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She nodded despite the ever-growing pressure in her chest.
They drove home in silence as Gia kept her face turned away from Xander, looking out the passenger window.
Even as she’d danced and had fun, there was that part of her that had waited for midnight like a woman with a noose around her neck.
Now, it was tomorrow, which meant it was today…THE day.
Their last day.
That thought had the lump in her throat tripling in size, and she tried to covertly wipe away the tear sliding down her cheek. She refused to let Xander see her cry, to ruin their last night with her childish disappointment. He’d made no promises to her, the future one of the few topics the two of them had never spoken of over the past two weeks. Which was saying something, considering it felt like they’d covered every other subject under the sun.
She’d gotten herself back together—barely—by the time Xander parked in front of her apartment building.
Now, as always, he patted her thigh and said, “Wait there,” while he got out of the car, crossing the front to open her door. She loved the way he always helped her out of the car, the way he put his arm around her whenever they were walking in a crowd so that she was protected. She loved how he pulled her chair out in restaurants, how he rubbed her feet after a long day waiting tables at Sparks Barbeque, how he brushed her hair with slow, gentle strokes after they took showers together, and how he refilled her wineglass in the evenings when they watched TV without her ever having to ask.
She’d never had anyone so attentive and considerate of her needs, and after the last six months of fending for herself, she wasn’t looking forward to returning to that “on her own” state. Some people were made for a solitary, independent lifestyle. Gia wasn’t one of them. She craved company and companionship, needed people and conversation and…
She sighed. Maybe she should look into getting a cat, like her sister, Jeannette. Not that Jeannette actually needed her precious kitty, Penny, to keep her company anymore, considering she also had two strapping firefighters to cuddle up with every night.
Xander opened the door, guiding her inside before locking the dead bolt. “You’ve gone quiet,” he observed. “Tired? It was a long day.”
It had been. Gia had been up and out of the apartment before eight as she and Alison had gotten mani/pedis before getting their hair done and posing for “dressing the bride” photos with Alison’s mom.
Regardless, she wasn’t sleepy. Just sad. She shook her head as she took Xander’s tuxedo jacket off and draped it over a chair. He’d put it over her shoulders during the sparklers lineup to help keep her warm. “I’m okay.”
“Good. Because I have a New Year’s Eve gift for you.”
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Since giving her the Sarcastic 9-Ball, Xander had made a habit out of giving her fun, silly little presents every day.
“Pretty sure New Year’s isn’t a traditional gift-exchanging holiday.”
Xander retrieved the small felt gift bag from the pocket of his tuxedo jacket. “Feels like it should be,” he replied as he handed it to her.
She grinned when she opened the bag and pulled out the Magic 8-Ball key chain. “I’m sensing a theme with your gifts.” Closing her hand around it, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I love it.”
“Maybe we should check to make sure it works.” Xander took it from her.
She gave him a “be careful” shrug. “Proceed with caution,” she joked.
“I’m feeling lucky,” he said as he shook the tiny toy. “We’ll start with something easy. Should I sell my company?” he asked the ball.
That was an easy one, because as far as she could tell—especially given the several phone calls she’d overheard—he was well on his way to doing just that.
“Yes,” he announced, reading the screen. “Should I sell my penthouse apartment?”
She didn’t know what to make of that question because it was a new one.
“Yes,” he repeated after consulting the ball. “Should I move back to Maris?”
Gia put a hand on her suddenly racing heart. He’d never alluded to the fact he might return home. “Xander,” she whispered, but he put his finger up to silence her.
Glancing at the toy, then back up at her, he said, “Yes.”
She’d fought hard against her tears in the car, but she didn’t stand a chance of winning that battle now.
Xander reached out, brushing one off her cheek. “Not done yet,” he said gently, holding up the silly key chain. “I know you take these predictions seriously. So we better make sure we’re good on the big stuff.”
Him moving to Maris wasn’t the big stuff?
