Page 23
Story: The Christmas Bet
“Wow. That’s really awesome that you all are so close. I take it they’re all lawyers too? And you said weddings, so are they married?”
“They are lawyers, but for different firms. Well, except Roland. He and I work for the same firm. Tommy works for his father’s firm, and Jack works for another firm in the city.” As we make our way to the table, he pulls out the chair for me to sit. I smooth my dress down and take my seat.
I blush slightly as his hand touches my back when he moves to his chair.
“Jack and Roland are married,” he continues. “Tommy’s engaged to be married.”
“So, you’re the last one holding out.” It wasn’t a question. This was completely an observation. “You’re a playboy, aren’t you?” I giggle.
Before he can respond, his friends walk up to us, with Roland slapping him on the shoulder.
“You up for drinks after?” Roland sits down next to Conner. “Since we’re out, go visit the new club over by Central Park?” He turns to Tommy, “What the hell was it called again?”
“The Vault.” Tommy takes a sip of his drink and sets it in the table.
Conner looks at me. “Would you want to go?”
“Sure. If you want to, that is.”
“There they are.” Jack points behind us. “Our beautiful ladies.” I turn slightly in my chair to see three gorgeous women walking towards us. Seriously, these three are fucking stunning. I sort of feel a little underdressed and plain compared to them.
Conner stands up, extending his hand to mine, and helps me up. “Ladies, it’s good to see you. This here is Allison. Allison, this is Erin, Jack’s fiancé.” I grin at the red-headed beauty. Her skin is peppered in freckles. Her green dress against her fair skin makes her look like a goddess.
“This is Beth, Roland’s wife.” She comes up and hugs me. She’s bouncy, and her smile stretches from ear to ear. She’s in a beautiful silver satin fit and flair dress, and it’s as shiny as her brown wavy hair that’s pulled to one side.
“Last but not least, Trish. Jack’s wife.” Trish reaches out and puts a hand on my arm.
“It’s nice to finally meet you. The woman who has captured the lone playboy.” She turns back to Conner and gives him a wink. Her blonde hair in a beautifully braided bun, her dress a long black gown.
“Thanks, Trish,” Conner scoffs and shakes his head. Well, I guess I was right. Playboy.
“You know I’m just giving you shit.” She wraps her arms around him and hugs him. “If I didn’t give you a hard time, how would you know I loved you?” She tilts her head back and laughs.
“You know, I’m going to go find the bathroom.” I turn to Conner. “I’ll be right back.”
Conner leans in and gives me a kiss. “Hurry back.”
I walk down around the dance floor and outside the ballroom to the nearest bathroom. I can hearRockin’ Around the Christmas Treeplaying in the background as I walk into the restrooms. Humming to myself, I find and empty stall and go through the rigorous effort of trying to shift and move what I have to in order to pee. There are days I wish I would just pull down a zipper, grab my stick, and just pee. Today is one of those days. When I finish, I wash up and make my way back into the ballroom.
My heart fills with joy and my senses overloaded all over again as I head back into the winter wonderland all around me.
Have I mentioned I love this time of year?
I return to the table to see the girls sitting there, but the guys are gone.
“Hey. Um, have you seen Conner?” I ask Trish.
She places a hand on my shoulder and offers me a smile. “Yeah. They went onto the balcony off the doors there to have a cigar or something. You know, guy shit.”
A giggle rumbles in me at ‘guy shit’.
“Thanks, I’ll see if I can go locate him.” I grin at the women and head to where Trish indicated. I make my way over to the glass doors and open them up. Then I hear voices that sounds like the guys.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty good.” That sounds like Conner’s voice, so I start walking towards them.
“Do you think she’s in love with you?” That question has me stopping where I stand.Yes, I am. My heart clenches.
“I don’t know, honestly. I really don’t know. She’s a firecracker. I can’t get a read on her.”
“They are lawyers, but for different firms. Well, except Roland. He and I work for the same firm. Tommy works for his father’s firm, and Jack works for another firm in the city.” As we make our way to the table, he pulls out the chair for me to sit. I smooth my dress down and take my seat.
I blush slightly as his hand touches my back when he moves to his chair.
“Jack and Roland are married,” he continues. “Tommy’s engaged to be married.”
“So, you’re the last one holding out.” It wasn’t a question. This was completely an observation. “You’re a playboy, aren’t you?” I giggle.
Before he can respond, his friends walk up to us, with Roland slapping him on the shoulder.
“You up for drinks after?” Roland sits down next to Conner. “Since we’re out, go visit the new club over by Central Park?” He turns to Tommy, “What the hell was it called again?”
“The Vault.” Tommy takes a sip of his drink and sets it in the table.
Conner looks at me. “Would you want to go?”
“Sure. If you want to, that is.”
“There they are.” Jack points behind us. “Our beautiful ladies.” I turn slightly in my chair to see three gorgeous women walking towards us. Seriously, these three are fucking stunning. I sort of feel a little underdressed and plain compared to them.
Conner stands up, extending his hand to mine, and helps me up. “Ladies, it’s good to see you. This here is Allison. Allison, this is Erin, Jack’s fiancé.” I grin at the red-headed beauty. Her skin is peppered in freckles. Her green dress against her fair skin makes her look like a goddess.
“This is Beth, Roland’s wife.” She comes up and hugs me. She’s bouncy, and her smile stretches from ear to ear. She’s in a beautiful silver satin fit and flair dress, and it’s as shiny as her brown wavy hair that’s pulled to one side.
“Last but not least, Trish. Jack’s wife.” Trish reaches out and puts a hand on my arm.
“It’s nice to finally meet you. The woman who has captured the lone playboy.” She turns back to Conner and gives him a wink. Her blonde hair in a beautifully braided bun, her dress a long black gown.
“Thanks, Trish,” Conner scoffs and shakes his head. Well, I guess I was right. Playboy.
“You know I’m just giving you shit.” She wraps her arms around him and hugs him. “If I didn’t give you a hard time, how would you know I loved you?” She tilts her head back and laughs.
“You know, I’m going to go find the bathroom.” I turn to Conner. “I’ll be right back.”
Conner leans in and gives me a kiss. “Hurry back.”
I walk down around the dance floor and outside the ballroom to the nearest bathroom. I can hearRockin’ Around the Christmas Treeplaying in the background as I walk into the restrooms. Humming to myself, I find and empty stall and go through the rigorous effort of trying to shift and move what I have to in order to pee. There are days I wish I would just pull down a zipper, grab my stick, and just pee. Today is one of those days. When I finish, I wash up and make my way back into the ballroom.
My heart fills with joy and my senses overloaded all over again as I head back into the winter wonderland all around me.
Have I mentioned I love this time of year?
I return to the table to see the girls sitting there, but the guys are gone.
“Hey. Um, have you seen Conner?” I ask Trish.
She places a hand on my shoulder and offers me a smile. “Yeah. They went onto the balcony off the doors there to have a cigar or something. You know, guy shit.”
A giggle rumbles in me at ‘guy shit’.
“Thanks, I’ll see if I can go locate him.” I grin at the women and head to where Trish indicated. I make my way over to the glass doors and open them up. Then I hear voices that sounds like the guys.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty good.” That sounds like Conner’s voice, so I start walking towards them.
“Do you think she’s in love with you?” That question has me stopping where I stand.Yes, I am. My heart clenches.
“I don’t know, honestly. I really don’t know. She’s a firecracker. I can’t get a read on her.”