Page 135 of The Naughty List

Carson: Friendship. Just give me a few days, please. We’ll get there again.

I let the phone fall from my hands, not knowing what to do. I don’t want to tell him over a text, but I can’t stand the thought of him going days without knowing that I love him too.

The days pass slowly, too slowly, and I haven’t talked to Carson since. I want to give him what he asked for: time. Over the course of our friendship, I’ve asked him for a lot, and he always honored my wishes. So I’m trying to do the same. But damn, it’s hard. The days pass and finally New Year’s Eve approaches. The party is tonight and I have the perfect dress. I know exactly how I want to do my hair and makeup. Everything seems perfect except for the fact that I’m as nervous as can be. A lot can happen in a few days. He could’ve gotten back together with Big Boobs. He could have changed his mind about me completely, thinking that I’m not worth the effort anymore. I pray that none of that is true as I get ready for the party.

The party is in the town square, at the big fancy banquet hall there. It started at seven, but it’s going on ten and I’m just now getting ready. I know, I suck, but fear was paralyzing me. I didn’t want to get up there and pour my heart out, just to have him turn me away. But then I knew that nothing would ever happen if I didn’t take the chance and put my heart on the line. So, I got up and started getting ready.

I walk into the living room in my black dress. It’s long as it flows all the way to the floor. It’s fitted through the hips with a slit in the side all the way up to my hip. The dress has long sleeves and it’s a deep V neck, sexy but tasteful. It’s a dress I found years ago and begged my mom to buy for me. I’ve been saving it for the perfect moment ever since.

When I walk into the living room, she gasps. “Oh, Felicity. It’s perfect,” she says, standing up to walk circles around me.

“You think so?”

She nods, speechless.

“What about my hair?” I curled it into loose curls that are smooth and sleek and shiny. It hangs to my lower back.

“Gorgeous.”

“And my makeup? My eyes aren’t too dark or my lips too red?”

She shakes her head. “No. It’s all perfect. You’re breathtaking, sweetie.”

She hugs me lightly, careful not to smudge anything or wrinkle my dress. “Go, go get him.” She practically pushes me out the door.

I borrow her car and drive to the town square. The place is already packed and crowded. It seems everyone in town is here. I have to park blocks away after circling around several times. Hiking in these shoes is not practical, but I do it. For him.

I finally make it to the center of the square and notice a few kids still ice skating. The rink comes down the day after tomorrow and that always makes me sad. Just having it here makes the town feel magical. I have so many memories on that ice. I push past the ice rink and come to a stop at the window of the banquet hall. I look in and see the party I’m late for. There are chandeliers hanging high on the ceiling and gold and white everywhere. This is the only formal event our town has, and they spare no expense to make it as fancy as they can. The tablecloths are white and crisp, and there are big centerpieces. Everyone is dressed in formal dresses and tuxes and they all look so important as they stand around, drinking, talking, and laughing, while some couples dance.

As I stare into the building, Carson comes into view. He looks handsome in his black tux and crisp white shirt. His hair looks perfect as usual and he’s shaved his jaw clean. He’s talking with a group of guys, holding a glass of scotch in his hand as he laughs at something they say. Watching him like this, I feel like a teenage girl again, dreaming of something I’ll never get. But tonight is different. I’m not a teenage girl. I’m a woman. A woman who he loves. And I’m not leaving here without him.

I look at the clock as I enter. It reads 11:57 p.m. I know I have to hurry. I don’t want to start this next year without being able to call him mine. I rush through the throng of people and push my way through to him. When he sees me, it’s like everything freezes around us. He turns to face me and his eyes say it all. He’s in awe.

“Bout time you got here, sweetheart. Where ya been?” he asks, his eyes moving up and down my dress.

I smile. “Running late, as usual,” I tell him and he smiles.

“You look beautiful.” He picks up my hand and kisses it, causing me to blush. He chuckles. “You always blush so easy. Care to dance?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. There’s something I have to tell you first.”

He waits and I work up the courage. “I didn’t mean it.”

He frowns. “Mean what?”

“That I wanted to take it all back. I don’t want to take it back. Those couple of days I spent with you, it was the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Everyone starts to count down to midnight.

“I love you, Carson. I’ve loved you since I met you and I will love you until the day I die. I don’t want to take it all back. All I want is you.”

“Three,” everyone yells as I wait for his answer.

“Two!”

“One!”

He pulls me against him and our lips meet. He kisses me hard but slow, a lasting kiss that may just have to last me a lifetime if he’s changed his mind. My hands move up to wrap around his neck to hold him to me, not ready to let him go yet. His hand finds my hip and he pulls me against his chest until there’s not even a millimeter between us.

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