Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Or rather, used to treat us. It’s not as bad as it was when we first came. The success of the Knoxville Bears has shown the town what hockey can offer. Tourism is up, games are sold out, and the team is doing great. They made it to the play-offs last year and almost won the whole damn thing. The Bears are kicking ass, and the people of this town love that. So instead of being mean to the owner’s granddaughters, they now ignore us.
It’s awesome.
I reach for the box cutter after the delivery guy brings two boxes into the shop. I don’t remember Lou telling me an order was coming, so I call her as I open the box. When I see the cover, I suppress a giggle.
My sister and her monster romance addiction.
“Hey, Liza. What’s up?”
I try to keep my voice even as I ask, “Lou, why in the hell is there a box of special edition books with Krampus on the cover, embracing a rather hot blonde?”
Lou giggles. “So, hear me out…”
“I have no choice but to hear you out as you explain to me what is appealing about Krampus, because I don’t think I’d enjoy being rammed by him.”
My sister is fully cackling at this point. “Liza, for real. He is scrumptious, and his come is eggnog.”
“As in, he ejaculates eggnog?”
“Yes.”
I blink. “I mean, I do love me some eggnog. I may give it a go.”
“You should. Just make sure to have a toy nearby.”
I snort. “Where do you find this shit?”
“Facebook ads,” she admits, and I laugh.
“Fair enough.”
“They’re so pretty. Put them up front. And make sure to set one aside for me.”
I scoff. “Do you expect it to sell out?”
She pauses. “Eliza, his come is eggnog, and we live in a Christmas town. It’s gonna fly off the shelves.”
She’s so serious, I can’t help but laugh even harder. “I can’t with you.”
“For real, read it, and don’t get anything on my pages.” I roll my eyes, but before I can scold her for her teasing, she asks, “How did it go with Chad Michael?”
I gag, my mood darkening more. “Total jackass. He doesn’t eat pussy.”
“What the hell? Yeah, ew, fuck that.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I sigh. “I’m done dating.”
“I’ve heard this before.”
“Hear it again, sister. But for real, I’m done.”
“Yeah, right. After you read Krampus, you’ll be looking for a big dude to ram you and throw eggnog on your face.”
“I am appalled,” I snort, unable to keep my laughter in. “And now questioning my love for eggnog.”
“You wait and see,” she warns me. “But for real. I’m sorry your date sucked. Keep your head up.”
“Eh, it is what it is.”
“It isn’t, though. The right guy is out there.”
“No, he isn’t. He got lost in the woods, and Krampus ate him.”
My elder sister giggles at my dramatics. “Nah, Krampus only eats women.”
I roll my eyes at that. “You’re silly. And like I said, it is what it is. I’m done trying to find someone to make me feel something. If he’s out there, he’ll have to come looking for me.”
“He is out there,” she promises, and I’m sure she has little hearts in her eyes. “And if I find him on the side of the road being eaten by Krampus, I’ll save him.”
“Good looking out.”
“Anytime.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more,” she tells me, and the warmth from the safety she guarantees me spreads through my chest. Louisa has always been the mom of our family and will always be a strong pillar in my life. I love her desperately, and I owe her everything.
She saved me when I couldn’t save myself.
We hang up, and I set my phone on the desk to get started putting the books out. Once I get everything set up nicely, I take a picture and send it to Louisa. She sends all the heart and Santa emojis, and I laugh as I tuck my phone into my back pocket. I grab my jacket and head to the front to lock the door and switch the open sign to “Be back in fifteen.” Then I go out the back, locking that door and walking down the alley toward the coffeehouse’s back entrance. I think I’m the only one who uses it, but it’s just so convenient.
Drippy Drip is the only coffee shop in town, and everyone loves it. It’s been here since the town was established, and over the years, their drinks have gotten more modern. They offer my drink of choice, a lotus tea, and my day drags without it. After I enter through the alley doorway, I head down the hall and into the open space. Like the rest of the storefronts in the town of Blitz, Drippy Drip is in a gorgeous brick building with modern gold fixtures. They have sleek black leather couches, super-tall tables with high barstools, and smaller two-person tables along one wall with booth seats. The service area is made of brick to match the outside, a distressed white brick with black accents. A bar is along one side of the service area, and on the other is a display case for all the bakery items.