Hey you guuuuuuuuuys…

So I’ve really been trying to get back into the swing of writing and while I working on the little ditty I started about a week ago, I also finished another little drabble thing. It’s just a small thing using characters from a story I have yet to finish. It’s below the cut if you wanna give it a read. Enjoy.

Vanessa’s ugly sweater party was going great, I guess. As her best friend, I really had no choice but to come (since I also had to help with the set up). I really didn’t want to come; hell, I didn’t even want to leave my house. It’s been a rough three months for me. My former boyfriend (and my boss’ nephew) Eric and I decided to end our whirlwind relationship. It was a fast, fun and wonderful fling but stupid me decided to fall in love with the joker. He, on the other hand, got cold feet on the commitment front and ran off, claiming it was for his “job”. I mean sure, he is an award winning photojournalist for AP and yes, he did need to leave since there is the whole Syrian refugee thing…fuck I am a terrible person. Anyway, I told him that I wanted more and that I loved him. He freaked, said he would call and then two weeks later I hear from David, my boss at SandsTech, that he was sent on assignment for at least six to eight months. So I went into seclusion and this is the first time I’ve been out since then (mainly because David and Vanessa broke into my house and made me come out).

“Hey heifer,” Ness said as she walked to where I was sitting, looking morose. “Here, have some eggnog. I gave it an extra kick for you.”

“Thanks Nessie. And your party is going pretty smoothly. When do you think Tabitha is gonna to try to make out with Peter Smith?”

“I…wait, what now? They’re hooking up?”

I nodded, then sighed. Really? The office hookup is making me sad? I hoped Ness didn’t notice, but I glanced at her and she was giving me the pity eyes.

“Stop. Don’t…don’t do that. I’m okay. I mean, I put on my ugly sweater and everything.”

She sat down next to me and wrapped her arm on my shoulder. “Maxie, seriously; are you okay? I really didn’t want to drag you out if you weren’t ready but Dave and I were worried about you. You know Dave ripped Eric a new one right?”

I perked up at that information. “Really now? What did he say?”

“You can ask him yourself; he should be on his way back.”

“Yeah, where did he go anyway?”

She shrugged, “don’t know. He said something about running an errand. But he was going to grab some more booze so I didn’t question it.”

After a while (and a few more extra spiked egg nogs), I was getting into the swing of things. Right in the middle of deciding which song to butcher for karaoke, Ness ran over to me.

“Maxie.”

“So should I go Total Eclipse of the Heart or Proud Mary? Bonnie Tyler might bring the room down.”

“Maxie.”

“You’re right, go with a fast song. How about Beyonce? Single ladies?”

“MAXINE focus. He’s here.”

“Who? Dave? Finally, jeez. Where’d he get the vodka from? Russia direct?”

She looked spooked “No, not Dave. Eric. Eric is here.”

I mirrored her look as she pointed him out to me.

Fuck.

And he looks good too?

Double fuck.

“Why is he here? Nessie WHY IS HE HERE?”

I could feel myself starting to freak out. Ness pulled my arm and dragged me to her guest room.

Once we were in the room, I started pacing and felt tears starting.

“I can’t see him right now, especially like this. I’m shitfaced in an ugly sweater. I’m not cute at all, like it matters since he didn’t want to be with me. Why should I even care? I shouldn’t.”

In the midst of my ranting, Vanessa grabbed my shoulders to stop me.

“Maxie check it, we’re gonna fix this. I’m gonna make you over so good that he will grovel at your feet begging you to take him back. You’re gonna clean your face, throw on the purple dress you left here with my black Louboutins and fuck him all up. Okay? You with me?”

I wiped my eyes and nodded.

“Good. The dress is in the closet and you know where the bathroom is. I’ll be right back.”

We both walked out of the room, her to the master bedroom and me to the bathroom. I went in, cleaned off my face and make up and headed back toward the bedroom. As I walked down the hall, I heard my name.

“Maxine.”

Fuck a duck.

I turned and there was Eric. Tall, handsome Eric still gorgeous in a hideous sweater.

“Hey Eric. What are you doing here? I thought you were on assignment?” I asked, hoping I sounded casual.

“I was but I asked to come back. I…I needed to see you. I wanted to say I was sorry.”

I was sad but now I’m starting to get angry.

“Sorry? You’re sorry? For what? Leaving me without notice? Running off like a bitch after I told you my feelings? Come on Eric, you came back because Dave cussed you out. You didn’t come back for me.” I started to walk away but he grabbed my arm.

“Wait please. You have every right to be angry but let me say my piece and I’ll leave.”

I did want to hear what he had to say. I gestured for him to talk.

“Can we go somewhere? In case someone comes by.”

I led him to the guest room and once we were inside, I sat down on the bed. He started pacing.

“First things first; I am sorry. I’m sorry for not saying anything when you told me how you felt and for leaving without telling you. I had leave.”

“Why?”

He rubbed his face, trying to get the words together.

“Eric? Why’d you leave?”

“Because. Because I was scared okay. I was fucking scared. You scare me Maxie.”

I was confused and I’m sure it was all over my face. He stopped pacing, gathering his thoughts to explain.

“You are beautiful and funny and smart and amazing and I want to be with you all the time. So much that it frightens me. I never felt like this with anyone I’ve been with and I was scared to call it what it was.”

I looked up at him. “What is it?”

“I love you. I do. I am crazy in love with you. While I was in Europe, I saw a family of refugees. A husband and wife and their baby girl. They were separated and the dad and daughter were looking for the mom in the sea of people. It looked like they weren’t going to find her but as he lost hope, the little girl saw her mother in the crowd and ran for her. The husband saw and took off after her. When he saw his wife, the look on his face…it was filled with so much love. I saw that and thought about how much I wanted it with you. I realized I already had it but was letting you slip away because of my cowardice. So I needed to come back to you and tell you that I love you too.”

I started with the tears again. Eric kneeled in front of me and wiped the tears from my face.

“These are good tears, right?”

I nodded. “But are you serious? You love me?”

“I do. And if I’m honest with myself, I knew it when you told me. But since I’m a complete punk, I didn’t believe it. I know now; I love you Maxine Parker. I love you so much.”

“I love you too but you hurt me Eric.”

“I know baby and if you find it in your heart to forgive me, I’ll make it up to you every single day.”

I looked at him, his beautiful dark eyes were so sad but had a glimmer of hope. While my mind is hemming and hawing on if I should forgive him, my heart makes an executive decision; I kissed him. It happened so quickly that he didn’t move at first but once he realized what was going on he got with the program.

Vanessa was grumbling to herself as she walked back to the guest room; how did she get pulled into a card game when her best friend (and gaming partner) was hurting. And who knew it was going to go on that fucking long?

Swinging the door of the bedroom open, Ness spoke.

“Hey Maxie I’m so sorry. David pulled out the Cards Against Humanity and I got sucked in-HOLY SHIT!”

I heard the door open and Vanessa started speaking.

“…HOLY SHIT!”

Eric and I both jumped at her voice, which caused him to fall out of the bed.

Did I mention he was naked?

“Ness! I…we were…” I tried to explain as Eric was working on putting his pants on from the floor. Ness covered her eyes, laughing.

“It’s cool Maxie. I hoped this would happen. Okay, not exactly this but that you two would get back together. I’ll leave you to it but I expect you to wash my sheets heifer.”

She headed out but before she left, “oh and Eric. Nice ass bruh.”

When the door closed, I looked over the side of the bed at Eric. We both started laughing.

Best ugly sweater party ever.