Last Christmas

Chapter Three

December 2009

Maxie Jones could not believe her sister Georgie would do something like this to her. Georgie had stole all the attention from Maxie and Spinelli by making out with that sleaze Logan Hayes by the bar as if she was going to strip him naked and have her way with him right then and there in the middle of Maxie's own engagement party!

Since when did Georgie kiss Logan anyway?

And then the jerk tried to blame Maxie for being upset about it by saying: I will kiss your sister whenever the mood strikes me and if you don't like it then stop inviting her to all your nonsense wedding events.

Maxie was stunned he would dare say something like that to her. "My wedding is not nonsense, you ass!"

Georgie was steadily sipping away on some kind of mixed drink. Her eyes looked glassy enough that it was for sure not her first drink of the night.

"Maxie," Georgie said, a definite slur to her words, "you said that you just had to make your whole engagement magical and enjoy every moment of marrying your dream man so why don't you go enjoy some of those moments somewhere else? I am trying to drink my spiced spiked...no, my spiked spiced...my cider in peace."

"You're wasted," Maxie said "No wonder you're getting all sloppy with a loser like Logan!"

Cooper said "That's enough! Logan came here to support you and you're acting like it's two years ago all over again. I think you owe him an apology."

"I think he owes me an apology for trying to steal my thunder! You two better not be planning to do this at my co-ed bridal shower next weekend because this engagement is my time to shine, not yours! Put down the booze, Georgie, and stop embarrassing yourself." Maxie stomped off to be comforted by Spinelli.

Nadine muttered "Talk about a bridezella."

Logan asked Georgie "Are you absolutely sure you want to still be her maid of honor? I'd tell her to go to hell, if I was you."

Georgie said "It will be fine. She's all bark and no bite. She just can't stand it if I get a bit of attention she thinks is due her, which is fine because the last thing I want is any attention. I just want to finish this drink and get a cab home."

Cooper said "I haven't been drinking. I could give you a ride. It's safer than some random cabbie." He looked at Nadine. "I'm sure you don't mind if we cut out a little early, do you?"

Logan said "I haven't even touched my drink. I can get my girlfriend home."

Cooper gave Logan a look at the word girlfriend, but said "Okay, whatever. Well have a good night, you two." He looked at Nadine. "Would you like to dance?"

She placed her hand in his. "I would love to."

Logan and Georgie shared a look as he sat down on the stool next to her. He dropped his voice. "Was Maxie right? Are you too sloshed to know what you're doing right now? Cause I wasn't trying to take advantage of you but I got to admit you've been a lot more laid back tonight than you usually are. I should have known you've been overserved."

"I'm just sick of all this wedding crap. It's been six nonstop months of it now! I was all on board for the first wedding and that was not easy on me, but this...fiasco...it's just too much!"

"I hear you. It's ridiculous. She's not the belle of the ball and no one really gives a damn to keep showing up to swoon and fawn over her and Spinelli. You're a good sister to put up with her nonsense. I couldn't do it if I was you."

"I can't wait for 2010. Then this will all be behind me."

Maxie and Spinelli were getting married on New Year's Eve.

Logan said "We'll make the best of it. Hey, it may even turn out to be fun: stealing her thunder?"

Georgie chuckled. That was the last thing she wanted to do. She just wanted people to stop asking her if she had a boyfriend. And now maybe they would. The whole party had seen her kissing Logan.

That had to help put a stop to all the prying into her love life.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It didn't help. The next morning, when she was hung over, her great Aunt cornered her in the kitchen of Mac's house. Georgie was still living at home. Her great Aunt Ida, her great grandmother Mariah and her mother, Felicia, were visiting for one month- for the holidays and the wedding.

Aunt Ida asked Georgie "Who was the handsome young beau you were kissing last night at the party? He seemed quite smitten with you."

"He's my boyfriend, Logan."

"You should bring him around for tea. I would love to get to know your suitor."

"He's real busy. He works a lot."

"A proper gentleman would make the time. If he can't properly ask to court you then perhaps you should be entertaining other gentleman callers who are more suitable for a young lady like yourself. I met a nice young man at the party. A doctor, too! Dr. Matthew Hunter. He reminded me of Rock Hudson."

Georgie stifled a groan. "Logan will make time for tea one day real soon. He's serious about me. I'm sure he would love to meet you. But right now I can't really talk about this cause I need to go jump in the shower and then head off to school. I have finals this week. You know I graduate in May, right? Busy, busy, busy!"

Georgie darted back up the stairs. Great. Tea with her aunt Ida and Logan. Geez. Fake dating him was supposed to get her family off her back, not give them a new thing to bug her about.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Logan had a lot of downtime working as a paramedic. He decided to text Georgie and see how she was feeling about their fake dating plan.

Logan: Morning after regrets?

Georgie: That I drank that last drink, yes. Are you trying to wiggle out of our deal?

Logan: I still got a crazy ex-girlfriend to shake so nah. What about you?

Georgie: I still have a great aunt trying to set me up with Matt so no. I went out with that guy last year and it sucked. He thought it went great. It took me three weeks to convince him I wasn't flirting with him just because we were roommates.

Logan: Roommates?

Georgie: Mac rented him a room.

Logan: Does that guy still live with you?

Georgie: He moved in with Robin and Patrick to get some space to get over me.

Logan: So when is our next wedding event?

Georgie: Co-ed bridal shower next Sunday. It's at Laura Spencer's house. Lulu is hosting it.

Logan: She will hate it when you show up with me.

Georgie: Good.