Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Hey, guys!” I called, a genuine smile tugging at my lips as we walked toward each other. “What are you doing here?”
Andy was wearing a red velvet dress with red and black plaid leggings underneath. Sammy was clearly still dressed from work in her black pantsuit. But I noticed the pattern on her white silk blouse that looked like dots from afar was actually little Santa hats.
The two women were a study in contrasts. Where Andy was petite and red-headed with honey-brown eyes, Sammy was tall and curvy with dark brown hair, a sharp face, and light blue eyes.
“For two reasons, really,” Sammy started.
“For one, I have a donation I scrounged up at my mom’s work,” Andy said, reaching into her purse to pull out a brown sandwich bag seemingly full of cash. “They were pretty generous. I didn’t count. But I think—”
“‘Scuse me,” a deep voice that had been starring in all my bedtime fantasies said, scooting around the two women.
“Whoops, sorry,” Sammy said, leading Andy forward a step so Venezio could come in behind them.
“Wait, who is this?” Andy asked, eyes bright. Because she knew exactly who it was.
“Andy, Sammy, this is Venezio. He volunteers here. Venezio, this is Andy and Sammy, my best friends.”
Venezio gave them a nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“They came by to drop off some donations,” I said, reaching into the bag to produce the cash. “Looks like, maybe…” I started, fanning the cash, impressed by how many tens and twenties were in the stack.
“Twenty-eight hundred, give or take,” Venezio said, making my eyes widen.
“No way you can tell that.”
“Count it,” he invited.
Andy shot me a bemused little shrug as I started to count the stack of cash.
“Twenty-eight hundred and forty-three dollars,” I said, shaking my head at Venezio. “That is seriously impressive.”
“Hundred and fifteen more kids get gifts.”
“I’ve always been envious of people who can do math off the top of their heads like that,” I admitted, tucking the money away. “This is so great, Andy. Thank you so much.”
“You the lawyer?” Venezio asked, looking at Sammy.
“My reputation precedes me,” Sammy said.
“So, Venezio, what are you up to tonight?” Andy asked.
I shot her stern eyes, the universal ‘What are you doing?’ look. She promptly ignored it, as was her nature.
“Me? Nothing.”
It was crazy, but I liked how taciturn he was. He didn’t ask why she was asking or inquire about her night.
I might feel differently if I thought he was an asshole. I had several instances of that not being the case, though. He was just socially awkward and withdrawn. I figured he didn’t ask or engage not because he was being a jerk but because he was a private person and didn’t want to put anyone else in an awkward situation where they had to engage when they didn’t want to.
“Well, that’s perfect then,” Andy said.
“Andy…” I tried.
“Oh, we both know there’s no stopping her now,” Sammy said, sliding her arm around her girlfriend’s lower back.
Venezio looked between the three of us, confused but maybe a little intrigued.
“Sammy and I were invited to a little friendsmas. You guys should totally come.”
“We weren’t invited,” I reminded her.
“Oh, come on. It’s Drake and Adam’s party. You know how that is.”
Drake and Adam were a wealthy middle-aged couple who owned a small apartment building in Chelsea. They threw notoriously over-the-top parties where basically the whole building was invited, so no one complained about the noise.
The last Drake and Adam party I’d been to had been a Galentine’s Day one from four years prior, in which I got wasted on Pretty In Pink martinis and woke up in my bra in the bathtub, covered in glitter at two in the afternoon the following day.
By the time I could climb out of the tub, Drake and Adam already had a massive hangover meal spread across the kitchen island.
It had been the best party of my life.
And now I was getting invited to a Christmas one.
Even if the invitation didn’t come directly from Adam or Drake, I knew they’d be fine with not only me being there but Venezio as well.
“Adam made frosted mistletoe margaritas,” Andy went on, knowing margaritas were my weakness.
A little groan escaped me, drawing Venezio’s attention. He shot me a devilish smirk. “Margs, huh?” he asked.
“My weakness,” I agreed.
“Anyway, you two have to come with us. You’ve got to be done around here for the night.”
I glanced back, seeing that most of the volunteers had cleared out. Save for Craig, who seemed to be waiting for an invite to the conversation.
“Come on. You work so hard,” Andy said.
“She’s got you there,” Sammy agreed. “Come on. You know you want to come.”
I did, actually.
And that felt like a major step forward for me. I’d been avoiding most social gatherings since my mom passed. There’d been no desire to go. Now that there was, it felt wrong to pass on the chance to get out, socialize, and have a good time.