Page 38 of Christmas Confessions

I go to the dance floor first, since that’s where I had luck last time, but Jennifer is nowhere to be found. I walk over to the bar, and Jennifer isn’t there, either. I turn and head up the old metal steps to the second level, but on the third step, I look up and see my girlfriend heading down them.

We both freeze at the same time, five steps between us. She looks beautiful. Her dress is black and covered in sequins, and it reminds me a little bit of those twenties flapper dresses. Her hair is curled in sexy waves, and her eye makeup is dark and desirable. I’ve never even seen her dressed like this before.

“Damascus!” she gasps. The sound of her saying my name makes my heart leap.

“Blair?” I wonder if maybe my eyes are deceiving me. “What are you doing here?”

“I am here for the New Year’s Eve party.”

“Well, duh, but…” I trail off. Blair normally isn’t the type to come to a party like this. She would rather spend New Year’s Eve cozied up on the couch, watching the ball drop and playing board games.

But seeing her standing before me, dressed the way she is, I wonder if maybe I don’t know Blair as much as I thought I did.

“I’m kidding,” she says. “My sister dragged me here. She used to come to these all the time when she was in high school. She pretty muchinsistedon doing my hair and makeup, too, by the way.”

Relief floods me. And the casualness of her tone makes me feel like she actually wants to talk to me. Hopefully, I’m not crazy.

“You look incredible,” I tell her.

She raises her eyebrows at me. “That’swhat you want to say?”

“Yes?”

“Nothing about the fact that Giselle Cosgrove is my older sister?”

“Why would I want to stand here and talk about your sister?” I ask. “Especially when I don’t know how long it’s going to be before you stop talking to me again.”

Somebody comes down the stairs behind Blair, so the two of us get out of the way and walk over by the bar.

When I turn to her to continue, she throws her arms around me in a hug. I squeeze her back, never wanting to let go.

Her eyes are glistening when she steps back. “What were you doing with her?”

I can barely hear her over the music, but leaping at the chance, I am quick to explain everything that happened between Jennifer and me. I even consider telling Blair about the fact that I had been outside my support group, but at the last second, something in my head stops me.

When I’m finished explaining and apologizing, Blair nods in acceptance of my apology and fiddles with the buttons on my shirt. “I’m sorry for not letting you explain yourself sooner. I just… I know how much you loved her, and part of me wonders if you would take her back if she asked you to.”

I vigorously shake my head. “Not a chance, Blair. I mean it.”

She does that thing she does. She chews on her bottom lip and avoids my gaze.

“What is it?” I ask.

“If we’re going to do this, Jennifer has to stay out of the picture. And whoever that other girl you were with is, has to, too.”

I laugh at her. “That was Leah. You don’t have to worry about her. She’s like a big sister to me.” Then I pull her in for another hug and kiss the top of her head. I know Blair isn’t the person I meant to find here, but for once, I am proud of myself for making the right decision.

It led me back to her.

28

KENNETH

“So, we’re going to The Warehouse party?” Selena asks me.

“Only if you’re sure you want to,” I say. “There will be so many people there that I doubt anyone will even realize we went together.”

Selena crosses her arms, all dolled up in a champagne-colored tight, metallic dress. She’s going to freeze her butt off, but she told me her outfit is worth it.

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