Page 33 of Kiss and Makeup
Chapter Fourteen
Xavier
My phone rang four times before I managed to shuffle or set down everything in my arms so I could answer it.
“Hey Kristen. Sorry, I just got home,” I told her, fitting the phone between my jaw and shoulder so I could carry the bags of groceries into the kitchen.
“You could have called me back,” she pointed out, ever logical.
“Or I could answer you now and talk to you a whole minute earlier.” I wondered if her blush was as red as the tomatoes I set on the counter. The date was two days before New Year’s Eve, but the groceries I had bought were very mundane and not particularly holiday-worthy.I could have at least gotten sparkling wine or something.
“Just means I get to tell you a whole minute earlier, then.”
“Tell me what?” My foot held open the fridge so I could pop the orange juice into the door holders.
“BeautyBee Cosmetics is having our own holiday party. Apparently, this is the very first one — we’re celebrating record-breaking holiday sales. The staff from Cruise Media that helped with the ad campaign are all invited. That means you too, of course.”
“That’s generous. When is the party?”
“New Year’s Day, in the evening. I doubt it’ll be as nice as Cruise Media’s party, but it should be fun all the same. There’ll be a bar, of course.”
The excitement in her voice put a smile into mine. “Sounds great. Can I pick you up?”
“That would be perfect. I already have Lauren looking after Emma. I’ll text you the time as soon as I check the invitation? I kind of forgot.” A silence followed my chuckle. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s just that you don’t usually forget things,” I amended.
Her giggle was uncharacteristic as well. “It’s almost New Year’s. I’m letting myself off the woman executive hook for a few days.”
“I like it. Text me?”
“Of course. See you soon!”
I hung up, reached up to put away the sugar—
—and stopped dead. This could be… this could be perfect. I had been looking for a time to make this work, but no opportunity had presented itself. This party… I just needed to know where the party would be held before I could plan this out.
I would only have one more chance, and I had to make it work this time. Everything needed to be perfect.
Half an hour later, my phone dinged with the information I needed to finish the creation of my plan. When, and most importantly, where was there on the screen in my hand.I can do this. I can.It was the right time, I could feel it.
So, I took the stairs up to my room two at a time. Better go ahead and put my plan into motion before I lost my nerve… and even better not to think about it too much.
Perfectly on time, Kristen and I arrived at the party. I opened her door so she could step out in her stilettos and surrendered my car to a valet. Just as I had for my father’s party, I gave Kristen my arm and escorted her inside.
But nothing else about that evening felt the same. Drinking wine, socializing with employees of BeautyBee, meeting Kristen’s CEO—everything passed by in a blur. Constantly, I was floating back and forth between enjoying myself and nervously nibbling on refreshments provided and reminding myself I couldn’t drink too much. I absolutely had to be able to drive tonight. Everything hinged on my driving.
There was public transportation. Ubers. Taxis. But I wanted it to be us in the car, alone. This was about me and Kristen and a second chance for us.
Kristen was having a great time, socializing and celebrating with her friends and coworkers. I did some talking, but nervousness and anticipation clogged my throat, so I sat back and let her do most of the talking.
Finally, it was time to leave. The clock over the door of the dining hall had shifted its hands into late hours, and many of the men and women here had kids to go home to, so the crowd had begun to thin out.
“Do you want to leave?” I asked when Kristen and I found ourselves set apart from the conversation for a moment.
“Yeah, I think I’m ready. I’d better get home to Emma, too.”
“Can I take you to see something first?”
