“I want you to understand that nothing has to happen tonight if you don’t want it to.But I think we both need a nightcap.Since Ash cut our date short with his talk, we got cheated.I’d like to get to know you better, in what little time we have together.”He opened the door.“After you.”
Kalliopi entered the home, which was sparsely decorated.Very minimal in regards to tchotchkes, except for his Christmas tree.Nothing appeared out of place, something she respected.
“Is whiskey okay?”
“Whiskey is great.Thank you.”
He poured two glasses and handed one to her.“Here’s to getting to know each other better.”He clinked glasses with Kalliopi.
“What else are you dying to get me to spill about myself?”
“Well, you aren’t a fan of Christmas, but is there a holiday you do like?”
“I always liked Halloween, but even that is getting a little too commercial for my liking.”
“You really don’t like holidays all that much, do you?”
“I like the food and getting together with people.The rest I can live without.”
“Ah!So you aren’t a fan of the whole gift-giving that comes with Christmas.”
“Yeah, I’m not a fan.And the decorations are overwhelming.I’m not home enough to make sure the tree is watered.I also don’t find joy in decorating every room in the house, including the bathroom, with stuff I’m going to have to put away in a month.It all seems like a waste of time.Time that’s better spent with the people I care about.Because in the end, we don’t know how long we have, so I want to make the most of it.Also, why buy candy before it goes on sale the day after Halloween and Valentine’s Day?I’d rather wait and get the discount.”
“That makes sense.And since you put it that way, let’s take this time we have with each other and spend it having fun.I can’t promise that I won’t be decorating with you, though.I enjoy doing that.And sadly, this is the first year I did it alone.”
“I didn’t realize you didn’t have family near you.”
“My daughter is finishing up her degree and training this year.So, I trimmed the tree without her this year.She’ll be home for Christmas dinner, but not before that.”
“It’s all making sense to me now.You want to take me to all the festival stuff because you miss doing all of that with her.”
Stan shrugged and nodded.“I guess you might be right.”
“Well, in that case, consider me your wing woman because I don’t want you to miss out on anything!Just promise me we won’t go overboard, okay?”
“Deal!”
They clinked glasses again before taking another sip.
“You asked me a question, so it’s only fair I ask you one.What’s your favorite Christmas movie?”
“TheDie-Offmovie franchise.”
“Okay, now this I can get on board with!A Christmas movie doesn’t have to be only those sappy made-for-TV ones.Christmas is just a trope to me.They can make action-packed, fantasy, or any other genre with a Christmas trope in the mix.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Stan said as he tucked a few loose strands of Kalliopi’s hair behind her ear.“Want to watch it?”
“Sounds like fun.”
The two sat on the couch.Stan clicked on the television and scrolled to the movie and pressed the play button.Once the movie played, he glanced over at Kalliopi.
“Why are you so far away?Come sit closer to me.”
Kalliopi placed her drink on a coaster on the coffee table and cuddled up to the hard planes of his chest.She then laid her head on his heart, which was beating faster than she thought was normal.It appeared he liked her as much as she liked him.
“Is this okay?”
Stan caressed her back and gave her a tight squeeze.“More than okay.”He drew her chin up to meet his gaze.“I really want to kiss you, if that’s okay.”
