Page 4 of My Secret Snowflake
“I’ll look,” I say. “You stay here.”
I slip through the kitchen and out into the small backyard of the building. There’s a small iron table with chairs, a standing ashtray, a bike rack, and averylarge pile of black garbage bags. One rectangular-shaped one in the back could hold Tessa’s paintings. I pull aside the first few bags. What do they put in these things? Full paint cans? I need to do that crouch and swing that the garbage truck personnel use. I pull in my stomach muscles, bend slightly, and get a swing going with the next one.
“Hello,” says a deep male voice from behind me. One that sounds familiar but I can’t place.
I turn around. It’s Sebastian—from the office—holding a bicycle.What’s he doing here?
“You,” I say.
“You,” he says.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I’m friends with Zeke. We met when we both worked at Capital before I came to Dream.” He locks up his bike to the cycle rack. “How do you know Tessa and Zeke?”
“Tessa and I are friends from high school,” I say.
“Is there a reason you’re rooting through the trash?” he asks.
Great. First, I’m climbing through a window, and now I’m swinging garbage bags. Let’s not forget that in between, he saw me giving a presentation on the importance of not falling for phishing attempts—never click an email link unless it’s something you’re expecting and you’ve checked that the sender email address is legit and—oh yes, my face blushes—always shred your personal information because hackers will go through your garbage.
“The super threw out Tessa’s paintings, and I’m retrieving them,” I say. “I think it’s that bag in the back.”
“I’ll help.” He dispatches the bags pretty quickly, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m definitely enjoying the view of his muscles working underneath that white button-down. He pulls out the last bag.
I rip open the rectangular bag, and it is indeed Tessa’s paintings. Thankfully, they’re the only thing in the bag. I call Lily. “I found them.”
“Great! Phew. I don’t think we should hang them,” Lily says. “Let’s just lean them against the back wall. Too many people are here now.”
Sebastian is standing close to me, and when I look up at him, my heart does a little cardio dance like it’s become an animated cartoon. His shirt collar is open at the neck, and a ghost of a smile hovers as he gazes down at me with those very-blue eyes.
Get a grip.
I explain the plan to Sebastian, and he nods.
Wait, is this the Mr. Single Sebastian who Tessa has mentioned?My mouth drops open. One of Zeke’s friends who has no interest in dating? The guy who is also Rupert’s best friend? Lily also definitely said he doesn’t date.
“Wait—you’re the Sebastian who is friends with Rupert and Zeke and who doesn’t date?” I ask and then immediately regret it. Can I just hide in that pile of garbage bags?
What are the chances? It has to be him. He gives off the same vibe at work.Of coursethat’s the guy I would be attracted to.
He blushes.
He runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t think they have any other friends called Sebastian.” He coughs. “And I am happy being single, so I haven’t been looking to date lately. But I wasn’t aware I was such a topic of conversation.”
I make a slight scoffing sound. “Please. Lily loves to matchmake, and you’re Rupert’s single friend.”
So, most definitely not an option. All the better. He’s definitely not the type of guy I resolved to date next anyway.
The paintings look undamaged, none the worse for having been shoved in a garbage bag.
Sebastian picks up two paintings, and I grab the other two, following him back through the kitchen.
The party is in full swing when we enter the packed gallery. Zeke’s dog is the center of attention of one group of revelers. We discreetly lean the four paintings against the back wall behind the bartenders.
Zeke clinks on his glass with a spoon. “We promised no speeches, but I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate with us. We have the best friends ever, and I look forward to many more years together celebrating life’s milestones and enjoying every day together. Thank you, Tessa, for agreeing to be my wife and making me so happy.”
“Hear, hear.” We all clap as Tessa tears up and kisses him.
