“No, your pods are great,” I reply, but my handsarefreezing, so I stretch them out to warm them by the fire.
He takes one of my hands and remarks, “You’re cold. We should go inside.”
“I don’t want to. I’m not a fan of all the New Year’s festivities and the crowd,” I admit.
He grunts, a low, almost teasing sound. “Neither am I. I usually give Clay his New Year’s kiss and head to bed.”
His eyes hold a mischievous glint as he says this, and I can’t help but chuckle.
Memories of chaotic New Year’s Eve parties at the bar flash before my eyes. “The past few years, I’ve been busy keeping the bar from being destroyed by drunk patrons.”
I think about last year when a full-on bar fight was happening during the countdown, and the new year was rung in with a stool being shattered over the bar, barely missing me.
He ponders for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. “So, you’ve never had a New Year’s kiss?”
“Oh, thanks for the reminder,” I reply sarcastically. “I’m hoping for at least a post-midnight kiss this year.”
“Ten, nine, eight…” We hear Sophia and her friends counting down from inside the house, the excitement building in the air. I turn to look through the windows. “One… Happy New Year!” they cheer, and at the same time, fireworks start to light up the night sky.
Xander reaches out, his touch gentle as he holds my chin between his thumb and forefinger, making me look up at him. “Happy New Year,” he murmurs, his voice soft and warm.
Leaning down, he closes the distance between us, and our lips meet. His kiss is gentle, a tender exploration that sends shivers down my spine. It’s just a brief touch of his lips against mine, but it’s enough for my heart to nearly leap out of my chest.
Pulling back slightly, he looks into my eyes, his gaze intense and searching, as if he’s trying to find an answer in them. It’s a silent question, one that lingers in the air between us. One I’m not sure how to answer.
“Happy New Year,” I whisper back, my voice barely audible over the lingering fireworks.
A smile spreads slowly over his face. And I am reminded how beautiful this man is. “Wanna go inside for a drink?” he suggests, his warm breath mingling with mine in the frigid air.
“Only if we can bring it back out here afterward.” I grin.
He smiles, taking my hand. “Let’s go warm up for a bit.”
When Joshand I arrive home, we can already hear the chatter from the people in our living room as we step up to the frontdoor. We exchange glances and head upstairs, eager to freshen up quickly before joining everyone.
Not really feeling like dressing up for the crowd tonight, I slip into gray sweatpants and a matching hoodie after a quick shower. I’m exhausted and would rather head straight to bed, but I know I need to at least greet everyone.
Joshua comes out of his room, dressed in pants and a stylish sweater, which earns him a frown from me.
“What? I bet Carolina made an effort. The least I can do is match that,” he explains, making me regret my casual clothes.
We head downstairs, offering hellos to everyone. However, my eyes scan the room for my man and girl.
“Outside.” Josh points to the windows leading to the garden, having spotted them.
We head back to the entrance to grab our coats before we step out into the garden.
Two fire pods light up the night, providing some warmth, and Xander and Carolina stand side by side in front of one of them. They aren’t talking, but she’s holding onto his pinky finger.
It’s so fucking cute.
Joshua rushes over to Carolina, wrapping his arms around her from behind, pulling her close in a tight embrace.
“There you are,” he exclaims, causing her to turn toward him, her face lighting up. He doesn’t waste a moment and plants a kiss on her lips. “I’ve lost count of how many kisses I owe you, so let’s start every New Year’s from a thousand again.” His words are met with a soft giggle from Carolina.
He ushers her toward the other fire pod, seemingly wanting to steal a moment of privacy, but his voice carries over to us.
“Nine hundred ninety-nine…” he pecks her lips, “… nine hundred ninety-eight…” Then he leans in for a deeper kiss.
