Page 22
Story: The Christmas Bet
He stands in front of me in a black tuxedo, looking like sin. Black bowtie, white shirt, and a small burgundy handkerchief inside his front pocket of his jacket. He had called a little while ago to ask what color I was wearing, and now I know why.
Realizing my mouth is still wide open, I quickly shut it and step back, letting him inside.
Oh my god, he smells like the fucking ocean.
Conner turns to me once inside, bringing me against his chest and dropping a kiss on my lips.
“You look absolutely stunning, but you’re missing one small thing,” he says against my mouth.
“What? No.” I pull away from him and head over to my full-length mirror. “What am I missing?” I shake my head, looking myself over.
“This,” is all I hear before I see arms come over me and something is placed around my neck. When I look up, I see what he’s fastening to me. A beautiful, graduated drop-down pendant necklace.
“Conner, I—”
“Shh. It’s perfect. It looks beautiful on you.” He smiles at me, then leans in and kisses me on my cheek. “Merry Christmas, Allison.”
I turn with tears in my eyes. “What?”
“It’s your Christmas gift.” He laughs. “You do know about those, right? Santa in a jolly red suit comes down from the chimney and leaves presents under a tree. Except I’m Santa dressed in a tux, and I came in through your front door.” His hands cup my face. “Do you not like it?”
I shake my head, “No. I love it. I-I just … It’s a gift. I wasn’t expecting …” I can’t find the words to tell him that it took me by complete surprise and that it means so much that he got something like this for me. He’s done the impossible. He’s rendered me speechless.
Conner leans in and kisses me. “I’m not expecting anything in return.”
“Well, thank you, I love it.” I place my hand over it and smile. My heart warms over his kind gesture.
There’s something so different with Conner. The way my body lights up in his presence, or the way my heart feels like it’s getting ready to burst from my chest. The way my lips burn when his are on them, the air that crackles around us. My senses are always on overload when I’m with him. Conner makes me feel like I’m floating. He warms my heart.
I love him.
* * *
We walkinto the ballroom of the hotel and are immediately greeted by a Christmas wonderland. White Christmas lights drop down from the ceiling, twinkling to make it look like it’s snowing. Beautiful green Christmas trees dusted with fake snow and décor are scattered throughout the venue. Lights project snowflakes along the floor and walls. All the tables are adorned with pristine white tables cloths, and a beautiful display of silver and white ornaments in the shape of a Christmas tree sits in the center surrounded by lit candles.
This place is magnificent. I have goosebumps walking through, I feel as if I’m in an actual winter wonderland.
“Oh my god, Conner, this is beautiful.” I look around, trying to take in everything around me.
“They do a great job every year making it a party to never forget.” He wraps an arm around my waist. “Lets head over to the bar and grab a drink.”
Conner starts to lead me over, but not before we get stopped by three men with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces.
“Conner! It’s about time you got here. And who is this beauty?” One man turns to me and gives me a smile.
“Guys, this is Allison. Allison, these three are my friends: Roland, Jack, and Tommy.” Conner points from left to right, starting with the man who smiled at me.
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you all.” I shake each of their hands, giving them a smile.
Conner looks at me. “Come on, let’s go find our table.”
“Actually, we have a table over that way by the tree in the corner with a couple of extra seats.” Roland smiles.
Conner shrugs and I nod. “Sounds good, Ro. We’ll meet you back there.” Grabbing my hand, he leads me back to the table while his friends get refills from bar.
“Your friends seem nice. I remember seeing them at Legends with you. How do you guys all meet?”
Conner sighs and smiles. “Well, Roland and I have been best friends since middle school. The other two we met in high school when they moved here. We’re like brothers to each other. We went to college together and have been there through moves, weddings, families, all that.”
Realizing my mouth is still wide open, I quickly shut it and step back, letting him inside.
Oh my god, he smells like the fucking ocean.
Conner turns to me once inside, bringing me against his chest and dropping a kiss on my lips.
“You look absolutely stunning, but you’re missing one small thing,” he says against my mouth.
“What? No.” I pull away from him and head over to my full-length mirror. “What am I missing?” I shake my head, looking myself over.
“This,” is all I hear before I see arms come over me and something is placed around my neck. When I look up, I see what he’s fastening to me. A beautiful, graduated drop-down pendant necklace.
“Conner, I—”
“Shh. It’s perfect. It looks beautiful on you.” He smiles at me, then leans in and kisses me on my cheek. “Merry Christmas, Allison.”
I turn with tears in my eyes. “What?”
“It’s your Christmas gift.” He laughs. “You do know about those, right? Santa in a jolly red suit comes down from the chimney and leaves presents under a tree. Except I’m Santa dressed in a tux, and I came in through your front door.” His hands cup my face. “Do you not like it?”
I shake my head, “No. I love it. I-I just … It’s a gift. I wasn’t expecting …” I can’t find the words to tell him that it took me by complete surprise and that it means so much that he got something like this for me. He’s done the impossible. He’s rendered me speechless.
Conner leans in and kisses me. “I’m not expecting anything in return.”
“Well, thank you, I love it.” I place my hand over it and smile. My heart warms over his kind gesture.
There’s something so different with Conner. The way my body lights up in his presence, or the way my heart feels like it’s getting ready to burst from my chest. The way my lips burn when his are on them, the air that crackles around us. My senses are always on overload when I’m with him. Conner makes me feel like I’m floating. He warms my heart.
I love him.
* * *
We walkinto the ballroom of the hotel and are immediately greeted by a Christmas wonderland. White Christmas lights drop down from the ceiling, twinkling to make it look like it’s snowing. Beautiful green Christmas trees dusted with fake snow and décor are scattered throughout the venue. Lights project snowflakes along the floor and walls. All the tables are adorned with pristine white tables cloths, and a beautiful display of silver and white ornaments in the shape of a Christmas tree sits in the center surrounded by lit candles.
This place is magnificent. I have goosebumps walking through, I feel as if I’m in an actual winter wonderland.
“Oh my god, Conner, this is beautiful.” I look around, trying to take in everything around me.
“They do a great job every year making it a party to never forget.” He wraps an arm around my waist. “Lets head over to the bar and grab a drink.”
Conner starts to lead me over, but not before we get stopped by three men with drinks in their hands and smiles on their faces.
“Conner! It’s about time you got here. And who is this beauty?” One man turns to me and gives me a smile.
“Guys, this is Allison. Allison, these three are my friends: Roland, Jack, and Tommy.” Conner points from left to right, starting with the man who smiled at me.
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you all.” I shake each of their hands, giving them a smile.
Conner looks at me. “Come on, let’s go find our table.”
“Actually, we have a table over that way by the tree in the corner with a couple of extra seats.” Roland smiles.
Conner shrugs and I nod. “Sounds good, Ro. We’ll meet you back there.” Grabbing my hand, he leads me back to the table while his friends get refills from bar.
“Your friends seem nice. I remember seeing them at Legends with you. How do you guys all meet?”
Conner sighs and smiles. “Well, Roland and I have been best friends since middle school. The other two we met in high school when they moved here. We’re like brothers to each other. We went to college together and have been there through moves, weddings, families, all that.”