Cookies and Mistletoe
Ch. 7: Cookies & Mistletoe
A little while later Sloane, Harper, and Abby who had come downstairs the next morning all looked at the two trays of cookies. Sloane’s tray was perfect as usual, and Harper’s was a hot mess, most of the cookies having burned and were not salvageable.
“I don’t get it,” said Harper. “We put our trays in at the same time. I followed the recipe.”
Sloane smiled victoriously. “What can I say, I am just way better at this than you, always have been.”
Sloane’s phone pinged and she checked her messages.
“Where are you?” Riley had asked in the text. “I miss you.”
Sloane quickly sent a text back, “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
The smile didn’t go unnoticed.
“Is that Riley,” Harper asked.
Abby looked confused, “Why would Riley…”
Sloane looked at Harper, but Harper answered anyway. “Because Sloane and Riley have been seeing each other, as in dating.”
Abby's eyes widened as she took in the news.
“Harper,” said Sloane.
“What you said I could tell Abby. Don’t worry I’m not gonna tell mom and dad, or Jane.”
“Fine, only Abby,” said Sloane, “but I swear if you tell anyone else it’s game on.”
“Fair enough.” There was another ping on Sloane’s phone. It was a simple heart emoji this time. “Go,” said Harper, “We’ll cover for you.”
“Seriously?”
“Why not, I’m feeling cherry,” said Harper. “Now go before mom and dad wake up.”
“Love you, thank you.”
“Love you too,” Harper said when Sloane was already gone.
Abby looked at Harper. “They’re dating, since when?”
“Since January apparently,” Harper replied.
“Wow, your sister and your ex.”
“Please don’t say that out loud. I tried and it sounded weird.” Harper turned to her burnt cookies. “Now seriously, what ingredient did I miss?” she asked as she tried to forget about her sister and Riley for a bit.
*****
When Sloane showed up at her house, Riley was already in the driveway waiting for her. As Riley saw her pull in, she got out of her car. Then she greeted Sloane with cups of coffee and a couple of bagels in a bag.
Sloane smiled and rather than say anything she took the bag and coffees Riley was holding and placed them on top of her car. She got close to Riley and kissed her lightly at first before it got a bit deeper.
“Wow,” Riley said, “not that I don’t mind, but what was that for?”
“I love you, Riley” Sloane admitted, being the first to say it out loud.
Riley smiled, “I love you too, Sloane.”
“I told Harper about us.”
“You did, really”
“Yeah. She and Abby know now. Harper was really the only one I was worried about so kissing you feels so much better now that she knows.”
“How did she take it?” Riley asked as she grabbed the coffees and bagels and followed Sloane inside the house. “You guys didn’t fight, did you?”
“Honestly, not this time. And she was surprisingly cool about it which I kind of didn’t expect. I mean her sister and her ex, who ever saw that one coming?”
As Sloane closed the door, Riley placed the coffee and bags on a side table. “I did,” Riley admitted. “Let’s face it, Sloane you’re too weak to resist me.”
“Oh, am I now?”
“Most definitely. I’ve got you wrapped around me. If I didn’t you would have ended things a long time ago.”
“Is that so? Are you sure it’s not the other way around? Maybe you can’t resist me.” Sloane looked up and realized where they were standing. She had forgotten that Jane had come to the house and placed the mistletoe. She meant to take it down but completely forgot about it.
Sloane leaned forward, but Riley stopped her. “Wait, what about Matilda and Magnus?”
“They’re with their dad,” said Sloane, “They won’t be coming by until Christmas Eve.”
Riley smiled, “Well in that case, what do you say you and I unwrap some Christmas presents of our own?” she asked as she leaned toward Sloane, neither of them no longer needing their words to convey what they were feeling.
Now that Harper knew Riley felt some relief to be herself with Sloane and she was glad that Sloane was at least out to someone. Whatever happened next they could deal with together.