All I Want For Christmas Is You - Vi Keeland Page 0,64
is this?” I frown.
“A fancy Margarita.”
“It’s red.”
He smiles broadly. “That’s the fancy bit.”
I narrow my eyes as I study the drink and point to the balls floating at the top. “Are these grapes?”
“Aha,” he smiles proudly. “Super fancy, just for you.”
“Ha-ha, great.” I lie.
Kill me now.
I tentatively pick it up and take a sip. I try hard not to screw up my face in disgust. Oh hell, I think he used a cleaning product instead of Tequila.
“Well?” he smiles hopefully, as he waits for my verdict.
“Oh…,” I fake a smile. “It’s…,” I pause as I try to find an alternative word to fucking poison. “Wonderful.”
He gives me a cheesy wink. “Don’t you worry about us in Fairbanks, we know our shit.”
I stare at him as I realise that a truer statement has never been made, this drink is literal shit in a cup. “Yes…yes, you do.” I smile.
He turns his back to me and gets back to work and I wince as I take another sip.
Oh hell…this is fucking bad. I look around for somewhere to empty it so that he won’t see. At least he tried.
My phone rings again, it’s Clancy. “Hi.”
“I can’t find anywhere.”
“What?”
“Nobody can do a charter until Friday.”
“What do you mean?” I whisper angrily. “This is getting fucking ridiculous.””There are no charter flights until Friday.”I roll my eyes in disgust.
“I’m renting you a car.”
“For what?”
“You’re going to have to drive.”
“What, now?” My forehead creases in horror. “Are you serious?”
“I don’t know how to get you there if you don’t drive yourself. I told you we should have postponed.”
My blood begins to boil.
“I’m going to call around and try and find you accommodation halfway on the trip. I googled it, and it seems like just one highway. That should be easy,” she says, but I can hear the panic in her voice.
“Where is my original hotel?”
“The Four Seasons in Anchorage.”
“Okay.” I’ll make that tonight, I’m not completely useless. I glance around to see the car rental counter over at the other side of the airport. “I’ll get a car, don’t you worry. Go back to bed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” I stare at the drink in front of me. If I can drink that, I can do anything. “Okay, speak later.”
“Are you alright?” she asks.
“Of course, I am, how hard can it be to drive seven hours?” I pick up my drink and take another sip. This shit is actually getting a little better…. or maybe I’m just drunk on cleaning fluid now?
“You’re in Alaska.”
I wince as I swallow. “Well aware, I’ll keep in touch. Get better.” I hang up and drain my drink.
Okay, let’s do this.
I march up to the car rental counter. “Hello.” I smile. “I need to rent a car, please.”
“Yes, sure.” The woman smiles. “How long will you need it for?”
“Well,” I shrug. “I missed my flight to Anchorage so now I have to drive there.”
“Okay.” She types into her computer. “Drop off at Anchorage airport…on, when is your returning flight?”
“Yes, Friday.”
“Do you want the car until then?”
“Yes, please.” I slide my credit card across the desk to her.
She continues to type into her computer. “Now…have you driven here before?”
“No.”
“Okay, well, there is a weather system warning for tonight.”
“What does that mean?”
“We are expecting rain.”
“Oh.” I smile in relief, “I can handle a little rain.”
“Yes, it’s not showing too much on the radar. If you come across any ice on the road, I would suggest you pull over if you aren’t accustomed to driving through it.”
I frown. “Ice on the road?””There won’t be any at this time of year, but I have to warn you just in case. It’s in the terms and policies.”
“Oh good.” I smile, relieved. “If I get tired, I am just going to pull into a hotel anyway.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.” She keeps typing into her computer. “What kind of car did you want?”
“What drives the best?”
“I’d probably go with a SUV?”
“Are they hard to drive?”
“No, easier on our roads. Can handle all weather with a heavier tire.”
“Sounds good.”
She shuffles through her keys and hands me a set.
“If you go out these doors and over to our parking lot, you will see a black SUV; that’s your ride.”
I take the keys from her. “Perfect.” I grab my suitcase and laptop bag and make my way out to the parking lot to see the black SUV parked.
I feel myself wither a little. “Jeez, that’s a big beast.” I click the keys and it lights up as it unlocks. I