Page 35 of When in December

“Have a great time here.” She shook her head over and over, not meeting my eyes. “Have a greatlifehere then. I hope it’s worthwhile. Alone.”

eight

. . .

Poppy

Aaron hadno idea what he was talking about. He didn’t. Or at least, he hadn’t known that he did. I was happy with who I was. I liked myself. I was strong and talented and healthy. I accepted that. I appreciated that, though it didn’t mean I never hoped for more. I hoped for the life anyone might dream of with a nice home and a love that filled all the empty spaces, which I knew better than anyone that not even a perfectly designed home could manage.

Nearly four years ago, I’d thought I met the love of my life at a mixer Simon had convinced me to go to. Or rather, I’d met himafterthe mixer.

“Go! Just once,” my mother encouraged after Simon brought up the opportunity. “It’s a good chance to meet some new people. Not even like that. As a friend even.”

“I have friends.”

“Real friends. Outside of work and chat rooms, or whatever you call it online.”

“Design blogs, Mom.”

“My point exactly. It’ll be fun. You get to dress up a little. Do your makeup.”

I stared at her as she said these things before she quickly waved herself off.

Either way, she’d won, and I ended up going to the alumni event on campus. It was held in the art gallery displaying modern oil paintings. Simon was there as well, though we’d already planned on leaving separately since he’d had dinner with a few of the other professors. I was in the corner, drinking tiny plastic cups of cheap pinot grigio, while people glanced toward me, likely wondering if I’d wandered in from the street since I certainly did not look like an Ivy League grad.

Because I wasn’t.

After finishing my third plastic cup and getting judgy looks from the student bartender behind the light refreshments and snacks table, I stood on my toes to wave goodbye to Simon.

The streetlamps started to turn on, and the air had taken on a chilly quality, though the students rushed around in tight minidresses as they headed out to start their night at whatever party was being hosted.

Crossing my arms over one another, I tapped my foot in my uncomfortable kitten heels against the sidewalk as I waited for the ride I’d ordered on my phone to get here. I was ready to go home and call it a night.

Something barreled into the side of my arm, but it was enough to send me off the edges of my heels and back a step.

“Hey!” I nearly yelped as I turned around to see who had run into me, gripping my phone tightly in my hand in case someone was going to grab it and run.

Instead of a poor pickpocket, a disheveled man with wavy brown hair that curled around his ears, who looked like he’d justgotten out of work, wearing gray slacks and a suit shirt, righted himself until he stood tall. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

Obviously, I wanted to say, tired and irritable from my night. I held it in.

“Sincerely,” he said with suddenly great manners. He glanced around before he turned his attention back down to me. “I apologize. Do you know where Albertson Hall is?”

“Oh.” I paused since, really, I didn’t go here, but I did now the building he was asking about wasn’t far. “I think it’s over that way, around the corner.”

“Can you show me?”

I blinked.

“I’m sorry. My sister—one of her friends called, and now, I need to go and make sure she’s okay and not a complete wreck. You’d be coming in as two people’s hero tonight,” he said.

I looked around again. There had to be someone better to lead him, and my ride was set to pick me up at any minute. If it ever started moving toward me again. I nodded, leading the way. I led him to different halls and department buildings before we came across one that looked more like a dormitory.

A college student, wearing a crop top and high heels, had her friend, who smelled of cheap liquor, slung over her shoulder.

“I’m so sorry,” the girl still standing somewhat upright said. “She told me to call you.”

The man, who seemed to have found exactly who he was looking for, rolled his eyes and scooped up his sister.

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