“Yeah. I’ll see you in the morning.” I kissed him on the cheek before walking into my room. I wasn’t ready to admit that he was probably right. About everything.
I was ready to call Jade when I looked at the clock. She was on eastern time. It was way too late. Instead I texted Glen. How would you know you missed me more?
He replied immediately. Because I think about you all the time.
And I don’t think about you?
I don’t know. Do you?
Yes.
You said you’d see me tomorrow. Did you mean it?
Yes. I wasn’t chickening out.
Are you sure I can’t see you again tonight?
It’s late. And I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.
That never used to stop us.
But you aren’t down the hall, are you?
No, but I’m not far.
Let’s leave tonight with the sleigh ride. I don’t want to ruin it.
We wouldn’t ruin it. We could spend all night together without ruining it.
Spend all night together? The words sent shivers through me. Let’s leave it at the sleigh ride.
I have to work tomorrow during the day.
Same place?
Yes. You going to stop by?
Maybe. I need to introduce you to Laney anyway. She thought you were cute.
Laney? And I don’t care about anyone else thinking I’m cute.
She’s Dalton’s little sister. She seems to think I’m cool.
You are cool. Let’s hang out tomorrow night.
I have dinner with my grandparents, but after that.
I’ll pick you up at eight.
I hope I don’t regret it
Do you regret tonight?
No. I went with honest. But I might later.
You won’t. Sweet dreams.
Same to you.
They will be. They’ll be of you.
Don’t get corny on me.
The sleigh ride wasn’t corny already?
No. The sleigh ride was perfect.
Perfect? That word again. Wow.
You know what I mean.
That kiss was perfect. Except that it ended and you tried to wipe it away.
Then maybe you’ll have to kiss me again tomorrow night. Did I just type that? Why did flirting with Glen come so naturally?
I plan on kissing you. Kissing you more than once.
Getting a little bit confident, are you?
You bring that side out in me.
The door opened and Laney walked in.
Good night.
Good night. See you tomorrow.
I tossed my phone. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Laney sat down on her bed. “How was it?”
“Surprisingly nice.” I bit back a smile. “How was your night? Good ice cream?”
“A really cute guy served it to us.”
“Fun. Did you talk to him?”
Her eyes bugged out. “Are you kidding? With my mom and brother around?”
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t we go back over there tomorrow. Maybe he’ll be working again.”
“That sounds great, but your dad said you wouldn’t want ice cream in the winter. That’s why we didn’t wait.”
“Sometimes change is good.”
Chapter Eleven
Glen
I could have walked home that night. Memories of Savy’s touch warmed me in a way I didn’t think I could feel anymore. I didn’t want to stay by the building for too long because I still hadn’t stopped by to see my parents yet, but I wasn’t quite ready to go home. The ice rink was emptying out for the night, and I watched the stragglers as I reminisced about gliding around the rink with Savy. How had so much gone wrong in a single night?
I was saved from my over analysis when my phone rang. It was Winston. “Hey.”
“Since you’re picking up I assume you’re not with her.”
“I dropped her off a little while ago.”
“Want me to give you a lift home?”
“I can walk.”
“I stopped by the pub to get a drink with Tony. Meet me over in the circle.”
“Sounds good.” I hung up. Considering I had work in the morning, getting home earlier wasn’t a bad thing. I had no clue how I was going to sleep with all the thoughts going through my head.
I found Winston parked exactly where he said he’d be. I opened the rusty door of his old Camry, glad that the thing didn’t fall off. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Thanks for the ride? I think there’s more to say thank you for. How about putting up with your miserable ass for a year, and helping you put together a plan in just a few hours?”
“Thanks. I’ll pay you back eventually.”
“You won’t, but that’s not the point.”
“It isn’t?”
He pulled out of the lot and onto Frontage Rd. “It’s Christmas. Isn’t this the time for giving back?”
“Shut up.”
“What? Aren’t you the one who took your girl on a sleigh ride? Can you get more corny?”
My girl? I liked thinking about Savy that way. “We’re hanging out tomorrow night.”
“Oh yeah? Why does that matter to me?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
“Oh. That means I need to be scarce?”
“I need to talk to her somewhere without distractions. That means the apartment.”
“‘Talk?’ Is that what you’re calling it now?” He punched the dashboard. It was the only way to get the heat going in his car.
“Just give me the night. I’ve done the same for you.”
“When?”
“That time.”
“Ugh.” He groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
I laughed. “No matter how bad it was, I slept on Cliff’s couch for a night.”
“Are you that sure you’re going to get some?”
“It’s not that.”
“Oh yeah. It’s so you have the freedom to talk without distraction.” He pulled into a spot outside our building. “I know you don’t ‘talk’ much, but don’t steal any of my condoms.”
“Get out of the car.”
“It’s my car.”
I got out and started walking up the stairs toward our place. I couldn’t complain considering how little we were paying in rent. We’d gotten a good deal thanks to a friend of Winston’s, but it definitely lacked in curb appeal. If I knew Savy as well as I thought, she could care less, but she’d definitely realize things had changed for me. The question was whether that would work in my favor or against me.
***
“Glen!” Savy’s voice had me grinning before I’d even turned around. She was standing there with Dalton and a teenage girl I assumed was Laney. I made sure my friend Ted had me covered before walking over to where Savy waited in line for the gondola. She looked so cute all decked out in snowboard gear. I’d been so distracted and surprised the day before that I’d barely noticed, but after the night we’d had, I could enjoy it more.