Page 72 of Santa Has a Six-Pack
“Yeah…?” She doesn’t register the significance.
“We’ve officially known each other for one month,” I explain. “It was November 8th, the day I walked into that audition room and accidentally thrust into you with my cotton-ball-covered crotch.”
“A day that will live in infamy,” she says faux seriously. “Is this our friendiversary then?”
“I’m down to celebrate it if you are.”
I lift my hand to her, expecting a high five. Instead, she lightly presses her palm to mine, then slowly interlaces our fingers.
She takes a step closer to me.
Wow.
This energy feels… new.
I am rarely left speechless, but at this moment I haven’t the faintest clue what to say.
Or do.
“You’re right,” she says softly. “The food stuff with Mom did cause issues. Almost some pretty serious issues.” She clears her throat. “So um— I didn’t stop dancing because?—”
I shake my head. “Penny, it’s okay. You don’t have to tell me things you’re not ready to talk about. I know I can be pushy sometimes and?—”
“Who told you that?” She drops my hand. “You are not pushy, Matt. You’re… well, you’re lovely.”
Lovely?
“Did you just call me ‘lovely?’” I say and put my hands on my suddenly hot face. “Shit, are my cheeks pink? Damn, you have me feeling like a girl in a Jane Austen book all of a sudden,” I joke.
She laughs. “Do you really read Jane Austen books?”
The light changes, and we cross, picking up our pace again.
“I wouldn’t say I reeeeeead them. But yeah, I’ve checked out a few.”
“Which ones?” She seems delighted by this turn in the conversation.
“The biggies, I guess? Pride and Prejudice. Sense and Sensibility. I haven’t read Emma yet, but I’ve watched Clueless at least a dozen times. Does that count?”
“I don’t know if it counts, per se, but that movie is undeniable perfection. Agreed?”
“We absolutely agree on that, yes.”
She looks at me funny when we stop at the next crosswalk. “Can I make a confession?”
“Consider me your priest.”
“Huh?” Her forehead scrunches.
“Nothing. Dumb joke. Yes, you can make a confession.”
Damn. I still get so nervous around this woman.
“I have two confessions, actually,” she says.
“Alright…”
What the hell is she gonna say?
