I hoped that what we had would last through the season.I needed to talk to her about what we were, but I didn't want to mess up what we had.She seemed to prefer to pretend that this was a plus-one holidate kind of situation, not a real relationship.I'd let her have that delusion for now.
I just hoped I had enough time to convince her that this was the real deal, and I wasn't going anywhere.
On Saturday, Natasha spent the day at the spa, getting a massage, a facial, and a pedicure, before trying on dresses like a bride at the dress shop.After she was finished with hair and make-up, I was supposed to meet her at the bottom of the staircase.
I felt nervous waiting for her, as if this was our prom.My breath caught when she appeared in a powder blue gown and silver heels.Her hair was done up in an elaborate style making me think of princesses.
When she reached the last step, I took her hand and kissed the back of it."You're stunning."
A smile spread over her face."Thank you.You're pretty handsome yourself."
I offered her my elbow."Let's go to the ball."
I led the way to the ballroom where a doorman opened the double doors as we entered to a room that was filled with men and women dancing on the floor, mingling at the tables and the bars scattered throughout the room.
I didn't know many of the people here.I went to the bar to get drinks at the bar, then we hovered by the dance floor.
Everyone was dressed up and having a great time.There was a large Christmas tree in the center of the dance floor with presents underneath.
"How is the toy drive going?"I asked her.
Natasha showed me her phone where she had a picture of the town-hall room filled halfway."We're working on it."
"Let me know if you need any help."
"You've already done so much."
"That was Sterling Brothers."Her gratitude made me feel uncomfortable.
"It was all you."Her eyes narrowed on the dance floor."Is that my sister?"
I followed her gaze, finding a woman in a red dress dancing with a man in a tux.When she turned, her face was visible.
Natasha sucked in a breath."Oh, my god.That is Eve."
My forehead wrinkled in confusion."She wasn't supposed to be here?"
"She didn't say she'd be here."Natasha watched Eve dance around the floor; the man she was with held her slightly apart from him.So I didn't think they were dating or in a relationship.Maybe it was a first date, or they'd just met.
"She seeing someone?"I asked.
"Not that I know of."
"Maybe you don't know everything that's going on in your little sister's life," I suggested tentatively.
"I was hoping to come here and be invisible.I wanted to spend time with you uninterrupted.But now that Eve is here?—"
That's when Eve looked at us; her eyes widened.She said something to her dance partner and walked over to us.The man trailed her, his gaze flitting to something behind us.
"Natasha, what are you doing here?"Eve asked.
"Ford wanted to see what the ball was all about," Natasha said stiffly, and I wondered if Eve had warned her away from me."What are you doing here?"Natasha’s gaze moved to the man standing slightly behind Eve.
Eve sighed."When I went to the firehouse to ask them to be in the parade, the chief said Maddox was in line for his position and needed a date to the party."
Natasha's eyes widened."In order for the fire department to drive their trucks in the parade, we needed to host their holiday party, and you had to bring a firefighter as your date?"
"Not just any firefighter," Maddox said, holding his hand out to Eve and then me.
