Page 6 of She Came Upon A Midnight Clear
“Okay. Well, we’re about to do the raffles. Want to help me hand out the baskets? Oh, wait. Sorry. I remember you overload easily in crowds.”
She looks up at me. “You remembered that?”
“Yeah. I kinda remember everything about you, Evie. But look, you’re welcome to go sit in the foyer if you need some quiet time. And I can send Olive out there to keep you company. She’s a great therapy dog.”
“That’s really sweet. But is it okay if I just…hang out in here?”
“Sure. Of course. I’ll be about half an hour, I think. Uh, let me know if Gretchen comes back and you guys decide to take off, though, okay?”
“Yes, sure,” she says with a nod and the sweetest smile.
Shit, this girl is under my skin after five minutes with her, just the way she was after that holiday kiss six years ago. Hell, if I’m being honest with myself, she was a little under my skin the whole time I was dating her roommate, which made me feel like a creep. But I’m damn glad she showed up here tonight.
I plan to get this raffle over with as quickly as possible.
I go to the DJ booth and grab the microphone. One of my vet techs brings me the ceramic dog bowl full of raffle tickets, and I pull the first one out and read the number.
I get through all the raffle items, and a glance at my Apple watch tells me it’s been almost exactly thirty minutes. When I hand the DJ the mic back and he starts the music, I gaze around the room, but I don’t see her.
Shit.
Then I spot Olive’s wagging tail by the doorway to the foyer, and I head over. Evie’s there, along with Gretchen, their heads close together.
“No, it’s totally fine, Gretch,” Evie says as I step closer.
“Sorry, you two. Uh, am I interrupting?”
“Nope, boss,” Gretchen answers, a smile on her face. “I was just telling Evie that I’m gonna take off. I just wanted to be sure she was cool with that.”
“I am,” Evie says. “You and Sue have a lot to talk about. I’m fine. I’m enjoying myself.”
Gretchen arches an eyebrow and Evie gives her a small smack on the shoulder. “Really, I’m fine. Go do what you need to do.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
Evie pulls her friend in for a quick hug, then Gretchen turns to me, still smiling.
“Thanks for a great evening, boss.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome. Have a good night.”
She walks out and Evie steps closer. “Looks like she and Sue are getting back together.”
“Ah, great! I mean, is it great?”
There’s that laugh again. Music. “I think so. They have a few things to work through, but Gretchen is a big girl; she’ll figure it out.”
“Well, the party is winding up. Do you need to take off, or can you hang out a little longer?”
“I can stay,” she says. “Anyway, I may have had one glass of champagne too many, and I don’t think I’m ready to drive just yet.”
I put my hand up. “Stay right there. Seriously. Stay.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t argue, and I head over to the bar and grab a bottle of water and bring it back to her.
“Drink up.”
“Oh, I…” she begins to argue, then stops when she sees my face.
