Page 68 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

Maybe we didn’t hate each other.

Dinner was delicious but uneventful. Lila carried most of the conversation and actually blushed when Jeff told me she’d painted the beautiful still-life. In the quiet moments, I realized this was one of the more peaceful, relaxing Thanksgiving dinners I’d experienced. Usually I could barely taste my food because of all the loud, distracting voices around me, not to mention the tension and resentment that rear their ugly heads at least a few times every year. My parents invite way too many people and serve way too much alcohol, and it’s all I can do to politely sit there for the full meal and then devise an excuse to head to my old bedroom.

“Daddy, when we finish cleaning up, can we watch a movie with Roxy?”

“That’s up to her,” he said, glancing at me quickly before draining his glass and looking back at his daughter.

She turned to me as I stacked the dirty dishes and brought them over to the sink. “Have you ever seenThe Princess Diaries, Roxy?”

I smiled. “I have. But it was a long time ago.”

“Will you stay and watch with us?Please?” she pleaded.

“Well, I …” I glanced at Jeff, who was loading the dishwasher. “I suppose I could. If your dad doesn’t mind”

“Yes! This will be so fun. Of course it’ll be fine with Daddy,” she said with a giggle. “I’m going to change into my pajamas, be right back?”

I wanted to tell her not to be so sure about her father’s preferences in the matter, but I decided it would ruin the mood. Instead, I asked, “Wait, aren’t you already wearing pajamas?”

She giggled. “These are last night’s jammies. Dad said I could wear them all day if I change tonight.”

“Oh, that’s …”Unexpectedly sweet, I wanted to say.

Jeff wasn’t wearing pajamas, but he wasn’t wearing a suit or tie either. With his dark jeans and maroon fitted sweater, he looked so different. Like a normal person, not a robot. A normal person that was also effortlessly handsome.

Wait, what?

I shook my head to clear out the odd thoughts.

When Lila raced out of the room, Jeff turned to me. “You can say no if you’d rather go home.”

I shrugged, trying not to think about whether he was implying he’d rather I leave. “It’s fine. I don’t have any other plans.”

“Good. You’re welcome to join us then,” he said, his tone polite but not in the stiff way he usually spoke.

Before I could thank him, he walked out of the room to a hallway closet and retrieved a broom, handing it to Lila as she bounded back into the room with a neon pink and green nightgown and fluffy orange socks.

When I finished wiping down the table, I asked what else I could do to help.

“Nothing! You’re our esteemed guest. Go rest on the couch,” Lila said with a smile.

I smiled back. “Well, I like the sound of that.”

A few minutes later, she reappeared. “Would you like some champagne, Roxy?”

My eyes widened. “Oh, I … is your dad OK with that?”

“I think he’s having some.” Then, as though it should be obvious, she added, “I mean, he told me to ask you.”

“Oh. Then yes, please.” I wouldn’t turn down good champagne. Jeff didn’t seem like the type to buy the cheap stuff. “Tell your dad thank you.”

Drinking with Jeff was weird. I’d never seen him drink before, but then again, I usually skipped the office parties.

We were almost done withPrincess Diarieswhen I glanced over to ask Lila how she thought the movie would end. Her head was resting on Jeff’s lap as her chest rose and fell rhythmically.

My eyes rose to Jeff’s, and he was smiling faintly. “I knew she wouldn’t make it through the whole movie. She never finishes movies this close to bedtime.”

I returned the smile tentatively and then pretended to keep watching the movie. But the tension was driving me crazy, so after refilling our glasses, I ventured to ask, “So, Lila chose this over Cancun with her mother?”

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