Page 62 of I’m Dreaming of a New York Christmas

The main set finished, but the house lights remained off, the crowd humming for more.

‘Should we stay for the encore?’ I asked.

Ethan looked at his watch and sighed. ‘We need to get you back to the city.’

‘Yeah, you’re right.’

‘I mean…’

‘What?’ I couldn’t keep the eagerness out of my voice.

Ask me to stay.

‘This doesn’t have to be the last time we see each other before you leave, right?’

I sighed. ‘I leave on Wednesday, Ethan. Before then, you’ve got to sort out the rest of your speech, get it all printed out and, y’know, actually go to your brother’s wedding.’

‘Yeah, there’s a rehearsal dinner on Monday, too.’

‘Well, there you go. So, all things considered, I think this is probably it, yeah.’

A long, heavy silence stretched out between us, until Ethan’s eyes opened wide.

‘Wait! I have a plus one for the wedding! You could totally come!’

‘There are so many reasons why that’s a terrible idea.’

‘Name one.’

Because the thought of going to a wedding, when the last one I should have attended was my own, makes me want to throw up.

‘I don’t have anything to wear. And, as lovely as I’m sure your mum is when she’s not forced to make chitchat with her son’s hookup—’

‘They’re seriously never gonna let me forget about that.’

‘—I got the impression she wouldn’t appreciate me rocking up in a pair of creased dungarees and a half-dirty T-shirt.’

‘New York has a few stores, y’know.’

‘I cannot tell you how much I can’t stand shopping for clothes.’

‘Hey, I really like your style.’

‘C’mon, it’s less of a style and more of a uniform.’

‘A nice uniform, though. Okay, clothes aside – which is a solvable problem – what other reason?’

‘I wouldn’t know anyone there. And I wouldn’t want you to feel like you’d have to hang out with me all day.’

‘Oh, yeah, about that – it’s an evening wedding so their friends can come after work. So, a quick ceremony, food, speeches, dancing. Boom. Plus, there’s a couple of other Brits going from Rick’s work, so I’m sure you’d have stuff in common. Next reason?’

‘I just don’t think any of… this… is such a good idea. Like, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had such a nice day – and you’re amazing…’

‘But…?’

‘But, no matter how long we drag out this goodbye, there’s still going to have to be a goodbye, isn’t there? And I don’t want either of us to get any more hurt than we need to.’

Ethan frowned and took a small step back. ‘Woah, I’m confused. A few hours ago, you were prepared to have some casual fun, despite my concerns, but now you don’t want to get hurt. Why the U-turn?’