Page 43 of My Secret Snowflake
“He knows you were drunk,” Lily says.
“I was drunk, but that’s no excuse. I’d sobered up a bit by then. Ugh. I can’t believe I did that.” I shudder. “And I forgot to give him back his sweater.” It smelled so good. I had to make myself take it off and put it in a bag to return. I need to nip these feelings of attractions in the bud now.
“Are you sure he didn’t lean in too?” Lily faces me.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. He’d just opened up to me about why he was single. I can’t believe I went to kiss him…and now I have to work with him.”
“And you have to see him at my cookie party.”
“Is he definitely coming?” And why is my heart racing at the thought that I might see him again? This is bad. “You need to make sure we don’t end up together. I invited this guy Ernest from work so I can get a better feel for him.”
“You did? I’m excited to meet Ernest, then. And of course Sebastian’s coming, but he’ll be late because he had to go into the office first,” Lily says. “But wait, he told you about why he is committed to being single?”
“Yes.”
“I think that’s significant. He usually blows off that question.”
“It was a we’ve-both-had-too-much-to-drink moment. I don’t think I can read anything into it.”
“I’ve always thought it was because his standards are too high—as if he’s searching for some perfect woman. Was it anything like that?”
“Mm, not really,” I say. It did sound like he’d idolized Melody to some extent. And he certainly seemed to hold himself to high standards. He seemed to be really beating himself up over the fact that he’d trusted his friend.
The light turns green. Lily scoops her arm through mine.
“But what if you guysdodate? That will be so much fun. You guys would be perfect together. And he’s a good guy, so there’s no way he’d cheat on you.”
“Ernest also seems like a really good guy,” I say weakly.
I definitely shouldn’t have told Lily. I expected her to give me a good common-sense talking to, that Sebastian is a fortress and I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But she’s so happy in love that she’s blinded by it. Maddie will give me the hard truth that I should steer clear of liking him.
We enter Fairway and head straight for the baking section. We pick up green, red, blue, white, and pink sprinkles. I grab some silver stars while Lily adds molasses to our shopping cart. We find the rest of the items from our list and check out.
We walk back outside and up Columbus Avenue and across 79thStreet to Rupert’s apartment, our progress illuminated by brightly glowing stars hanging from the lamp posts. I pull up my hood to keep my head warm in the freezing rain.
“Sebastian dropped a hint that Rupert is thinking about proposing,” I say. “He said I should organize a scavenger hunt for your engagement party.”
Lily beams. “Rupert’s definitely planning something. I think he’s waiting for my dad to come back for the holidays first, but he’s asked me some casual questions about rings recently. As if he’d be randomly thinking about rings. He said his assistant asked him about it for her daughter. I thought he’d ask one of you guys.”
“He hasn’t asked me,” I say. “But I wouldn’t be much help. Do you have a preference?”
“Not really,” Lily says. “That’s what I told him. It’s the meaning behind the ring that matters. But obviously not something too showy. I want to be able to wear it to work at the library, and I don’t want to feel self-conscious.”
“That makes sense,” I say.
Lily asks me what games we played at my sister’s party, and I tell her about them. But I can’t help thinking about Sebastian. I should be thinking about Ernest, but all I can think about is what Sebastian’s reaction will be when we see each other again. Will it be totally normal? Or awkward? And which is better?
Mirandaandherboyfriendhave been assigned to make the sugar cookies, while Zeke and Tessa are making hedgehog cookies. Tessa probably is the most skilled baker among the seven of us. Maddie is making chocolate chip cookies because we all love her recipe. I’m making gingerbread cookies.
“We’re thinking Memorial Day weekend for our wedding,” Tessa says. “We found this loft space in Brooklyn where we can hold the ceremony and reception.”
“We want to arrange lots of cool New York City activities for all the guests,” Zeke says.
Mr. Devi arrives next. He’s brought a pan full of samosas, and my mouth waters just thinking about eating them later. He bows out of cookie making but takes a seat on the couch next to Mrs. Potter, who is co-director of the local community garden with Lily. The way Mr. Devi and Mrs. Potter look at each other makes me wonder if there’s something more between them. Lily tried to set them up, but even though they each told her they have no interest in getting married again, they look very comfortable together. Mr. Devi is teasing Mrs. Potter, telling her he is sure he saw some poison ivy in her garden.
Maybe friends to lovers will be their new trope too.
No Sebastian yet. Maybe work is keeping him.
