Page 79 of My Secret Snowflake
“Yes, it sounds like Iris is concentrating on her career right now,” his father says, “as she should be.”
“I don’t need grandchildren immediately,” his mom says, “but if Sebastian keeps telling everyone he wants to remain single forever, then I’m worried I’ll never get any grandchildren.”
“You heard?” Sebastian asks.
“As if I wouldn’t hear that you extolled the benefits of being single to Mary’s daughter. It was embarrassing,” his mom says. “Something about ‘it’s great to be single because nobody eats your last banana’? What is that?”
“She said she was about to move to Hong Kong and didn’t want to start a relationship,” Sebastian says, clearly caught flat-footed.
“She might have said that, but that’s not what she meant. Obviously, she wouldn’t have gone out on the date if she wasn’t looking for a relationship. And she’s only going to Hong Kong for a year. You can fly over every once in a while or Zoom or WhatsApp. But really?Nobody eats your last banana? I’m going to come over to your house every morning and eat your last banana. Be forewarned.”
I try to keep a straight face. His mom catches my glance and starts laughing too. His dad joins in.
She shakes her head. “I seriously thought I brought him up better. I hope he hasn’t given you the banana excuse too.”
“Youshouldsteal his last banana,” I say.
“I should, shouldn’t I?” she asks.
The quartet begins to play another waltz. Sebastian laces his fingers through mine and pulls me closer to him.
“Will you excuse us so I can dance this waltz with Iris and try to go back to impressing her?” Sebastian asks and then turns to me. “Do you even want to still dance with me now that you’ve met my parents?”
“I still do,” I say.
“You two looked wonderful dancing together. Maybe you want some fresh air.” His mom says, “Don’t forget they’ve set up little heaters on the roof, Sebastian. You should show Iris up there. It has a very nice view.”
Sebastian blushes, and his mom laughs.
“I’m embarrassing you, aren’t I?” she asks. “Okay, I’ll leave you alone.” She walks a few feet away and then turns. “Don’t worry about clean-up.”
As his mom leaves, Sebastian says, “She’s not very subtle at matchmaking.”
He pulls me into his arms, holding me closer than before.
He nods to the beat, and then we’re off.
He smiles wryly at me. “I guess the bananas are not a worthy substitute for a relationship.”
“I guess not,” I say, but my voice comes out breathy. The way he’s looking at me and holding me… I’m having a hard time breathing. My heart is racing—he must hear it, feel it, in the pulse of my wrist where his thumb grazes. But he, too, seems affected, his eyes staring into mine.
We nearly bump into another couple, and we apologize and turn back to each other, smiling, even laughing a little.
As our glances meet, it’s as if there’s nobody else here. It’s just the two of us. His blue eyes, dark and intense, the dimmed lighting of the crystal chandelier flickering over his chiseled cheekbones, his full lips, his breath, smelling of red wine, caressing my cheek. His back arm holds me close against him, and he sweeps us around. I don’t look away, and I just follow him in time to the music, my feet flying. I’m not even sure they’re touching the floor. His arm holds me securely and firmly. Our bodies move in perfect synchrony. The deep notes of the cello linger, the expressive tenor tones weaving in and out. A faint whiff of cinnamon mixes in with the scent of holly as we sweep by the tree in the corner.
And I don’t want to fight these feelings anymore. I want to be swept away. I want to let myself fall in love. I want to trust Sebastian.
The music ends, and the quartet lead thanks everyone. They bow. Everybody is clapping. It’s over. The hour passed so quickly, I didn’t even realize.
“Do you want to come back to my apartment for a drink?” Sebastian asks.
As if there aren’t drinks here.
“Yes,” I say. “I should say thank you to your parents, and then I should use the bathroom.”
“You can write my parents a card, and let’s go to the bathroom near my old bedroom. That should be empty.”
He pulls me down the hallway. I can see his parents saying good-bye to guests in the dining room. Did Lily and Rupert leave?
