Page 4 of One Night at Christmas

He wiped his mouth on a napkin and rose from the island where he sat on a stool. Charon’s kitchen wasn’t big enough for an island or a table. Her tiny dining table was a bit scratched but cute. She’d picked it up secondhand.

“Charon, I was thinking.”

“Yes?”

“Call me tonight.”

“What do you mean? I always do, if you don’t call me.”

“No, I’m saying I want to talk to you about something. It’s important. We have to talk tonight.”

“You’ve got me curious. What’s it about?”

He appeared nervous. It was the one emotion that rarely showed on his handsome face. Bryson exuded confidence most of the time. And why shouldn’t he with so much going for him? Whatever was on his mind, though, he wasn’t completely confident about it. She didn’t want to wait until that evening, especially since she wouldn’t get off work until eleven.

“I don’t want to say what it’s about yet. But… he’s not around, right?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’m here alone of course.”

“No, I mean, you’re off right now.”

“I didn’t intend to tell you that, but yes. It’s temporary.” A part of her hoped it wasn’t, but that was the part that loved Bryson. She should commit to Morris—or somebody—to force herself to let go of the feelings for her friend.

Bryson nodded. “Tonight. See you later, beautiful.”

The stubborn man wouldn’t tell her more. “Fine. Talk to you later.”

He leaned in closer to his screen and gestured throwing her a kiss. She sucked in a breath, but before she could respond, he was gone. What did he want to talk about, and what did it matter if she was with Morris or not?

Chapter Two

Charon’s feet were killing her. She slogged into the apartment and kicked her shoes off beside the door. Her cell phone rang, but she didn’t have the energy or the will t

o answer. Of course, being after midnight, she couldn’t imagine who it might be.

Her stomach growled, and she found a little extra energy to head into the kitchen. On the way home, she had stopped by her favorite Mexican food place that stayed open until three in the morning. Funny how she worked at a restaurant but preferred the cheese and bean ladened nachos she bought. The meal was so heavy it could easily weigh a couple pounds. She couldn’t eat it all in one sitting, but she sure tried.

When she had stuffed a couple nachos into her mouth, her cell phone rang again. She fished it out of her purse and checked the screen. Her heart stopped. Morris was calling. This was it. She chewed her lip for a minute, debating whether to answer. Something told her to wait for Bryson’s call.

“You can’t base your whole life on what Bryson does, Charon. He’s getting engaged soon, and after that, it’s going to be too late.”

For so long, she had hoped he would have a sudden change of heart and see things her way. He’d said as much to her, that she should change her focus. Not that he’d asked her to be with him, but it was always below the surface with them. They flirted and teased. They were really as close as too people could be separated by a few states. Both of them knew if things were different and no barriers were in the way, they would be a couple. It didn’t seem real. Someone like Bryson wanting her.

“He never said he loved me though.”

She thought about him. There was no way he loved her. He couldn’t because if he did, he would… She abandoned the idea. It tormented her to think about. If she loved Bryson the way she claimed, would she live the life he lived? Hobnobbing with the upper crust? The mere thought sickened her.

Her cell phone rang again, and she grumbled in annoyance and answered. “You know it’s late, right?”

“I needed to talk to you, Charon. How have you been?”

She ground her teeth. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to sound so cold. Come on, baby. You knew I was going to call.”

“Don’t call me baby. We’re not together, remember? You broke it off.”

“I didn’t mean it. Why don’t I come over, and we can talk.”

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