“I just want to spend some time with my girlfriend while she’s in town. Is that a crime?”
She chuckled. “No, it’s adorable. That’s what I’m saying.”
“Stop,” I said, but I was smiling too. “Between you and me, I have to admit, it’s nice to have someone waiting for me when I go home. Usually, I need to be alone to recharge after a long day, but it’s like she lights me up.”
“Oh, Luke, you are so fucked, my friend,” Bonnie said. “I’ll need a plus-one for the wedding.”
“Whoa, easy there,” I said, holding up my hands. “Let’s not jump straight to that.”
“I’m not jumping anywhere.” Bonnie shook her head. “She’s got you hook, line, and sinker. You’ll be trying to figure out her ring size any day now.”
“Does that mean I can take time off?” I grinned at her. “According to you, it’s true love.”
“No, according to that goofy smile on your face every time you talk about her.” Bonnie waved her hand at me. “You havemy permission. Go fall in love, you big softie. Name your first daughter after me.”
I got to my feet and paused at her door. “Hmm, how about our first puppy?”
She threw a pencil at me and I ducked out, laughing.
“I’ll text you after Christmas!” I called over my shoulder.
And then I was out and on my way downstairs to meet Lenny. He seemed surprised to see me leaving so early, even though it was almost five already. Most of my days ended much later. It had never been a big deal because no one was waiting on me. What did it matter if I hung out at home or the office? There hadn’t been much difference until recently.
On the drive to my place, I sent off a barrage of texts to set up some fun things to do tonight, now that I was free. Clara deserved a night out to see the city she was considering moving to. She had come here to visit and she’d ended up working for most of the trip. Sure, it had been fun for her and great for me, scoring points with my boss, but she deserved a real night out.
The people I had reached out to responded quickly. Dinner was all set, along with a fun surprise for after. Something that would blow Clara away the way she knocked me off my feet.
The elevator ride up felt like it took forever. I was bursting to tell Clara about my spontaneous vacation and about our plans for dinner. When the elevator doors opened, I was blinded by a sea of color and light. In the middle of it all stood Clara, looking shocked and guilty.
“It’s not what it looks like,” she said, holding up her hands like she was a burglar caught in the act. Except what she’d done was like the opposite of a burglary. Instead of stealing my valuables, she had filled up my place with stuff I didn’t want.
Lights of every size and color had been strung over every surface of my living room. So many there was no way to evencount them. Wreaths and garlands, giant ornaments and stars, every imaginable decoration hung from my walls.
I shook my head, dizzy from the sensory overload. “What it looks like is that you spent fifty grand on lights for my apartment.”
Clara’s expression brightened. “Ah, funny story about that. This didn’t cost you a penny. Kerri let me borrow some of the decorations from the party.”
I finally noticed the two giant nutcrackers over by the windows. “You moved all this yourself?”
She shrugged. “Once I told Kerri it was for your apartment, she hired movers and helped me set some of this up.” Her eyes met mine, and she gave me that look that ruined me every time. “Surprise!”
“Oh, I’m definitely surprised.”
Her shoulders fell. “You hate it.”
“Yes,” I said, chuckling. “But I likeyou. So it evens out.”
Clara looked so beautiful standing in the center of the lights. I strode to her and pulled her in a for a kiss. Her lips lit up my body like the rest of the room. When I pulled away, she swayed in my arms, breathless.
“I have a surprise for you, too,” I said.
She gazed up at me with a sweet smile. “Does this surprise involve food? Because I’m so hungry I could eat the antlers off a reindeer.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Good news and bad news. The good news is that we have dinner reservations at one of my favorite places in town.”
“Awesome. What’s the bad news?”
I sighed. “They don’t serve reindeer. At least, I don’t think. I could make some calls.”
