text: What did the rich drink, anyway?* “Whatever it is you rich folk drink.” I stared at her scrunched nose. She reminded me of a toddler refusing their vegetables. Where did this woman come from? “I wouldn’t serve this to a pig.” “I imagine you’ve never served anyone. I’m sure you have a butler and a maid and even people to take off your shoes.” “You don’t know me.” “Thank God for that,” I whispered, but loud enough that I knew she heard. The woman’s cheeks were flushed, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or embarrassment. I made an effort to make conversation over the next few minutes, but it was no use. The woman had walked into my store just ten minutes ago and already she’d insulted me three times and practically spat at everything as she stormed up and down the aisles of packaged goods. The click-clack of her heels over and over again felt like nails on a chalkboard. She made her way to the counter, staring me up and down, as if I were one of the pathetic souls she bossed around in her fancy life. “That’ll be $1.25” I said firmly. “For this? It tastes like it was made last week!” “You know what? Take it. I don’t need your money badly enough to listen to you ramble on. Take it and go.” I exhaled. The woman rolled her eyes and threw a five dollar bill on the counter. “I need a phone. You do have those out here, right?” “Yes. Don’t you?” She waved her cell in the air. “No service in this bum-fuck town.” I placed the landline on the counter. “Good luck reaching anyone. Storm’s knocked out most of the local power lines.” “Of course it has. This is just my luck.” She picked up the phone, pressed the talk button several times, then hung it up. “Just great. There’s no way I’m getting stuck here on Christmas Eve, with...you.I don’t have time for this.” I swallowed a chuckle and ran my hand through my mustache. “Something funny?” I shook my head, the grin twisting my mouth. “Go on...Mountain Man, what’s so funny?” “Nothing. I’m just surprised there’s anyone on this planet who’d willingly put up with you during the holidays. You’re insufferable.” “You don’t even know me! The nerve! And just what are you doing in this--” She looked around the store, “--hole in the wall, on Christmas Eve? Doesn’t seem like anyone’s rushing to share the holiday with you, either.” A knot twisted in my stomach as a weight hung heavy in my chest. I was ready to pick this woman up and throw her out into the snow, myself. “Some of us don’t have the luxury to take off whenever we want.” She nodded, eyeing me up and down. “Yes, I see you’d miss out on this rush of business.” A draft blew past the counter and I caught a whiff of her perfume. It was rather pleasant, like a touch of Spring wrapped in rose petals. It was the only pleasant thing about her. “What are you staring at? Don’t they teach any manners out here?” She pulled her blazer closed. “That’s rich coming from a woman who not even five minutes ago spit coffee onto the ground.” “I didn’t want to get poisoned.” “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I snarked, though, I knew there was no way she could leave. The snow continued to fall, ensuring I’d be trapped in this tiny store with the Bitch Who Stole Christmas at least for the next couple of hours. “You’re right. Clearly I’d be much better off out there. See you around, Mountain Man.” The woman walked to the front door and stopped, staring at the blustering winds and snow outside. The wind howled. She sighed heavily, glancing back ever so slightly, but continued out into the night. “Fuck.” I kicked the crate into the wall. Why me? Why was I the one cursed to provide shelter to this woman. I was too nice. She didn’t care about anyone other than herself. I knew the type, I knew it well. Rolling my eyes, I threw on my coat, and walked out into the blizzard after her. The air was frigid. I couldn’t even see her in the distance; visibility was awful. She couldn’t have gone far in this, certainly not in what she was wearing. “Hey, wait!” I trudged through the path in the snow, cursing myself, ignoring my already-frozen toes. Her figure came into view, her bold attire standing out against the white night. I walked closer, closing the distance between us until we were standing face to face. Tears streamed down her flushed face. She whipped around, facing away from me. “Go away. You were right. I’m insufferable.” “C’mon. I mean... yeah, you really are. But you don’t deserve to freeze to death out here. Come back in the store, just until the roads are cleared up some.” “Leave me alone. I don’t wanna spend the night with you, anymore than you do with me! I’ll be fine. My car’s just up the road. I can wait out the storm in there.” “Your car doesn’t have enough heat. You’ll freeze out here.” “What do you care?” “You’ll die. And then I’d have your death on my conscience.” In that moment, something shifted. Maybe the cold was making me delirious. Maybe the woman was working her devilish wiles on me. But the way her big eyes glowed against the brightness, there was a softness about her; a vulnerability. And sadness. One that she tried so hard to hide. “Look, if you don’t follow me back, I’m going to have to pick you up and carry you myself.” *God, what was I even saying?* “Does that line actually work for you? You better keep your filthy hands off of me. You know what, I’m not going anywhere with you. You’re crazy. I’d rather freeze!” With that, I grabbed her shivering body from the snow, holding her in my arms as I trudged back to the store. There was a second, just a brief second, where I saw the corners of her mouth turn up. She tried to hide it, but I saw her smile. Not so tough, I guess. Once inside, I gently put her down. “You really are crazy! Who do you think you--” “You’re welcome.” I interrupted. “But I mean, if I’m crazy, and you’re that committed, go on. You’re free to leave at any time.” She brushed the snow onto the floor and looked from me, to the door. “Fine. But don’t think this means I like you or something. I don’t. I’m leaving the second I can.” “Sure. Feeling’s mutual, sweetheart.” “I am not your sweetheart.” “Well, that part you have right. Aint nothin’ sweet about you, lady.” “Priscilla.” “Pri-what?” “My name, it’s Priscilla.” I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek. “Even your name is prissy.” “Well I’m sure you have a very backwoods name. Like Butch or Buster or something weird like that.” “Actually, the name is Jack. After my father and his father.” “I guess that’s not so bad.” I smiled. When she put down her guard, even just a little, she was tolerable. Endearing, even. And she was quite attractive. “Your clothes are soaked. I have some sweats in the backroom if you like.” I walked to the back without waiting for her response. When I returned, she was sitting on the counter. I tossed the t-shirt and sweats in her lap. She held them up. “You wear these? Like... in public?” I laughed. It was the closest thing to a thank you I would get from her. “There’s a bathroom you can change in.” I pointed to the right. “Well I guess I don’t have a choice.” Prissy, as I’d started thinking of her, went into the bathroom and changed. For the next four hours, we watched the storm from the window in my makeshift room in the back of the store. We talked about our very different lives and shared a bottle of brandy. We even played cards--I let her win, of course. She really wasn’t all that bad. The night could have been much worse. And to be honest, it really was better than spending it alone. Though, I would never tell her that. I got the feeling that this was the first time she’d actually had fun in a very long time. Shuffling the cards in my hand, I glanced out the window. The snow had finally stopped and the sun was rising. The plows attempted to make their way down the main road. “Looks like it’s clearing up a bit. You can rush back to your fancy life now.” “I’m sure you’re happy about that. You can finally get rid of me.” “Well, it’s not like I have plans. I mean, you can stay, if you need to.” A smile adorned her face, and her cheeks flushed. “I guess it’s still pretty rough out there. Maybe I should stay here a little longer. Just to be safe.” “Yeah, just to be safe.” I grinned back. “Merry Christmas, Prissy.” “You, too, Mountain Man.” &nbsp; *** - This is an extended version of the original 800-word version I wrote for our Discord Secret Santa Story Exchange! - While I don't do typically do romance, thank you u/DannyMethane_ and u/LeeBeeWilly for the constraints that pushed me to write something out of my comfort zone. Merry Christmas! - Check out r/ItsMeBay for more stories by me.