Page 39 of A Very Snowed In New Year
“Because I don’t want to be a creepy online stalker.”
“Oh my God,everyone’sa creepy online stalker now! That’s just, like, a part of life!”
God dammit, why is she right about everything? “Fair. Let me see her.” I take my sister’s phone and stare down into the smiling face of a brunette with a button nose, cherry-red lips, and bangs.
She’s got a face with a view, as David Byrne would say. I never understood what that line meant, but it’s this. A face you want to come home to and see yourself reflected in.
And this is, without a doubt, the girl I saw in Times Square the other day.
And the one I saw in LA, getting into a car in front of that club.
“It’s her.”
“Yeah! The best writer on FictionAxis.”
“No, I mean I’veseenher. At Times Square. She was at the Wishing Wall.”
Rory gasps. “When I took you there?!”
“Yes. And I saw her for a second in LA before that too.”
Rory looks like she is going to burst into a thousand pieces of confetti wish paper and heart emojis. “Wait. Wait! WAIT! Are you telling me she doesn’t even know?! This is the most romantic thing I have ever heard!!! You need to tell her!”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?!”
“Remember that thing I said about being a world-famous movie star? That hasn’t changed in the past minute.”
“Oh my God, you have got to get over yourself.”
“It’s just that this girl is obviously into fandoms, right?”
“Yeah. So am I. Does that mean you can’t talk tomeanymore?”
God dammit, she’s got a point. “I wish.”
“Like, what are you saying? Someone who cares about fictional characters and appreciates people’s talents is somehow less worthy of talking to than someone who gets paid to be pretty and be mean to people in front of a camera?!”
“I am definitely not saying that. Calm down.”
“Calm down? Calm down?! This is the most important thing that has ever happened in my entire life, and you’re telling me to calm down?!” Her jaw drops dramatically, and then she crosses her arms across her chest, which is her signature pose now. “You’re going to tell her you’ve seen her and you’re telling her who you are and you’re going to meet her. I am making this my New Year’s resolution.” She stares me down.
I stare her down.
I have had so many staring contests with this girl in her life, but I am going to win this one because I’m the big brother and she’s so much smarter than me and I need a win tonight.
“Darlings!” our mum calls out from her study. Then she appears in the doorway. “Darlings, I’m on FaceTime with David. Come say hello.”
Rory turns to look at Mum.
“Hah! I win.”
“Gah!”
“Oh, you’re watchingThe Holiday?!” our mum says. “Did Holden lose a bet?”
“Yes, we will FaceTime with David,” I tell her. “Now is the time for connecting with family and talking about family things.”
