Page 65 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

She stuck out her bottom lip. “Now I remember why I divorced you,” she snapped.

He just glared at her, shaking his head and then looking away.

So she probably wasn’t the one who’d asked for the divorce.

Leaning back against the reception desk, Hazel swept a hand out dramatically, her voice abnormally cheerful. “So, what’s everyone’s holiday plans? I just love turkey, don’t you?”

“My family hosts every year in Cancun. It’s one of our little traditions.” Aileen’s voice was dripping with condescension. “Isn’t it, Jeff?”

His lips were pressed together as he nodded once, and she smirked.

“I’m just staying home, going to relax and do some online shopping,” I said flatly, realizing how boring that would sound to most people, especially people who were used to celebrating a U.S. holiday outside the country.

Hazel looked surprised. “Don’t you usually fly home to your parents’ house in Nashville?”

It was Chattanooga actually, but I shrugged. “Sometimes. It’s no big deal.”

Hazel smoothed her long hair behind her shoulders, andher eyes lit up. “Oh, Roxy, you’re welcome to come to our house! Peter’s a surprisingly good cook, and Mari and Terry are coming over too.”

I winced. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’d just be a fifth wheel at your house. But I do appreciate the offer.” I schooled my features into calm acceptance. “I’ll be fine, seriously. I’ve been alone on Thanksgiving before.”

“How sad,” Aileen said, fluttering her eyelashes with mock sympathy.

The ensuing silence had us all shifting our feet, wishing to be anywhere else.

Suddenly, Jeff spoke quietly, facing me, “Do you want to join us?”

Mine weren’t the only eyes that widened at that question.

“Oh, I couldn’t intrude—”

“You wouldn’t be intruding,” he said firmly. “Lila would love it.”

I blinked a few times, and my mouth opened for an awkwardly long moment before any words came out. “Um, OK,” I managed to say, shocking myself.

“You’ll come?” he said while Hazel mouthed “Oh.”

“Yes?” I swallowed the lump in my throat and shrugged as if I hadn’t given the most bizarre answer ever. “Sure.”

I would later wonder why on earth I accepted his invitation and would conclude it was Aileen’s presence. She was not a nice person, I’d realized, and my acceptance would probably irk her. It was petty, but I couldn’t think of any other reason. None that made sense, anyway. It couldn’t be that Iwantedto spend a holiday with my work nemesis.

“What?” Aileen screeched. “You’re invitingher, your co-worker?” She pointed at me rudely and then narrowed her eyes toward him and then back to me. “Is something going on between you two?”

I tried to stifle a giggle. “No! That’s not something youeverneed to worry about, trust me,” I said, avoiding Jeff’s eyes.

Jeff was silent for a moment, and I heard him breathe out slowly. “Aileen, we agreed to let Lila decide where she spent the holiday. And she chose my house over Cancun, remember?” he reminded her.

She bristled. “Well, I can change my mind—”

“No, you can’t. And you won’t.”

She glared at him and then at me. “Whatever. I’m going to go pick upmydaughter. Be ready at six tonight.”

“Bye,” Hazel said, a little louder than necessary.

When Aileen stomped off, Jeff rolled his eyes. His shoulders lowered, and he immediately looked less tense. Just his normal level of tense.

“Sorry about that,” he muttered.

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