Christmas in July by Enni Amanda

Author:Enni Amanda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lumi Publishing
Published: 2020-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

Riley woke up to the smell of food. Something rich and festive. It was dark, but she could see lights shining through the doorway. The Christmas lights! It was the same string of lightbulbs Jonas had used for building the hut above the bed.

Riley rolled over in bed, rubbing her arms. She was naked, but she wasn’t cold anymore. She’d survived. What had happened? She remembered being quite out of it, too tired and dizzy to think straight. It was crazy what a little hypothermia could do to you. And hunger. She hadn’t eaten a morsel all day. Jonas had roused her at some point, offering sweet tea. The cup was still on her nightstand, nearly full. No wonder she felt lightheaded.

She pushed herself up and lowered her feet on the cool floor, scanning the room for her clothes. After a moment, she saw her pajamas, neatly folded at the foot of the bed. As she dressed, a niggling thought buzzed at the back of her brain. Something she’d forgotten. Something important. She was late for work, obviously. So late that it almost didn’t matter anymore. She was missing in action. The internet! That’s why she was here–to see if the wi-fi worked, and if she could contact the crew. Riley swallowed, wondering how many hours she’d missed, napping the day away. Her legs felt a bit wobbly, but they carried her to the lounge.

The clock on the wall showed 7:15. It must have been evening. She couldn’t have possibly slept until the next morning. Even sleeping this many hours during the day was strange.

Letting her gaze drift from the clock to the rest of the room, it took her a few beats to register the transformation. The Christmas lights hung above her head, glowing bright and golden. The coffee table was set up for two diners, complete with folded napkins. A white candle flickered in a silvery holder, reflecting off a wine bottle. She spotted the source of the delicious smell, a row of steaming trays on the kitchen counter. The place had no dining table, but Jonas had been creative.

“How long did I sleep?” Riley asked, blinking at the sight. “What day is it?”

Jonas appeared from the kitchen with two wine glasses. He smiled. “It’s still Saturday. How are you feeling?”

The concern in his eyes made her insides ache.

“I’m fine. What’s all this?”

She gestured at the Christmas lights and the candles, inhaling the scent of cooking. Whatever it was, she would devour it.

“It’s mid-winter Christmas!” Jonas announced. “I told you we had all this food to destroy.”

Riley took a deep breath, savoring the scents and the festive lights. The gently falling snow outside the window created a magical scene. Jonas had transformed the cozy cabin into something... romantic. Was that the right word?

A low growl from her stomach interrupted her thoughts. She approached the food, swallowing a mouthful of excess saliva. Apart from what looked like a piece of ham, and a tray of meatballs, she didn’t recognize any of the dishes.

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