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Marisa looked sublimely happy when I approached her and the other ladies. They barely noticed me as they were otherwise engaged and gabbing their heads off.
We had a little over an hour before it would officially be the new year. I wanted a little time with Marisa before the clock struck twelve.
I got Marisa’s attention and invited her to join me. The other women were all goo-goo eyes as I handed her a fresh glass of wine, placed my hand to the small of her back, and walked us to somewhere a little more private.
“Tell me something, Tyler,” she said, sinking into my side.
“What do you want me to tell you about?”
“I don’t know. Something none of these guys really knows about you.”
“Hmm,” I considered. “They might suspect this, but I’ve never admitted it to them.”
“Ooh, what is it?” Her eyes sparkled with amusement and excitement.
“I was kind of awkward when I was younger,” I confessed.
“What?! No way. That’s hard to imagine. I mean, you’re the hottest guy here.” Her eyes scanned the room.
“You’re just used to me.” I gave her a quick kiss. “And, you’re biased.”
“Am not.” She fiddled with my tie. “I mean, I am biased. But I’m also being honest. When I look around this room, hell even when I see another man on the street, I think, ‘Nope. He’s definitely got nothin’ on Tyler.”
“You check out other dudes?”
She scoffed. “Men, Tyler. Not dudes. And, not like all day, every day. But I’m not blind, Tyler.”
“Maybe we should get you some new, really dark lensed sunglasses.”
“I only have eyes for you,” she said. I noticed how she clamped her mouth shut after she said that. She tried to play it off by rubbing her lips together like she was mixing her lip gloss. But I heard what I heard.
I didn’t want to make her any more uncomfortable than she already appeared to be, so I let her eyes trail past me and wander the room.
“I hope you had fun tonight,” I said, bringing her attention back to me. “Did you like Catherine’s friends?”
She nodded. “They’re really nice. Sweet, funny, nice.”
I noticed the repeat of the word nice. She was still in her head over her little slipup. “I told you they were great. We are certainly a lucky group.” I took a peek at my watch and decided to change tactics. “So, what’s your new year’s resolution?”
“I hadn’t even really thought of it. Hmm.” Her mind seemed to be going a mile a minute. “Do you have one?” she asked.
“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours,” I said coyly.
“Well, I guess, maybe, I’d like to take some more time for myself.”
“Meaning?”
“A vacation. I haven’t taken a real, honest-to-goodness vacation in over two years.”
“You’re kidding me.” The shock in my voice was genuine.
“Nope. I’ve taken time off here and there. But not anything exciting.” She shrugged. “So, I guess, if I had to choose something, it would be that. At least a full week. Just for me.”
“I think that’s a great resolution. Everyone needs a little time now and then just to do nothing but relax and unwind.”
“What’s yours?” she asked.
