“You as well,” Tabitha said without a hint of emotion. Come to think of it, she bore a startling resemblance to one of the terrorists from the movie. “By the way, Janelle, not to add more to your plate during the weekend, but I have to say, I wasn’t really impressed with any of your ideas for the holiday hoopla.”
“Oh.” Her smile waned. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
What the fuck is a holiday hoopla?
This must have been the end of the year office party thing Nellie had mentioned during our first photo session. And from the sounds of things, it wasn’t going well.
“If you’re not up to planning it, that’s fine, but I need to know sooner rather than later. Bennett Studios is still giving us the runaround, and my in-laws are coming to town this week, so the last thing I want to worry about is the godforsaken holiday party.” Nellie squirmed under her gaze. “I could always ask Geoffrey—”
“No,” Nellie interrupted. “No, I can do it. Just . . . please, give me another chance.”
“Of course. We’ll talk on Monday.” Tabitha tipped her head in lieu of a goodbye, and then she was gone, just as quickly as she had appeared.
“Wow,” I said. It was all I could come up with. “So, that was—”
“My boss.”
“Got it.”
People continued filtering out of the balcony and down the stairs, dodging us and the impromptu roadblock we had created. Nellie didn’t seem to notice. She was still frozen to that bottom step, eyes staring blankly across the room. I would have swept her up in my arms and carried her back to that snow globe if I thought she would let me.
But this wasn’t one of my nieces’ favorite Disney films, and she wasn’t a princess waiting to be rescued. That didn’t make me want to protect her from the monsters any less.
“How about I take you home? We can even brainstorm ideas for this holiday hoopla thing over some hot chocolate, if you want.”
She snapped out of her stupor instantaneously.
“No.”
“Apple cider, then?”
“I mean no to all of it.”
There was an edge to her tone that I hadn’t heard before. Well, maybe once, that day I’d brought over the gift basket and she’d snapped at me.
“This isn’t working.”
Ouch.It was a phrase I had heard before, more than once, in fact. Though, by my calculations, we were about four months too early for this conversation.
She sighed. “I like you, Austin. You know I do, but I have to focus on work right now. I can’t afford any more mistakes.”
“Can’t we at least enjoy the rest of the evening?”
“You don’t get it,” she scolded. “You don’t have anybody to answer to but yourself. This is everything I’ve been working for since I was eighteen, and I won’t letthisruin my plans.” Mystomach dropped when she gestured between the two of us. “The last thing I need right now is a distraction.”
Double ouch.
That wasn’t what any guy wanted to hear from the girl he was falling for. Distraction was second only to disappointment.
“Okay, then.” The regret on her face would be my undoing. I had to get out of here. Fast. I took a step back. “I’ll see you around.”
“Wait, Austin. That’s not what I meant. You’re—”
“A distraction, I know.” Her eyes welled with tears. “I won’t knock on your door again. Promise.”
Chapter Seven
December 17th
