Page 42 of The Valentine's Bet

“Because you deserve undivided attention.”

“Hmm.” I purse my lips. “I guess I overlook things sometimes.”

“Yeah... Sometimes.”

“Do you think you could walk me home?” I ask, no longer feeling this party. There’s only thirty minutes left until midnight, but I’m just fine with letting the new year begin on my own.

He studies my face for a moment. “Yeah. You don’t want to try to make it to midnight?”

I shake my head. “Nah.”

“Very well, then. Guess we’ll leave now. The crowds can get pretty dodgy after midnight, anyway.” He downs the rest of his champagne. I do the same and follow him to the exit.

A mixture of relief and disappointment thrums through me. Part of me is so ready to go home and collapse in bed—andthe other part can’t shake the disappointment I feel over missing out on my New Year’s Eve kiss.

“You know, it’s not so bad to lose a bet,” Parker says as we step onto the elevator. “The jazz band I want to see isreallygood.”

I laugh. “Yeah, well, I still have almost two months to find a boyfriend. I’m not giving up just yet.”

“Not even afterJosh?” Parker looks over at me, a dark brow raised.

“No way,” I say. “I might be a little bummed right now about not getting my first kiss, but it’ll happen eventually. I’d be letting myself down if I didn’t keep trying.”

“You’re relentless.” He chuckles as we reach the ground floor.

We walk side by side as we exit the lobby, heading out into the cold night air. The streets are pretty crowded and everyone buzzes with excitement, prepping for the big countdown.

“I was so excited for tonight,” I admit as we start heading back to my apartment. “Likereallyexcited.”

He nods, eyeing me as we walk. “Yeah...”

I can’t deny that his rugged, yet boyish expression is charming in a way that I didn’t notice before—and maybe it’s just the champagne, but his smile doesn’t seem so empty tonight. “It’s fine, though. I like sleeping, too.”

“You’re something else, Amy,” he remarks. “I’m convinced there’snothingyou don’t like.”

“I don’t like pickles.”

He makes a face, nearly laughing. “I guess that makes two of us.”

“Good,” I quip, finding myself giggling. “You know what else I don’t like?”

“What’s that?”

“Going to the doctor.”

We both burst into laughter, and the sound of it lifts my spirits. The streetlights are glowing in the night, illuminating the sidewalk, and I must admit the more I walk, the more I start to appreciate the moment. Maybe I’m not getting my first kiss...

But tonight is still a good night.

Not all hope is lost.

“I’ll walk you up,” Parker says as we reach the doors out front of my apartment building. However, as he reaches for the handle, we hear a crowd chanting in the distance...

And they’re counting down to midnight.

We stop, and I watch the seconds tick down on my watch. I join in with the rest of New York City. “Five, four, three, two, one—”

I look up. Parker’srightin front of me.

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