Cozy Christmas Shorts
Page 52
Who says I wasn't?
"But I'd like to take you to dinner or dancing or even the movies, if you'd like."
I use all my willpower to not grin like a damn idiot.
The corner of his mouth twitches. "Or, we could get coffee some afternoon. There's a quaint place over on—"
I lay my fingers on the back of his hand. "I'd love to go on a date with you."
His smile makes my insides mushy. "Great." One little word filled with so much possibility.
He reaches over, across my legs, and opens the glove compartment. He pulls out a small stack of business cards and hands one to me. "My cell is on there."
I notice the pen in the compartment. I grab it and another card and write my number on the back. "Call me."
He grins.
I open my door and jump out, feeling incredibly proud. My flirting usually consists of stuttering, lame jokes, and a spilled drink or two. Tonight, however, someone might think I'm a pro.
I get into Claudia's car, and I slip Julian's card into my coat pocket. He doesn't pull out, and it dawns on me he's probably waiting until we leave, just to make sure we're okay. How chivalrous.
"Are you okay?" I ask her.
She's staring at the steering wheel. "I don't know. Dave still cares about me, I think, but he hasn't changed at all in six years. That scares me a bit."
It would scare me a lot. Enzo lived at home throughout college and the police academy. Then he moved into the apartment above the deli. He's still there now. He's saving to buy his own house. I get that there's no need to move out promptly at eighteen, but moving out on your own is a rite of passage. Isn't that the point of growing up? Most important though, at least wear pajamas with hemmed bottoms.
"And Malachi." She takes a deep breath. "He took me up to the roof and told me I was the only girl that mattered too."
Crap. Not cool.
I rub her arm. "I'm sorry, Claud. But about Henry though—he's not as predictable as you thought."
"Yes, but I spent the day contemplating if I really want to marry him. Doesn't that say something about us, about me?"
"I don't know. Maybe you're just nervous. It's possible that's all any of this was really about."
She nods but doesn't look convinced.
"What now? What about tomorrow?"
She turns the key in the ignition, and her car roars to life. "I don't know yet, but I'm cold and hungry, and I seriously need to pee."
As we pull away, I glance back at Julian. How odd is it that as Claudia's contemplating her future relationship, I meet a guy that could be a part of mine?
* * *
"Gianna," Claudia shouts my name way too close to my face.
She startles me awake. My heart thumps against my chest. I'm lying on my stomach, face smothered in my pillow, a small spot of drool by the corner of my mouth. I lift my head. "What? What's happening?"
She giggles. She's sitting on the edge of my bed. The hallway light shines across my carpet.
"I've decided. I'm getting married today."
After we came home, she spent hours going over and over her decision. I seriously contemplated murder, but luckily she finally let me go to bed around two. It's still dark outside, so that should mean a couple more hours of sleep.
I flop my head back down and shut my eyes. "That's awesome. Now go away, and let me sleep."
* * *
"Henry," Claudia says, "When I first met you, I thought you were goofy and weird, but you turned out to be my best friend and a part of my soul."
Everyone in the church awws as Claudia recites her vows.
She looks breathtaking in her white gown, her dark hair silhouetted by the veil. I hold her bouquet of red roses. Kimmy, Bess, and I are standing at the altar in our red satin dresses.
Claudia's smile sparkles, as does Henry's. The poor man has no idea what he almost lost last night. Thank goodness for Chinese food.
I glance at Aunt Angela and Uncle Franco. They both look relieved. Aunt Stella hovers beside them. She glances at me and winks. Maybe while Claudia's on her honeymoon, Aunt Stella and I can spend some time together, and I can find out about her beef with Ma. But I'm not counting on it. She'll probably just spend all of her time by her sister's side. I won't mind an empty apartment. I plan to do nothing but work and hang out in my Garfield underwear for the next week. I'll look into finding a roommate next year.
I think of Julian. How long does a girl have to wait before calling a guy for that date? I don't want to look overeager, but dammit, I am. I tune back in to what they're saying and realize I missed the rest of Claudia's vows. Considering I overheard her practicing them in our bathroom mirror for weeks, it's okay. I could recite them for her.
Henry clears his throat. Sweat glistens his hairline, and he looks super nervous. "Claudia, you are the sun, the stars, and the moon. You light my world and show me the way."
I gasp as Claudia glances over her shoulder at me. Her smile is huge. She smiles and turns back to "the one."
* * *
After Uncle Franco dances with Claudia, several other couples go onto the dance floor. I lift my glass of water and take a sip.
Suddenly Aunt Stella is beside me. "You did good, kid." When I don't look at her or answer, she says, "Yeah, yeah, I know I don't give you any credit, but you're Rosa's daughter. You don't need any."
I sigh. "What's that mean?"
A couple I don't know at the next table stares at me and then gives those polite smiles. The ones that say, yes, we're pretending we don't think you're crazy.
"God, you're so testy," Aunt Stella says. "What I mean is, your mother never needed my help. She's feisty and strong. She goes after what she wants, and she gets it."
She clears her throat as if she's coughing up a fur ball. "And you're just like her. That's why I don't praise you. You don't need it. But yesterday, you did good."
A slow grin raises the corners of my mouth. The old witch actually has a heart. "Thanks," I whisper.
"Are you talking to yourself?"
I twirl to the voice, trying to quickly come up a decent lie. But I turn, and it's not the couple. It's Julian.
"Hi," I say a bit too loud and cheery.
He looks stunning in a black tux, white shirt, and a red pocket square in his lapel pocket, as if he picked it out because he knew it would match my dress. Did he ask Uncle Franco?
He holds out his hand.
I place mine in it, and he pulls me up. In four easy steps, we're on the dance floor. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer. We sway to the music.
When the world rights itself and is no longer spinning, I find my voice. "What are you doing here?"
Not that I mind in the least.
"Dancing with the most beautiful woman in the room."
My nether regions start tingling again.
What's one Christmas away from home?
* * * * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Fischetto is the National Bestselling Author of the Jamie Bond Mysteries. Unbreakable Bond, her adult debut novel, has received a National Reader's Choice award nomination. She writes dead bodies for ages 13 to six-feet-under. When not writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, singing (off-key), and watching an obscene amount of TV. She also adores trees, thunderstorms, and horror movies—the scarier the better. She lives in Western Mass with her family and is currently working on her next project.
To learn more about Jennifer Fischetto, visit her online at: http://jenniferfischetto.com
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BOOKS BY JENNIFER FISCHETTO
Gianna Mancini Mysteries:
Lipstick, Lies & Dead Guys
Christmas, Spies & Dead Guys (holiday short story)
Mini Skirts, Mai Tais & Dead Guys
Cupcakes, Butterflies & Dead Guys
Jamie Bond Mysteries:
Unbreakable Bond
Secret Bond
Lethal Bond
Dangerous Bond
Danger Co
ve Bakery Mysteries
Death by Scones
Disturbia Diaries:
I Spy Dead People
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