“Hurry up!” I shout.
I hear her huff on the other side, which makes my smile even bigger.
“Why did I have to c
ome along for this?” Libby asks.
She’s next to me, standing with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Because I thought it would be nice if you were here when we invite her over to Christmas dinner. She’s alone.”
“She really did put a spell on you, didn’t she?”
“I told you. I like her.” I shrug, then knock again just to annoy Ina.
“What’s so important that you need to wake me from my afternoon nap?” Miss Ina answers as she finally opens the door.
I grin, then give her a hug that she tries to pull away from. I don’t let her get far.
“You’re coming with us on Christmas.”
“No, I’m not.” She shakes her head and attempts to shut the door, but I block it with my foot before she can.
“Yes, you are. I even ordered us a car service for the morning of so we don’t have to take the train out to Long Island.”
“Child, I’m staying home on Christmas. Now go on.” She tries to shoo us away.
Before, that might have worked, but now I know that she’s a big softie. I’m not going anywhere.
“Miss Ina, I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but the day you made me tea and let me cry on your shoulder and then sleep on your couch is the day you and I became friends. I don’t let my friends sit alone at home on Christmas, so Christmas morning you will be coming with me and Libby to our parents’ house—even if I have to break into your apartment and drag you with me.”
I smile, and she glares at me. Then she glares at Libby.
“I should call the law on you two for harassing me.”
“Do it.” I raise a brow, and she huffs again.
Libby tenses at my side, not knowing that the woman is all bark and no bite.
“Fine,” Miss Ina says, finally giving in. “I’ll come—but only because I want to.” She shakes her head as she starts to shut the door again, but I move my foot back in to block it again.
“Promise me.” I hold out my pinkie toward her.
“I should have left you to cry in the hall,” she says.
I don’t move anything more than one eyebrow, which I raise.
“Fine. I promise.” She slaps my hand, then slams the door.
“She’s still scary,” Libby says, taking my arm and pulling me along with her.
“I heard that! I’m glad you think so, seeing how your sister’s forgotten!” Miss Ina shouts through the door.
I laugh along with Libby as we head up the stairs to our apartment.
After entering, I kick off my shoes and sigh. “It feels like I haven’t been here in forever,” I say as we plop down on the couch next to each other. I haven’t been home for weeks. I’ve been spending all my time with Wesley, but with his mom and stepdad sleeping in his bed while he’s on the couch, I won’t be staying with him again until after Christmas.
“You haven’t, and it’s a lot quieter without you around,” Libby says.
I look at her and instantly feel guilty for not having been home much.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Honestly, it’s been nice.” She smirks. “Do you think that you and Wesley are going to move in together sometime soon?” she asks, sounding way too hopeful. I pick up one of the pillows and hit her with it, making her laugh. “Seriously, though. What are you guys planning on doing?”
“I don’t know. It will probably be a while before we take that step. Our relationship has been moving too quickly from the beginning, and I think that we need some time to get to know each other before we make any big commitments.”
“That’s probably smart, but then again, you have been with him every day and every night. It doesn’t make sense to live here, paying rent, while spending all your time there with him.”
“True.” I hug the pillow to my chest. “But if I was to move out, do you think you could afford this place on your own?”
“Yes, Mom.” She rolls her eyes. “Plus, I’ve been tucking away the extra money I’ve been making at Tony’s the last couple weeks.”
“How’s it been, working there?”
Ever since the day I told Libby about Tony being in the hospital and Antonio needing help at the pizza parlor, she’s been going in a few days a week to help out with waiting tables and answering the phone. Antonio said they didn’t need help, but she went above his head and talked to his mom about it. I’ve also gone in a couple of times to pitch in, but Libby seems to have it under control. Mrs. Moretti adores her, which I think annoys the crap out of Antonio.
“It’s fine.” She shrugs, then fiddles with her hair.
That’s something she’s done since she was little—whenever she’s not telling the truth.
“Just fine?” I narrow my eyes at her, and she shifts in her seat.
“Just fine.”
“Is Antonio being nice to you?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes at the mention of his name.
“He’s being himself.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’s constantly complaining about my shoes, my clothes, and the fact that I wear makeup.”
“Don’t let him get to you.”
“I won’t,” she says, but I can tell by the set of her shoulders that his opinion bugs her.
“I’m sorry that he’s being a jerk.”
“Don’t be. His opinion of me doesn’t matter.” She waves my comment away. “I like his mom, and his dad is very sweet. So he can suck it.” She stands up. “I’m going to take a bath then watch a movie. Do you want to watch a scary one with me?”
“I’ll make popcorn,” I answer.
Watching her walk off toward our bedroom, I can’t help but wonder what the hell is going on between her and Antonio. Her reaction was not normal. They have always bickered, but now I wonder if there isn’t a little bit of attraction between them.
My cell phone starts to ring, and I lean forward and grab it off the coffee table.
It’s Wesley. “Hey,” I answer when I put it to my ear.
“Hey.”
“Did you get your mom and Peter settled?” I ask as I relax back against the couch. Tucking my feet under me, I pull a blanket over my lap and get comfortable.
“Yeah. Now I’m heading to the station to meet Levi. We have to work for a few hours.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, just work,” he answers.
I know by his tone that he’s not going to say anything more about it.
“I miss you,” I say.
There’s silence on the other end.
“Do you?” he asks after a moment.
I can hear the smile in his voice, which just makes me miss him even more.
“Yeah.”
“I miss you, too.”
“That makes me feel a little less crazy,” I admit, smiling, then smiling wider when he laughs.
“My mom is crazy about you.”
“She is?”
“She is. I knew she would be. She said that she loves you for me. That she couldn’t have chosen better herself.”
“That’s good, right?” I ask, feeling hopeful.
“That’s better than good. She’s looking forward to meeting your family on Christmas.”
“Oh.” I deflate, slumping back into the couch. “Let’s not get our hopes up, then. You and I both know that my family is crazy. She might change her mind about me after meeting them.”
“It will be fine.” He laughs, then I hear a car door slam.
“Did you just get to work?”
“Yeah, baby. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Be safe.”
“Always. Night, gorgeous.”
“Night.” I hang up, then press the cell phone to my smiling lips.
“What are you so happy about?” Libby asks, coming out of the bedroom wearing a robe. Her hair is tied up in a bun on top of her head.
“Wesley’s mom likes me.”
“Are you really surprised by that?” she asks, going
to the kitchen.
She grabs a wineglass, then opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of white wine, filling the glass to the brim.
“I don’t know. I didn’t know what to expect, honestly.”
“Everyone likes you. Even Miss Ina, who I’m pretty sure hates everyone. So I’m not surprised.” She takes a sip of wine, then holds the bottle up between us. “You want a glass?”
“No, thanks.” I shake my head and she nods, putting the bottle back in the fridge. “Did you already take a bath?”
“Not yet. I’m filling the tub now. I just wanted a glass of wine.”
“Cool.” I yawn, covering my mouth. Then I reach forward for the remote. “If I’m asleep when you get out, just wake me up.”
“Will do.” She heads into the bedroom.
I turn on the TV and lie down, then promptly fall asleep.
When Libby does come out and wake me up, I’m only able to make it halfway through the movie The Ring. I can’t keep my eyes open, so I give in and go to bed.
“Good morning!” Fawn says in a singsong voice as she walks into the apartment without knocking, making me jump out of my skin.
“Sheesh! You scared the crap out of me.” I hold my hand over my pounding heart.
She smiles. “Sorry. I didn’t even think twice about using my key.” She shrugs, then holds up a bag. “I brought bagels.”
My stomach, which has been silent all morning, growls. My mouth waters when I see the all-too-familiar name printed on the bag.
“Please tell me that you brought smoked salmon cream cheese,” I beg, forgetting all about being scared moments ago.
“I did!” She smiles and sets the bag on the counter.
Pulling out the toaster, I plug it in, then dig out one of the “everything” bagels from the bag and cut it in half.
“You’re here already,” Libby says groggily, coming out of the bedroom.
Fawn looks at her when she comes over to kiss her cheek.
“Levi was out all night. He came in early this morning, so when he came to bed I got up so I wouldn’t bother him,” Fawn explains.
Libby makes her way past me and toward the coffeepot that finished brewing moments ago.
“Levi’s already back to work?” Libby asks.
“Last night was his first night back. The doctors told him that as long as he doesn’t push it, he should be okay.”