Just friends? Come on Michael, you’re killing me here.
“Goodnight, Alex,” he says with a playful little smile, and I get the sense he’s well aware of the effect that kiss had on me.
I shake my head in disapproval, but I can’t curb the insistent smile on my mouth. “Goodnight, weird friend.”
I hear him laugh as I turn and head down the steps home.
28
“Alex, this isn’t a pre-schooler’s birthday party,” Geoff says, pouring himself a piña colada slushie from the machine.
I look down at the cardboard party hats in my hand. “Hey. You put me in charge of decorations, Geoff, so you’re wearing it.” I thrust a hat into his hand.
“Fine.” He rolls his eyes as he slips it onto his head, pulling the elastic under his chin.
I grin, handing one to Cat. At least they are fancy party hats: black with gold lettering that says “Happy New Year” and a gold pom-pom on top. They match the color scheme for the party: gold and black streamers, balloons and a banner. I also organized two slushie machines for cocktails and a cute little selfie corner with props like fake mustaches, wigs, silly glasses and speech bubbles that Cat made.
“I kind of wish I could stay now,” Cat says with a sigh. Turns out things have been going well enough with this Kyle guy that he invited her to some exclusive New Year’s party downtown. She didn’t want to abandon our party, but Geoff insisted she go.
“Don’t be silly,” he says, elbowing her. “You’ve got a hot date on New Year’s Eve! At least you know you’ll get a kiss.”
She raises her eyebrows dubiously, taking a sip from her margarita slushie.
“Did you invite Mel?” I ask.
Cat shakes her head. “She’s out with her new man for the night.” She gives me a tight-lipped smile as I hang some balloons, turning to check the room.
We’ve pushed the sofa back against one wall, got a few folding chairs and cleared a small dance floor area. Geoff put some music on the stereo through his phone and switched off the main lights, so the room is only dimly lit by some twinkle lights. We are ready to go.
Agnes is the first to arrive, dressed in a black turtleneck and slim-fitting black pants. There’s a string of pearls around her neck, and her long silver hair spills down her back behind a black headband. She’s the epitome of sophistication. I want to be her when I get old.
We show her to a comfy spot and get her a cocktail, then Geoff peppers her with questions while Cat and I greet some other guests. There’s a couple of people from the bookstore, some people Cat knows through her shop, a few others from the building and some of Geoff’s friends.
By nine o’clock Michael and Henry still haven’t arrived. I haven’t seen Michael since Christmas, distracting myself with my romance novel and consoling myself with the knowledge that I’d see him tonight. But now I’m thinking he might not even come, and I find myself feeling quite deflated.
I knock back a couple of shots and dance with Geoff and Cat to take my mind off him. I don’t need Michael here to have a good time. In fact, it’s probably better that he’snothere, given how much I’ve had to drink. I get way too flirty when I’m drunk.
I’m just about to grab another drink and flop down beside Agnes, when Michael and Henry appear in the doorway. Elation swoops through me and I’m beaming as I bounce over to greet them. “Hi, guys!”
“Hi, Alex.” Henry stands in the doorway shyly.
“Hey.” Michael gives me an apologetic smile. “Sorry we’re late. We have a tradition of watching a movie together on New Year’s Eve and it went later than I’d expected.”
“That’s okay, I’m glad you came. Henry, there’s soda in the kitchen and snacks over there. Help yourself. Oh, but—” I reach for a couple of party hats and hand them over, my face deadly serious. “Youmustwear these.”
Henry pulls his hat on, then wanders over to check out the food.
I turn back, noticing Michael’s wide grin as he pulls his party hat on. His gaze travels over me and, I swear, I canfeelhis eyes sweeping across my skin, around my curves. I splurged a little for tonight on a gold sparkly dress that hugs my hourglass figure and shows off my cleavage. New heels, too—black, patent, higher than I’d normally wear.
“Alex, you look…” he trails off, shaking his head.
Shit, that can’t be good. I frown, adjusting my dress.
“Nice, I mean,” he says quickly. “You look really nice.”
Oh.
“Thanks.” I blush, even though “nice” is how you would describe your mother looking.
