Maria
Come on, Noelle. You have to come home for Christmas.
Noelle
I told you no and that’s the end of it.
Noelle
I can’t handle Christmas with Dad.
Noelle
I’m not as tough as you.
Maria
Seriously? You’re using that excuse?
Maria
You’re stronger than me, Noelle. You’re stronger than anyone in our family.
Noelle
But I can’t bear to see Dad with…her.
Maria
Mom is dead, Noelle. She’s been dead for five years.
Maria
You should be happy that Dad is dating someone else.
Noelle
Yeah, but did he have to choose Beatrice?
Noelle
It’s disgusting. That woman used to babysit us whenever Mom and Dad had a big case.
Maria
Ew, stop! You act like Beatrice is some young vixen.
Maria
She’s a family friend! A good one.
Noelle
I don’t believe that anymore.
Noelle
She probably had her eye on Dad during our whole childhood.
Noelle
Maybe she was waiting for the day when the stress of work got between the two of them…
Maria
Noelle, stop it! It’s Christmastime — have a heart!
Maria
If you’d just listen to the story of how Dad and Beatrice got together…
Noelle
I can’t because I DO have a heart — it loves and remembers Mom.
Maria
DON’T throw that in my face.
Maria
I miss Mom every single day.
Maria
And unlike you, I couldn’t run away to Florida after she died.
Noelle
I didn’t run away!
Maria
Look, it’s Christmas. I don’t want to fight.
Noelle
Can you stop it with this “it’s Christmas” garbage?
Noelle
Bad things happen during Christmas too, remember?
Noelle
That’s when Mom died.
Maria
Noelle, please. I remember.
Maria
Look, just…please come home for Christmas.
Maria
It’s going to be a very important one for our family this year.
Noelle
What’s that supposed to mean?
Ten minutes later, Noelle groans.
Her sister still hasn’t responded to her text.
She checks her emails at work.
She checks her phone again.
No messages from anyone, because her friends are all traveling for the holidays…
And because her love life is non-existent…
There aren’t any messages from hot guys either.
Sighing, Noelle clicks Maria’s name and their text conversation pops up.
Noelle
Fine. I’ll come home.
Maria
Great!! I already bought you a ticket.
Noelle gets a ping on her phone.
It’s her plane ticket…and the flight leaves in two hours!
Noelle rolls her eyes, stuffs some clothes into a duffle bag and calls an Uber.
Noelle makes it through security with plenty of time.
She heads to the bar and orders herself a warm spiked eggnog, to prep for the journey home.
But when the bartender places the mug in front of her…
A guy’s broad hand darts out to take it before she can.
Noelle
Excuse me! That’s my eggnog.
Guy
I’m sorry. I thought I’d ordered mine before you, but you can have it.
Noelle feels herself blush.
Noelle
Oh! You ordered eggnog too?
Guy
No whip, extra cinnamon.
Guy
I’m afraid so. I always get a little nervous on airplanes.
The guy puts out his hand.
Noelle eyes him warily before shaking it.
Lawrence
Like Christmas day, right?
Noelle
Ugh, yes. Unfortunately.
Lawrence gives her a strange look so she clears her throat.
She pushes the cup of eggnog towards him.
Noelle
Well anyway…I think this is yours. I ordered mine with whip.
There’s something about the way the sound emanates from his body…
It loosens Noelle’s muscles more than any warm holiday drink ever could.
Lawrence
So do you prefer whip, or extra whip?
Noelle decides to take the bait.
It is Christmastime, after all.
Noelle
Extra whip, obviously.
Lawrence
Excellent. Now I don’t have to feel bad about taking this drink from a beautiful woman.
To Noelle’s dismay, she feels herself blush again.
She is usually in control of every situation and all of her reactions—
It’s become second nature to her since her mom died.
Back then, even the slightest kind word about her mom would send her to tears.
And it was an act of self-preservation to keep herself constantly in check.
Noelle sneaks a glance at Lawrence and then ducks down her head to hide her emotions.
She grabs her phone as a security blanket.
Noelle
Ugh, Maria — this guy tried to steal my eggnog at the airport.
Maria
What guy? Is he hot?!
Noelle
Are you seriously trying to play matchmaker from 1500 miles away?
Maria
That depends on how hot he is.
Noelle
Fine. He’s totally hot. Happy?
Maria
YES! Omg, what’s his name? Does he live in Florida??
Noelle is about to text her sister back when she hears Lawrence clear his throat.
Lawrence
Totally hot, huh?
Noelle
Oh my god! You weren’t supposed to see that!
Lawrence raises his hands in apology, a sparkle in his eye.
Lawrence
Sorry, I have a special talent for reading upside down.
Noelle feels her cheeks grow redder.
Lawrence
But I appreciate the compliment.
He writes something on a napkin and slides it across the counter.
Lawrence
And think you should take my number.
Noelle’s mouth falls open.
But before she can speak, Lawrence downs his eggnog, gets up, and walks away.
It takes a full minute for Noelle to come to her senses.
She drinks her eggnog slowly, trying to put the infuriating stranger out of her head.
When she finally loses herself in the swirls of cinnamon and sugar…
She suddenly hears her name blaring over the airport PA system.
The flight attendant is paging HER – the plane is about to take off!
There’s an elderly couple sitting next to Noelle in matching Christmas sweaters.
They scowl at Noelle’s language as she jumps up from her seat.
She tries not to roll her eyes as she smacks a twenty on the bar.
Because, really? Tacky Christmas sweaters?
At a run, Noelle barely gets through the gate before the attendant closes it.
She tries not to make eye contact with the irritated passengers who glare at her—
And her overflowing duffle bag.
Noelle finally makes it to her seat and gasps.
Noelle
Are you kidding me right now?!
Her cheeks flush with embarrassment, again.
She didn’t mean to yell that out loud.
But sitting there in her seat, flashing his devastatingly handsome smile…
Is the hot guy from the airport bar.
