Page 10 of Screw Christmas
“I don’t remember you being this bossy when we were kids,” I grumbled despite myself as I entered the bedroom and closed the door behind me.
Chuckling on the other side of the door told me he heard me.
“So, this little excursion is going to be including food, correct? I’m not going anywhere if I don’t get supper,” I called out verifying as I stripped out of the uniform and tossed the garments into the dirty laundry basket.
“Yeah, we might be able to do that. It’s Christmas in New York City. How can we not take advantage of being in one of the greatest cities in the world this time of year?”
“You’re forgetting I’ve lived here nearly half my life.” I quickly put on a pair of jeans and a red sweatshirt from my dresser, then grabbed the elastic band from my hair. I gave it a yank and freed my hair from the restrictive bun it had been in all day. Walking over to the floor-length mirror, I flipped my head forward and mussed with my hair indulging in the feel of the strands loosening. Standing straight again, I looked at my reflection and gave myself a satisfied nod. The tight bun had given my dark hair a nice wave with lots of body.
“Yeah, but I’m a newcomer so it’s only fair that you show me around,” he called back. “Isn’t it New Yorker hospitality?”
I laughed. “If you think that, then you’ve got a lot to learn about New York sweetheart,” I teased forgetting for a moment that I was supposed to hate him. “And I’m sorry to say that you may be disappointed.”
I rarely wore make-up—criminals didn’t really care about how good or bad you looked—but for some reason I felt compelled to quickly apply some foundation, eyeliner, blush, and mascara. Maybe it had been too long since I’d gone out with a man, my ex had just turned me off on the idea of a man in my life, at least for the time being. Regardless of who he was, it did feel nice to have some sort of plan outside of work with someone of the opposite sex for a change—especially during the holidays. My partner didn’t really count.`
Satisfied that I looked as good as I ever would, I left the bedroom to be greeted by a low whistle. Blushing despite myself, I looked up to see Dylan giving me an appreciative look up and down. “Looking good. Who’s the lucky guy?”
I snorted. “Very funny.” Walking to the door, I slipped my feet into a pair of fuzzy white boots and then looked up at him. “You coming? This is your gig.” I tried to dismiss the fact he was looking mighty good himself, almost good enough for me to momentarily forget my resentment towards him and feel a yearning within me that I hadn’t felt for a long time.
Chucking, he got up from the sofa and quickly got ready beside me. “You know, if you don’t watch yourself, I may grow on you.”
“Like a wart or cyst?”
“Something like that.” Bundled up, we made our way downstairs and out into the cold Christmas evening, a gust of bitter wind hitting me in the face and briefly taking my breath away.
“The beauty with New York is that there are so many cultures that even though it’s Christmas we won’t go hungry for whatever flavor of cuisine that tickles our fancy. At least that’s what I’ve been told,” Dylan stated. “This way.” Taking my gloved hand in his, he led me down the street. “It’s only a few blocks away.”
My brow crinkled looking down at our clasped hands as he pulled me along behind him. “How do you even know where to go?”
“I scoped the area out while you were gone. Figured it was the least I could do.”
“You’re making it really hard for me to keep up the Grinch façade.”
Looking down at me, he grinned, displaying a set of dimples I’d forgotten he had until that moment. “That’s the idea. I’ve had a shit-kicking lately and according to your mother you haven’t had the greatest luck lately either. So perhaps two down on their luck people could spark a change for the good.”
Jutting my chin out, I straightened. “I am not down on my luck. And when were you talking to my mother?”
“I wasn’t talking to her directly. Heard it through the grapevine.”
“I’m perfectly happy.”
“That so?”
Was it though? I had a career that was exciting and fulfilling. Despite the number of take-out containers in my fridge, I was healthier than I had ever been in my entire life. My social life was decent enough, mostly made up of my co-workers. Love life… Well, that wasn’t doing so great, but a love life wasn’t the end all and be all of life—was it? Lots of women led perfectly happy lives and remained single with no kids.
Despite my secret doubts, I nodded. “It’s indeed a fact.”
He cocked a brow up at me. “Right.” Stopping, he pointed to the little bistro. “In here.”
“I’ve been past this restaurant a few times, but never stopped in.”
Releasing my hand, he stepped ahead of me and opened the door. The heat of the restaurant greeted us in a blissful gust of warm air drawing me in and out of the harsh weather at my back. Unwrapping the scarf from around my neck I took in the surroundings. There were no real indicators of the types of food they served aside from the smell of garlic.
“I hope Italian food is still your favorite.”
I was a little shook as I looked over at him, surprised he still remembered that. Crinkling my nose up at him, I asked, “How do you remember that?”
“Because it was my favorite as well.” Cocking a brow up at me, he added, “You don’t remember?”
