Fall into my Heart (The Subzero Series, #1) (15 page)

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“W
ake
up Chloe! It’s Christmas morning!”

“Abby?
It’s 4 a.m. you nut case!” I groaned looking at the alarm clock next to the
bed.

Abby
jumped up and down on my bed. “Come on! I’m too excited to sleep! Get up with
me.”

I
looked at her like she had lost her mind “What exactly is it you think we are
going to do?”

“I
don’t know.....what do you want to do?”

“I
want to go back to sleep.”

Abby
looked at me with a pouty face. I figured I might as well give in. Abby has
been pulling this nonsense since we were kids. I knew the routine by now. Even
if I kicked her out of my room, she would just be back up in five minutes to
see if I changed my mind. This would continue until I finally gave up and went
down with her. It was easier on everyone if I just entertained her inner six
year old the first time.

“Fine,”
I yawned, sitting up, “Let me get my gifts and I’ll be down in a minute.”

Abby
jumped up and ran down the stairs. I sat up and looked around the room wishing
there was somewhere I could hide from her. In the closet maybe? Reluctantly I
got out of bed and stretched. I pulled my carryon out from under the bed.
Opening it up, I pulled out a couple of small boxes. Wanting to travel light, I
took the easy way out and bought everyone gift cards. I had considered ordering
things online and having them shipped to my parent’s house, but I knew that
either my mom or Abby would have gotten too excited and opened the packages up.

I
tiptoed downstairs as quietly as I could. I figured no one else should have to
be woken up just because my twenty-four year old sister apparently still
believes in Santa Clause.  Nick was slumped over in the corner of the black
leather sofa, his eyes barely open. I tossed the presents under the tree and
went over to curl up next to him.

“Hey.”
He said sleepily as he put his arm around my shoulder.

“Abby
got you too I see.” I yawned.

“Yeah,
I may kill her.”

“I
may help you.”

Abby
came bouncing in from the kitchen with a tray of cinnamon rolls and three
steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

“This
better be coffee.” I said grabbing a mug.

“It’s
not.....sorry. Let’s put on a christmas movie!” Abby said cheerfully. She pulled
a DVD out of our parents movie cabinet and popped it into the DVD player. Nick
and I looked at each other and shook our heads.  We were halfway through the
movie when Tyler walked down, thankfully he was fully clothed. The blue hair
didn’t put my dad completely over the edge, but the sight of Tyler’s skinny ass
in his skivvies just might.

“Wow
you guys get up early.” Tyler observed.

“You
can thank your girlfriend for that. She’s been like this since birth.” Nick
said.

Tyler
grabbed one of the cinnamon rolls and sat down on the floor to eat. “Must’ve
sucked for you guys growing up. I’m an only child. No siblings to wake me up.”

I
looked at him and laughed. “You think you’re so safe. Wait til tonight when she
tries to get you to go caroling with her.”

“Well
excuse me for liking tradition.” Abby huffed.

“There’s
no problem with liking tradition Abs,” Nick said, “I just prefer it a little
later in the day.”

“As
do I.” Dad said as he and mom walked down the stairs yawning. “Abigail you are
moving out soon and the only way you are invited back for Christmas next year
is if you promise to not set our alarm clock.”

“Sorry
Dad.” Abby said sheepishly. She turned off the movie and put some Christmas
music on the radio. That seemed to bring the Christmas spirit out in everyone,
at least a little bit. No one was pouting or yawning or flashing the stink eye
anymore. Everyone started moving around to gather the presents they bought.

“Alright
stockings first.” Mom said. She handed Abby her Rudolph stocking, Nick his
Santa stocking and me my Frosty stocking. Dad was the one who bought the
stocking stuffers and it was always fun to see what kind of stuff he would pick
out. This year mine contained my favorite raspberry chocolate truffles, a
couple candy canes, a CD by one of my favorite rock bands, a package of trail
mix and a can of mace.

“Mace
Dad.....really?” I asked him holding up the canister.

“You
take the subway kitten, you need protection. You’re too trusting.” He said.

Nick
leaned in and whispered “He gave me a box of condoms.”

I
gave him a disgusted look “Ew and that’s not even the same so.....gross.”

“Yes
it is.”

“Okay,
how exactly are mace and condoms the same?”

Nick
shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “Protection is protection little sister.” 

After
we finished opening presents, Nick went to go see Noelle and Abby and Tyler
went for a walk. I walked onto the enclosed back porch, where I found my dad
sitting alone, staring out the window with a glass of scotch in his hand. I sat
down next to him on the red and cream checkered sofa.

“What’s
the matter?” I asked him.

He
took a sip of his scotch. “If I asked you an honest question, you would give me
an honest answer right kitten?”

“Of
course Dad.”

He
took a deep breath and looked over at me, his dark eyes serious. “Do you think
your sister is on the wacky tobacky?”

I
stifled back a laugh, and believe me that was a hard thing to do. “First of all
Dad no one, and I mean no one, calls it wacky tobacky anymore.....if they ever
did. Second, to answer your question, no I don’t think Abby is on drugs. Why
would you even think that?”

Dad
took another sip of his scotch and gave me a look that clearly said “Do you
even need to ask?”

“Dad
does this have anything to do with Tyler?” I asked him.

“He
has blue hair.” Dad replied as if that was a good enough excuse.

“Oh
come on, like you never went through a rock and roll rebel phase.”

Dad
sat there silently and I could see the corners of his lips begin to curl up
into a smile.

“C’mon
on Dad, what crazy color did you dye your hair?” I teased.

He
shook his head. “Never dyed my hair but I did go through this leather outfit
phase. I had these leather pants that had flames going down the sides and a
matching vest that had fringe going up and down the arms.”

I
shuddered, trying as hard as I could to keep that image from entering my brain.
“See and look how wonderful you turned out.”

“So
do you think this is a phase? Do you think he’ll change his hair to a normal
color?” Dad asked hopefully.

“No
Dad, sorry but I don’t. He’s a really nice guy though and look at how happy
Abby is. Just give him a chance.”

Dad
set his glass down on the table and turned to me. “You know, kitten, your mom’s
been telling me about everything going on with you in London. I actually
thought you’d be the one calling to see if you could bring a guy home.”

“Yeah.....that
didn’t work out.” I said quietly.

“I
know I am an old geezer compared to you guys but I could still take him out for
you.”

I
had to laugh at the thought of my dad flying all the way to London to yell at a
boy for making me cry. “You may not believe me Dad, but he’s actually a pretty
good guy too. Thanks for the offer though Listen I think I’m gonna take my
stuff upstairs but remember what I said and give Tyler a chance. I think you’d
like him.”

I
gathered up clothes, book, money, candies and my new canister of mace and went
up to my room. I put everything into my suitcase and dropped myself down on the
bed. I figured with Abby gone for a little bit I might be able to get a bit of
a nap in. As I lay there though, my thoughts drifted to Jack. I couldn’t help
but wonder what he was doing and who he was with. I wonder if he had found someone
new yet. I bet he did, I mean he’s gorgeous and sweet and funny. They are
probably kissing under the mistletoe right this minute. She’ll probably have
moved in with him by the time I get back. I’ll have to move out of my condo and
I love my condo.

Then
again Tyler did say Jack was having a hard time with our break up. He probably
hasn’t found anyone knew, unless he was on the rebound.....could he be on the
rebound?
Oh stop it Chloe! You know Jack better than that!
I did
miss him though.....a lot. I considered calling him. I mean I could call just to
wish him a Merry Christmas. That would be okay right? I picked up my cell phone
and dialed his number. I got all the way to the last number and I cleared out
my phone.  I knew it would just drive me nuts if he didn’t answer or if I could
hear someone else in the background. All of the sudden I couldn’t wait until
this week was over and I was back in London.

~*~

When
I woke up the next morning, I decided I needed to stop sulking around the
house. I wanted to get out and feel like myself again. I didn’t even mope
around like this after Connor and I broke up. Of course that was different.
Jack’s just being stubborn but Connor was an idiot. I think what I need to do
is just go out there and try something I have never done before. What could I
do though? Boxing.....no I’m too clumsy and I’m not very strong. I wonder if you
could go skydiving in the winter. I mean it’s not snowing or anything. I should
check into that.

After
a nice long hot shower, I dressed in jeans, and brown and green striped t-shirt
and sneakers. I trotted downstairs where Abby, Tyler, Nick and Noelle were
sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen.

“Hey!
You look good today. Where are you going?” Noelle asked.

“Thanks.
I feel good. I’m gonna go skydiving.” I said as though this was something I do
often.

“What?”
They chorused. Nick had just taken a sip of milk and nearly choked on it.

“I
want to do something I’ve never done before. Something adventurous.” I
explained.

“And
you think skydiving is the right thing to do?” Abby asked.

“Yep.
Can I use your car?” I asked. I waved goodbye as Abby tossed me her keys.

I
felt a surge of excitement as I turned on the car and started off down the
street. Halfway to the airfield though, the panic of what I was about to do set
in. I pulled into the closest parking lot I could find so I could weight my
options. I pulled a small notepad and pen out of my purse and wrote.....

Reasons to not go skydiving

Afraid of heights

What if shoot doesn’t open?

Could have crazy instructor that cuts line

Could injure myself during landing

May not remember instructions

I COULD DIE!

The
only reason I could think to even go skydiving in the first place was to try
something new and that didn’t seem like enough of a reason anymore. I mean, I
don’t have to go skydiving to try something new right? I can’t go home yet
though and the parking lot I pulled into just happened to be at the mall. Well
it looks like my decision is made!

As
I walked into the busy mall, I realized just how much I missed this. Not the
mall, of course, but the hustle and bustle of New York. Okay well maybe I miss
the mall a smidge too. As I walked passed a couple of stores, I decided to buy
a new dress for my parents New Year’s Eve party. I packed a dress to bring with
me, but why wear something old when you can wear something new?

I
walked into a store and begin riffling through the racks. I found three dresses
and walked back to the fitting room to try them on. The first dress I tried on
was steel gray satin with a chiffon halter top. The second was a basic little
black dress with spaghetti straps. The third on was this wild black and purple
leopard print. I wasn’t seriously considering this dress but it was fun to try
on. In the end, the steel gray dress won.

Next
on my list was the shoe store. As soon as I walked in, I saw a pair of gorgeous
satin slate gray stilettos. I grabbed a box marked 6.5 and was on my way up to
the register when I spotted an amazing pair of brown leather knee high boots.

The
salesman walked over to me. “They are fabulous aren’t they?”

“They
sure are.” I nodded my head.

He
glanced down at the shoebox in my hand. “Six and a half.....you know I only have
one pair left in your size.”

Maybe
he was just trying to make a sale, but the thought of almost losing these boots
sent a wave of panic and exhilaration through my veins. “Not anymore ya don’t.”
I told him as I followed him to the register.

“Alright,
so that is a total of Six hundred and forty five dollars.” He said cheerfully.

$645!
The stilettos were only $120 so that means the boots were......Don’t panic. No need
to panic. You will just have the wear these boots every day for the rest of
your life whether they match your outfit or not! The boots were gorgeous though
and, I mean, can you really put a price on fabulousness? No, no you can’t. I
handed him my credit card and decided to head back to my parent’s house. I
think I did enough damage for one day.

On
the way home, though, I happened to spot a tattoo parlor. That’s it! It’s
something I have never done and it doesn’t involve jumping out of a plane. Just
permanent body branding but who cares? I made a U-turn at the next traffic
light and pulled into the parking lot. There were two guys sitting at the cash
register when I walked in. One of them was covered in tattoos. The other guy
had a couple of tattoos but had also managed to pierce just about every inch of
his face as possible.

“Let
me guess.....belly ring?” the guy with the piercings said.

“Tattoo.”
I replied.

“You
got any tattoos there princess?” Tattoo guy asked.

“No,
this is my first.” I said as I scanned the images on the wall.

“Virgin.”
Tattoo said.