It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Chick Lit: A Holiday Anthology
Page 41
We turn our heads as the rooftop door opens again.
“Ah, right on cue.”
Jeremy smiles at her, and she hops off the bench without saying goodbye.
And he and I are left alone.
* * *
“Hi!” I sit up from my mopey stance and straighten myself out.
“Hi. I missed you down at the party.”
“You did?”
Jeremy steps toward me and points to where Lexy had been sitting. “May I?”
“Yeah. Sit. Please.”
He sits down and takes his jacket off. “You must be freezing.” The jacket is heavy against my shoulders and back.
“Thanks. But won’t you be cold?”
“Nah. I’m fine. You’ve been out here for a while. You have to be freezing.” I was, but now that he’s here with me, I’m not. “Thanks. You’re very sweet.”
“Sorry I kicked your butt in the kisses game.”
“What? Oh, thank you. I mean, what? I mean, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Lexy likes to do this kind of stuff.”
“She’s a good friend.”
“Yeah, she has her moments.” That’s not a lie. Even though I felt like she was cornering me and forcing me into things, deep down her intentions are always good.
He reaches for his jacket. “Do you need this back?” I pull it off my shoulders and he stops me.
“No, leave it on. I need something from my pocket.” He reaches in and his hand brushes my back. “Here.”
He hands me the box he had when he came in. “What’s this?”
“I know I’m not supposed to say, but I’m your Secret Santa.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“I got Dave.”
“What did you get him?”
“A gift card to McDonald’s. Maybe he’ll bring that back to the office one day and no one will want that instead of his barbecue.”
He smiles and amid the twinkling lights his teeth sparkle. “Open it.”
What could this be? I’m impressed by the wrapping job. The corners are perfect and a tight ribbon is wrapped around every side. I tug and it loosens enough for me to pull it off. He takes the ribbon from me and smiles. I can’t wait to see what’s inside.
I rip the paper off, and open the tiny box, which is about the size of a ring box. I snap it open and inside are the most breathtaking miniature tea cups I have ever seen. Each cup boasts its own design, from a diamond interlaced with avocado bursts of color to a plain salmon ring decorated with bright red and blue flowers. What makes this even better is that each cup comes with a matching saucer. How did he know? I cover my mouth and the warmth of his jacket and him sitting beside me must have melted me enough to allow me to cry because the tears start to fall.
“I’m sorry, Candy, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“No, it’s fine. Really.” I wave my hand in front of my mouth and hope snot doesn’t come next.
“I’ve seen these on your desk. You do collect them, right?”
I’m nodding but I can’t say anything. I can’t believe he thought of this, that he took the time to notice something so small and realize it, in fact, is something huge in my life. “When? How?”
“I practically live at your desk.”
So I’m not the only one who thinks this. I lower my head, wanting to avoid eye contact. How horrible it must be for him to spend his days fixing my computer. “Sorry.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I lift my head. He’s staring at me through wet glasses. Snow has begun to fall. “I look forward to your calls.”
“You do?”
He nods and reaches for his jacket again. “I need something else.” He warns me before reaching in, but he doesn’t have to do so. I wait as he sifts around in the pocket and pulls something out. “I didn’t see a mistletoe downstairs and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to catching you under one.” He raises the mistletoe above my head. “Is this okay?”
It’s more than okay. It’s what I’ve wanted and imagined for months. And there, underneath the moon, snow wrapped around us, lights twinkling in the distance, and in our ugly sweaters, our lips meet and all my holiday wishes come true.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tracy's love of writing began at nine years old. She wrote stories about aliens at school, machines that did homework for you, and penguins. Now she pens books and short stories about romance. Whether it be romance or science fiction, she loves to stuff her nose in a good book. When not reading, you’ll probably find her crushing candy.
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