Page 23 of Christmas Crisis
“Such as?”
“I know you just got a spare, but you rolled gutter balls in the fourth and fifth frames. I’m kicking your butt right now.”
“Consider those gutter balls a birthday gift.”
At her answering grin, the teenagers snapped more pics. I ignored them.
We decided to play one more game of air hockey before leaving. After winning, she came around to my side of the table and circled her arms around my neck.
“Thank you so much for today, Bear. This is exactly what I needed.” She stood on her toes to make sure I could hear her through the din of the games. “I haven’t totally forgotten about what’s going on, but being here with you makes it feel more manageable.”
Holding her close, I anchored my hands on her hips. “I’m glad. And we’ll manage together.”
“I know we will.” She angled in, resting her cheek against my chest. Could she feel my heart beat faster? “Who would have thought that one of my best dates ever would be a pretend one?”
I tipped her chin up. “I got you. It doesn’t matter what you call it. It’s just us having fun. Nothing new there. And nothing pretend about it.”
We stared at one another. “Just us,” she whispered.
I leaned forward and kissed her forehead, feeling the now-familiar shiver travel down my spine.
Without thought, my mouth moved sideways, and I placed another soft kiss on the hollow of her cheek, inhaling the scent of her skin. Her audible sigh of contentment hit my chest like an arrow. Instinctively, my lips trailed lower, then lower, until I pressed them softly against hers.
I’d never kissed her on the mouth. Never tasted her before. And although the kiss was chaste, my fingers still squeezed at her waist, pulsing with heat.
Letting my lips linger, I closed my eyes and trembled, my mind completely blocking out the beeps and flashing lights. It was just Miranda and me, and I let myself have it.
When I finally pulled back after ten seconds, her expression clouded with the last thing I wanted to see.
Confusion.
I stumbled back a step.Shit!
I’d kissed her. Forgotten myself for a moment. Forgotten Stone, and this situation.
Not what she needed right now.
“I noticed someone taking a picture,” I lied. “Thought I’d give him a show.”
She exhaled with obvious relief, letting out a nervous giggle before gazing fondly at me. “Jeez, Leo, when you worried you wouldn’t know how to date someone and make it seem real—”
“Yeah?”
“You really shouldn’t have worried.”
We had an amazing timeat the arcade. And she’d been stoked when I suggested an early birthday dinner at the kitschy Mexican place nearby. Between Miranda’s good mood and the success of being recognized and photographed on our “date,” I felt pretty encouraged.
So naturally, there had to be a bump.
After a dinner of chicken fajitas, chips and salsa, and two margaritas apiece, we were contemplating dessert when Miranda’s phone rattled. She’d looked tipsy a few minutes ago, but her face sobered when she glanced at the display.
“I need to get this,” she said, holding up a finger.
I nodded, motioning to ask if I should leave the table. She shook her head.
In deference to being in the middle of a restaurant—where at least one other couple had taken our picture—her voice remained low. Across the table, I caught most of her replies to what was a very one-sided conversation.
“Hello… Yes… Yes… No, I flew up to Seattle… Yes… No… I’m not sure because we’re still trying to figure out—… That was never my intention… Yes… I understand… No… It makes sense…” She pinched the bridge of her nose, squeezing her eyes together as she listened to whoever was on the other end of the line speak for a minute straight. “I’ll let you know as soon as I can… No, I’m aware. I un—… Right. That’s a good question… I know. We haven’t talked about it, but I can connect you… I agree, that’s probably best for everyone at this point… after New Year’s at the latest… Yes… Thank you. I will on Monday.” Shelaughed half-heartedly. “Twenty-seven. Definitely my strangest yet… I appreciate that… I’ll keep an eye on my inbox… Thanks.”
