angie. ‘Don’t you dare call me the Grinch.’

      Angie laughed. ‘You said it!’

      ‘What’s on your list?’

      ‘I can’t get anything today,’ Angie said.

      ‘Why not? Don’t tell me you’re Scrooging it.’

      ‘I couldn’t even pay for the bagels this morning.’

      Reese stopped chewing and stared at her bagel. ‘You didn’t get these out of the trash, did you?’

      Angie groaned. ‘No, some guy paid for them.’ She drifted into her thoughts, thinking of him. She started to regret her reaction of fleeing the scene.

      ‘What happened?’

      Angie told her every agonizing detail of the story. Reese’s expression went from pity to confusion.

      ‘What?’

      Reese grabbed her arm, smearing cream cheese on Angie’s coat. ‘Sorry.’ She licked the remaining cream cheese from her fingers before continuing. ‘Why are you smiling like that? Was the guy hot?’

      She almost wished her best friend didn’t know her that well. Angie knew where Reese would go with the information and besides that, she didn’t want to be interested in any guy. ‘He was attractive, I guess.’

      ‘No way, Ang. You need to back up.’

      ‘I know! I’m horrible. He swooped in like some prince charming and I fell for it! He reminded me so much of Brett and the way he used to flaunt his cash.’

      ‘Well, as long as you’re aware of it. Don’t you want a little time to be single and recalibrate your life?’