Page 39 of Snowed

We slowed as we came to houses 404 and 406. “Want to know a secret?” I asked.

“Who would ever say no to that question?”

I chuckled. “I guess not too many people.”

“What’s your secret?”

“Yours was the first boob I ever saw.”

“What? How?”

I pointed up to what used to be my bedroom on the second floor of my parents’ house. “My room had a direct view of your yard, of your pool. One day, I was looking out the window, and you were getting out of the water. Your bikini top shifted as you climbed out. I saw your boob. The left one, to be exact.”

Lucy laughed. “How old were you?”

“Eleven.”

“Did you like what you saw?”

“I still remember it, don’t I?”

She chuckled. “That means you owe me a peek at one of your body parts.”

“Happy to oblige, Snow. Happy to oblige.”

A few minutes later, we arrived at Lucy’s place. It was decorated with strings of very uniform white lights and a simple wreath on the door. “Your house looks nice. You should’ve decorated the bar instead of my sister.”

“It sort of looks like someone vomited Christmas in there, doesn’t it?”

Lucy unlocked the door, and then there was an awkward moment. It felt like the end of a date, and I should kiss her goodnight.

“Well…” She looked down and ran her foot along the doormat. “Thanks for walking me home.”

“Anytime.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek, then moved my mouth to her ear. “And let me know what body part you decide you want to see. Ball’s in your court. I’ll be waiting.”

CHAPTER 4

Lucy

I hadn’t been able to concentrate at all during this dinner. It was my second date with Lorne Mitchell, a Manhattan psychiatrist. Everything had been going great, except that my mind kept wandering to whether I should stop by The Rusty Nail after.

That was certainly not a good sign for Lorne.

My date put his fork down. “Is everything okay? You look like you’re not enjoying the food.”

“Oh no. Everything is perfect. Sorry. My mind is on…one of my clients,” I lied. “I have a hard time not taking work home with me.”

“I get it. We have that in common, I think. My patients get in my head a lot, too.”

This was the first time I’d been out with someone who was also in the mental-health field. I’d hoped that commonality would make things more interesting, but any small bit of chemistry between Lorne and me had fizzled since our first date.

All I could think about was what Tucker had said to me the last time we were together. “Let me know what body part you decide you want to see. Ball’s in your court. I’ll be waiting.”

The pathetic thing was, I still couldn’t be sure whether Tucker was serious or not. And even if he was, it still didn’t imply that he wanted a serious relationship. I couldn’t risk my friendship with Maggie for a quick tryst with her brother. Her brother! Oh my God. How would she even react to that? I really needed to forget what Tucker said.

But that was easier said than done.

After I parted ways with my date, I decided to stop by the bar. Tonight’s dating event was likely wrapping up, and I told myself I was going to check in with Maggie. But deep down, I knew what had really brought me here was the possibility of seeing Tucker. Maybe seeing him tonight would give me some clarity.