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They each bought fifty extra tickets for twenty-five bucks a piece. Margo passed them over with table number fifteen written on the bottom of the stub. White table clothes adorned the surface of the large, round tables and at the center sat beautiful red poinsettias. The place settings were white with gold trim and several baskets of rolls were placed between each seat.
When they reached table fifteen, Vance sat with his back to them at an otherwise empty table.
Jared released Anna Beth’s hand and squeezed Vance’s shoulders. “What’s up?”
Vance held his hand up above him and Jared took it in a firm shake. “Hey buddy. You ready for this?”
“Yep, going to get some food and win some stockings.” Jared held the chair for Anna Beth and took the one on the other side of her. “You here alone?”
“Yeah. I asked Olive if she wanted to come, but she had a date.”
Vance seemed nonchalant about his bed-buddy being there with someone else, so Jared didn’t question it.
“I’m glad we ended up at the same table.”
Vance held his fist out. “I took care of it, my broski. Told Margo I needed to be with you, because you give me luck.”
“Do you two want to sit next to each other? I feel like I’m the Yoko factor in this bromance,” Anna Beth asked.
Jared slid his arm around the back of her chair with a laugh. “Nah, we’re good.”
Their table filled up with other adults their age as servers came around with salads followed by the main course dishes. By the time they finished dessert, the MC started the raffle.
“Make sure to have all your tickets out. Stocking number one…”
Everyone looked at their tickets, but an excited cry from the other side of the room echoed.
Anna Beth’s fork darted over and snaked a bite of his chocolate cake.
“Hey! You chose the cheesecake.”
“I just wanted to try a bite.” She picked up a piece of her dessert with her fork and held it out to him. “Wanna try?”
Jared took the morsel and licked his lips. “Yum.”
“You two make me want to gag,” Vance said.
Jared ran his palm across Anna Beth’s cheek, turning her face toward his. He didn’t actually plan on kissing her, Jared just wanted to tease Vance, but when her lips parted, her gaze caressing his mouth, he couldn’t help himself. He forgot all about public displays or who may be watching, and kissed Anna Beth like they were the only two people in the room.
Vance’s less than subtle coughing finally broke them apart, their gazes holding for for several moments until they were both smiling.
“I regret sitting next to you two, now, so thanks,” Vance said.
The MC called out the ticket numbers for stocking number two and Anna Beth jumped up in her seat. “I won!”
Jared, Vance, and the rest of their table clapped as she stood up and weaved through the tables to claim her prize.
Vance lowered his voice and leaned closer “Things seem to be going well.”
“So far.”
“Have you asked her to stay yet?”
“No. I’m going to wait a little longer. We’ve already had one hiccup this week. I need to show her this is what I want.”
“Just don’t wait too long.”
Anna Beth came back to the table and pulled an envelope from the stocking. “I got a shopping spree at Tammy’s!” She did a little dance in her seat and Jared laughed.
