Page 22 of Christmas Craving
Somehow I could tell she was saying that because she thought she should, not because she really believed it. But that was okay. All I needed was a chance to prove myself to her. A chance to make her see that we were better together than we were alone.
“Finish your dinner,” I said softly. “I was thinking we could watch a movie after dinner. Anything you want.”
I never watched movies, but I’d learned that I enjoyed watching movies while snuggling up with Lanie and Arthur.
She looked at me skeptically. “What if I want to watch a Christmas movie?”
“I expected you would.”
“What if it’s a super sentimental one? What if it makes me cry?”
“I’ll wipe your tears,” I replied instantly.
“What if it makesyoucry?” she asked.
“That’s highly unlikely, but if that happens, we’ll deal with it when it happens.”
We ate until we were stuffed, then cleaned up the kitchen together. It felt very domestic, the two of us standing side by side by the sink, me rinsing and Lanie loading things into the dishwasher.
Then we snuggled together on the couch – Arthur on Lanie’s other side – and watched Lanie’s choice of a Christmas movie.
Lanie
“Idon’t get why this is a Christmas movie.”
“It happens at Christmas,” I explained. “That makes it a Christmas movie.”
Celia frowned as the credits ran. “I feel like I’ve heard people talking about this before.”
“The status ofDie Hardas a Christmas movie is a debate for the ages,” I said in a serious tone. “Long after we’re all dead they’ll still be discussing this.”
She made a little sound that was part laugh and part huff. “Should we walk Arthur before we all go to bed?”
“Are we sleeping over?” I teased.
“I hope so.”
“Okay then.”
The streets were silent as we walked around the neighborhood. It was drizzling outside, because this was Seattle and it was pretty much always drizzling, but our way was lit with a variety of holiday lights hung along the houses and businesses that we passed. The rain gave it all a romantic, hazy appearance, although I wished every now and then we’d have a white Christmas like they had back east.
I held Arthur’s leash in one hand, Celia’s hand in the other. We took our time, enjoying the quiet streets while Arthur got his fill of sniffing and peeing on as many things as possible.
“He’s really a good dog,” Celia said as we walked back to our building.
“Yeah, I’m going to miss him when Amy and John get home, and I go back to my own place.”
I’d also miss their giant walk-in shower, their dishwasher, and their ample supply of wine, but I didn’t mention that.
Celia muttered something that sounded like,Maybe you won’t have to, butI pretended like I didn’t hear her.
I didn’t know what to make of her declaration of love. I mean, I felt the same way, but it was crazy. So crazy I could scarcely admit it to myself. We were grown women, not impetuous teenagers. People didn’t really fall in love in a few days, did they? Not sane people anyway.
Yet it felt right for us.
I’d texted a little bit with Amy after Celia came over to invite me for dinner. wanting to update her on the latest developments.
“Remember how quick I fell for John?” she asked. “I told you after our first date I was going to marry him, and you told me I was crazy. But the thing is, when you know, you know. And things have worked out fine for us.”
