Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

had melted into nothing, and the sharp smell of burnt vanilla and wilting greenery hovered in the air. The

chandelier that had seemed magical earlier in the evening now cast a garish light over the tired waitstaff. The

room suddenly looked ordinary. Used. Ariana felt an inexplicable pang of sadness as she sipped the last bit of

flat champagne from her glass.

"Party's over, Osgood."

Ariana jumped at the sound of Thomas's voice. He sat down heavily next to her on the bench near the

ballroom's exit, his arms crossed over his wrinkled dress shirt. His blue eyes were slightly unfocused, and it

was clear he'd had too much to drink.

"So why are you still here?" She crossed her legs and placed her champagne flute on the floor. Thomas

smelled like whiskey and something vaguely spicy.

"Well, I'm certainly not waiting for my boyfriend, who's currently puking his guts out in the bushes. Because

that'd be lame." Thomas sniffed and rolled up one of his sleeve cuffs.

Ariana tugged on her necklace, moving it back and forth on its delicate chain. A tiny part of her agreed with

Thomas. She should have taken up Noelle's offer to ride home with her and Dash. But then she thought about

how Paige had glared at the suggestion-a not - so - subtle reminder that it was Ariana's duty as girlfriend to

take care of Daniel. She just wished he hadn't challenged Gage Coolidge to that power hour. Because then

she could be home right now, tucked between her sateen sheets.

She turned to Thomas. "What were you doing out in the bushes?"

"Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that. Bushes are always fun." Thomas smirked suggestively. "You've

heard of fun, right?"

"I do recall hearing of the concept," Ariana replied flatly, trying to step up to his banter.

"Right. I can definitely see you getting stupid and crazy," he said sarcastically.

Ariana's face grew warm. "I've done plenty of stupid and crazy things."

"True. You are dating Daniel Ryan," he replied.

"Ha ha," Ariana said, then realized with a pang how immature she sounded. Across the room a waiter dropped

a wineglass. He swore, then bent down to pick up the jagged fragments. "Daniel and I are very happy," she

added.

Thomas put his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. "So you thought his little tete-a-tete with Sergei was,

what? Gallant?"

"He was drunk," Ariana pointed out. "And if I remember correctly, you were laughing." She unhooked her