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Chapter Twenty One
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The Wig Wam is crowded, but luckily Nicki reserved the back table and booth for us.When we walk through, we are greeted by all the regulars.As we reach the end of the bar, Nicki comes around and wraps her arms around me.
“Happy New Year, kiddo.It’s going to be a great year,” she says.I’m a little confused as to why she thinks it will be great, but okay.Let’s drink!
We each get a drink, I kiss Diesel on the cheek, and Xander shakes his hand with a nod.I turn to go to the table where Dani and Jacob are sitting with my mother and father.
“This is just another reason why I love you,” Xander says, taking my free hand in his.
“Why is that?”I ask, placing my drink on the table and letting him help remove my jacket.
“Family, you all are an inspiration for me.It’s what I want someday,” he says, reaching out to shake my father’s hand and kiss mom on the cheek.He then turns and does the same with Jacob and Dani.
“Family is what life is all about,” my father says, holding a pint glass.
“I’ll drink to that,” we all say and laugh at how in sync we are.
“Dad, should you be drinking?”I ask, wiping my lip and raising my eyebrow at the stubborn man.
“One or two won’t hurt me.It’s your mother I have to worry about.”Mom lightly smacks his arm and then kisses him on his cheek.
“We are not having that conversation again, please.I had nightmares, for crying out loud.”Dani says, covering her eyes, embarrassed that my parents still get hot and heavy between the sheets and caused my father’s heart attack.
I can’t help but laugh.The conversation goes around the table for a while until they announce ten minutes to midnight.Most of the patrons get refills while the rest of us get up from our seats and crowd around the dance floor where the big screen television shows the ball that drops in New York City.
To think I’ve lived here my whole life and have never gone to watch the ball drop.I mean, it’s a twenty-minute drive from Teaneck, maybe next year.
“It’s finally time!”Nicki yells, pushing her and Diesel through the small crowd to join the family.
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