Page 8 of UnLucky Christmas
I look up to see a tall man in an expensive slate gray suit and aviator sunglasses standing next to our table. He’s casually chewing on a piece of gum, his chiseled jaw moving in a way that makes me stare at his mouth.
“Oh relax,” Macy says, putting her hand up. “I told you I’d meet you after I had a cup of tea with my friend.”
He takes off his sunglasses, revealing deep blue-gray eyes that really pop against his suit. I smile and give a little wave to this stranger. He nods his head slightly but doesn’t say anything.
“We’re supposed to be there before two,” he continues, glancing at the massive silver watch on his wrist—also expensive. “Some of us have full-time jobs to get back to and can’t spend all our time shopping and sipping coffee while scrolling the internet.”
She groans. “Whitney, meet my charming brother Grant. He’s super high maintenance and uptight as you can tell.”
Her brother? I guess that makes sense. I should’ve recognized the typical sibling banter. I have a brother too.
I rise to my feet and tilt my head to look up at him. He towers over my five-foot-four size. He has to be well over six feet tall, but I’ve never been good at guessing people’s height.
“Hi. I’m Whitney,” I say cheerfully.
“Grant Williams,” he says, meeting my gaze before his eyes move over my small frame. “I’m sorry. My sister doesn’t understand the concept of time.Wehave an appointment to get to.”
“Andwehave plenty of time,” Macy snaps. “The office is right upstairs. Damn it, Grant, why do you always have to be so rude?”
Grant scowls and adjusts the front of his suit coat. The suit fits him like a glove, and it wouldn’t shock me if it was custom made especially for him and his body. Yes, his body, the body I’m assuming he puts a lot of effort into perfecting. At least from what I can tell in the suit. His shoulders are broad, and his waste is trim.
“I’m heading up there. I’ll wait for you in the lobby.”
“If you have to go, it’s totally fine,” I say to Macy. I can feel Grant’s eyes on me again.
“I have a few calls to make anyway. Please don’t be late,” he begs.
“Dude, you need to chill out,” Macy wails not looking away from her phone.
“Nice meeting you,” he says before walking away.
“You too,” I call, but he’s already gone.
Well, that was fun. I’d never guess Macy and Grant are related. There is some resemblance in their physical features, but their personalities couldn’t be more different.
“Sorry about him,” she says after he’s gone. “He’s always wound super tight. I wish he’d take some time off, but he lives and breathes his job. His accounting firm is in that building over there.” She points to the three-story brick building across the street. “My grinch post was mostly inspired by him, in case you hadn’t figured that out.”
I smile. “No worries. I should probably get back to work too. I think my boss is being extra patient after hearing about me and Pete.”
“Yeah, I need to go anyway before Grant loses it,” she says dramatically. “But first I need your number so we can make plans to get together. You can meet Austin, and I know for a fact he has single friends. Sometimes the best way to get over a man is meeting someone else.”
I grit my teeth. “Um, maybe.”
I’m not completely opposed to the idea of a rebound meetup or at least someone to spend the holidays with, although maybe I should give it at least a week.
“Well, think about it,” she says after I give her my info. She holds up her phone to take a selfie of us. “Our meeting will be a fun post on my page.”
“Oh great. I look like I haven’t slept in days.”
She waves her hand. “Not true. You look fantastic. Talk to you soon.”
I smile to myself as she walks away. Maybe her husband does have a handsome, eligible, single friend. I still don’t know if Pete met someone else, but he did decide he doesn’t want to be with me. Why should I sit around and be sad?
I pull out my phone and send Janelle a text.
I met a new friend at Home and Holiday. She’s an influencer and a lover of all things Christmas. She’s one of us. Oh, and she wants to introduce me to one of her husband’s single friends. Too soon?
I chew on my lower lip. Janelle will probably tell me to go for it and not waste any more time being sad. Mine isn’t the first relationship to end, and it won’t be the last.
