AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She took the present, her brows furrowing as she considered his clue. Ripping the paper, she frowned. “A yellow Magic 8-Ball?”
He shook his head. “A Sarcastic 9-Ball.”
Gia’s mouth fell open. “No! Oh my God. That’s amazing!” She tore into the box excitedly, laughing loudly when she shook the ball and flipped it over the first time.
“What does it say?” he asked, trying to peer over her shoulder.
“Yes…if you leave me alone.”
He chuckled, watching as she flipped it over a few more times, laughing every time she read out a new response.
“You wish! Ask me if I care! Not in a million years! This is hilarious, Xander. I love it so much. How did I not know this existed?”
He’d given past lovers expensive jewelry and gotten less genuine gratitude than Gia displayed over her silly ten-dollar toy.
“Here,” he said, his hand out. “Give me that.”
Gia handed it over, making an exaggerated face that screamed, “Danger,” when he started shaking it up. “You might want to be careful what you ask.”
He smirked, unconcerned. “Should I bend Gia over the bed and fuck her all the way into next year?”
Gia’s eyes widened as she put her hand over the answer reveal window. “We don’t need to ask the ball that question. I already know the answer. It’s yes. Just yes.”
Xander laughed, then peeled her fingers off, lifting the ball high enough to hide the response from his height-challenged girl. “Uh-oh.” He pretended to frown as she bounced on tiptoe, fighting to sneak a peek.
“Oh God. What does it say?” she asked.
He lowered it the same time as he replied, “It says, ‘Well duh.’”
Gia, the adorable imp, shouted, “Hot damn!” at the same time she raised her hand for his, high-five style. They slapped palms, then he put the toy down.
“Get in that bed, baby girl. It’s time to start our countdown to the New Year.”
Chapter Eight
Gia sighed as she looked across the reception hall, smiling at the bride and groom as they shared their first dance. She had to swipe away a tear, so moved by the beauty of the moment. Gus and Alison’s wedding had been absolutely gorgeous.
Her two best friends had opted for a small wedding with just family and close friends, followed by a blowout reception/New Year’s Eve party. She and Xander had finished giving their toasts—Xander’s hilarious, while hers had been more touching.
The entire event had gone off without a hitch, and Gia knew she should be happy.
Well, she was happy. But underlying all the smiles and laughs of the day, there’d been this tiny thorn digging into her heart as she had to face the fact that Xander would be returning to Dallas tomorrow.
The best holiday of her life was slowly ending, and the heartbreak she’d seen looming on the horizon was imminent.
Not that she regretted a single thing, and she wouldn’t trade the days she’d spent with Xander for a million dollars.
“Here you go.”
She smiled her thanks as Xander handed her the glass of champagne he’d gone to get for her. He tapped it to hers. “Nice job on the speech, Maid of Honor. Not sure there was a dry eye in the place by the time you finished.”
He wrapped his arm around her, so she snuggled closer. “Guess it’s a good thing you spoke after me, because the only tears I saw during your toast were the ones people wiped away from laughing so hard. You are a very witty man, Xander Carter.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, his lips next to her ear. “Save all your slow dances for me.”
She nodded. “You got it.”
Xander’s gaze shifted to the dance floor, his smile growing as they watched Gus dip Alison, the two of them looking so hopelessly in love, it took Gia’s breath away.
