Page 18 of A Very Grumpy New Year

“What were you going to say?” I ask him.

“We should… grab something to eat,” he says, and I know that he’s lying, but I decide not to push him.

“Yeah, there’s a ton of food. Come on.”

I turn and head into the kitchen with Huxley following right behind me. I can see Ginger looking at me, and when we make eye contact, she raises her eyebrows, silently asking me if I’ve talked to him yet. I shake my head at her, and she frowns.

I spent most of today helping set up, cooking for the party, and being grilled by my friends about what is going on between me and Huxley. I told them that we slept together last night and that I really liked him, but Ginger knows me better than that. She cornered me and asked if I was willing to admit that I had feelings for him, that I loved him.

It had been scary to admit that, even to my best friend, and she spent the rest of the day trying to talk me up and convince me to talk to him tonight and make things between us official. She wants me to tell him that I like him, a lot—maybe even tell him that I love him—but I’m not sure that I can do that tonight.

Maybe after some liquid courage, I think as I head over to the counter filled with liquor and start to make myself a rum and coke.

“Do you want one?” I ask Huxley, but he shakes his head.

“I’m good for now.”

I take a big sip of my drink and grab a plate as we head over to the buffet of food.

“I’ll hold your plate for you,” Huxley says, and I smile.

“Thanks.”

I add some dips and other appetizers to the plate and then pop a strawberry in my mouth as we take a seat at the long table that’s been set up in the corner of the kitchen. Huxley heads back to make his own plate of food and I start to eat as I study him.

He looks so handsome in his forest green sweater and dark-wash jeans. He smiles and greets Kip as he joins him in line for food and they start to whisper to each other. Kip claps him on the back, and Huxley nods as he turns and makes his way back over to me.

We eat in silence for a while, and I try to think of something to say.Do I ask him about his day? Do I mention last night and how amazing it was?

“What did you do today?” I ask him as we eat.

“Kip and I ended up going in to work for a bit. We got a lot of stuff figured out and ready for January.”

“That’s good. It must be a relief, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s nice to have it out of the way.”

I nod, and we eat in silence for another minute.

“What about you?” He asks and I grin.

“I’m going to get that printed on a shirt for you,” I tell him, and he laughs.

“Fine. What did you do today?” He asks me.

“I helped out here. I made the seven-layer dip,” I tell him, pointing to it on his plate.

“It’s delicious. The best thing here.”

“And I made the chicken wings.”

“Love them too.”

I laugh and smile at him and he stares at me.

“We need to talk,” Huxley says and I drop the tortilla chip in my hand as I stare at him.

“Okay. Right now?” I ask him, and he nods.

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