There'sno answer for a while. I stare at my phone, watching the bubbles appear and disappear until my cocoa almost boils over.
Ash:That would be nice.
Xander:Thank you. I'm looking forward to it.
Ash:Me too :)
When my cocoa is ready,I drop a handful of marshmallows on top of it and snap a picture to send Ash.
He replies with a mouth-watering gif that makes me laugh.
My apartment is still devoid of any kind of seasonal spirit. I don't bother with Halloween, but Christmas is my season, and the warm, sweet cocoa puts me in the mood,
When I finish my drink, I go to the spare room and locate the boxes with decorations. I wonder if Ash would like to help me decorate, but I'm not sure we have the kind of friendship where we go to each other's places.
Ash seems to be an open book with hidden chapters. On one hand, he's talked openly about his parents' favorite spot, mentioned his sisters, and doesn't shy away from answering my silly questions.
On the other hand, he doesn't go deeper into anything more personal. Not that I'm one to complain. I haven't even told him who I am, and I've sworn Mia to secrecy until I'm ready. It's clear that Ash and I come from different worlds, but I want him to get to know me independently of where I come from.
I spend most of the next day reading the first chapter of the entries to the publishing competition. Despite my father's warning, I refuse to pass this on. This is my project and I'll see it through. If I have to give everything else up to run the company, I'll keep this.
Mia comes into my office with another stack of manuscripts.
"I think we need to close the contest because we're getting too many entries. Unless you want to recruit some help, we have to close it."
"How many new ones from today?"
"Fifty-three."
"I'm only reading the first chapters. I already have a pile of definite no’s and a pile of maybes."
She collapses on the chair after dropping the manuscripts on my desk.
"No yesses?"
I shake my head. I'll be in trouble with my father if he finds out I'm still involved with the competition, but he'll be less than impressed if we can't find a manuscript that will at least hit one of the best-seller lists.
"Let’s review it in the morning," I say. “If I can’t find a few good candidates, we'll leave it open longer.
"Yes, boss."
Mia gets up to go back to her desk, but I stop her. "Mia, don't you have a date with Nicki tonight?"
"Yeah, we're going to an early streaming of The Nutcracker, direct from the London Royal Opera House."
She looks happier than I've ever seen. Almost glowing. If I didn't know any better, I'd guess she's pregnant. I smile at the thought of Mia with a mini-me with long, wavy pink hair and an attitude five times bigger than her.
"Why don't you go home to get ready? I'm going to stay late reading through these," I say.
She beams. "Are you sure you'll be okay on your own? I mean, what if that device in front of you makes that loud noise you don't like?" she says, pointing at my desk phone.
"It's okay, I'll hide under the desk until it stops."
"Good strategy. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Mia. Have fun."
She giggles as she goes back to her desk to shut everything down, and twenty minutes later, she presents me with some magically sourced takeout dinner before she leaves the office for her date.
