AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She eyes me for a brief moment, chews the inside of her cheek, and then nods. I wasn’t expecting such a quick agreement, but she doesn’t even give a second look back in search of Nick.
We walk to get our checked coats, and she laughs lightly. “I probably shouldn’t be walking back alone this late anyway.”
“No, you shouldn’t, Elaine. There could be ruffians around,” I agree with a smirk.
She grins and shakes her head as she slips her bare shoulders underneath her coat. Even though I’ve seen her exposed skin all night, there is still something extra alluring when she finally covers it up. I gulp. My promise doesn’t make her any less beautiful to me.
We step out the door and into the night, but we both stop quickly in our tracks as soon as the cold breeze hits us. Everything is covered in a thick layer of white, and there are billions of puffy flakes in the air.
“Wow…” Sophie breathes. “It must have snowed almost a foot!”
I peer down the sidewalk to see that it has already been cleared so that less than half an inch of powder lies on its surface. But huge piles of plowed snow line the edges of the streets.
“Kinda appropriate for the holiday, isn’t it?” I grin.
She pulls her coat tightly around her and takes a step out into the snow, but her heel slips a little and she grabs my arm for support. I instinctively grasp her waist, steadying her balance.
She shakes her head at the ground and chuckles. “I really need to stop wearing heels.”
I smirk and bite my lip, wishing I could make a comment, but knowing I shouldn’t. So, I let go of her waist, position myself next to her, and offer my arm. “We’ll go slow, just hold onto me.”
She grasps my elbow tightly as we walk through the gently falling snow. The streets aren’t as busy as they usually are, so there is an eerie quiet draped over the city that supposedly never sleeps.
“It was nice to have a little fun tonight,” I muse.
She nods. “I was skeptical, but it was a good time. Honestly, the best part of the night was the dancing. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see your moves.”
I shake my head. “You’re lucky you didn’t.”
There is a pause before she speaks again. “Will Maureen be angry with you for leaving without her?”
I shrug. “We didn’t come together. She shouldn’t care when I leave.”
When Sophie doesn’t respond, I speak again. “Will Nick be bothered that you left without him?”
She holds her bare hand out in front of her, catching snowflakes and watching them melt against her skin. “If he is, then that’s his problem.” She drops her hand and sighs. “Besides, he’s probably too drunk to notice I’ve gone.”
She’s right. But I know he won’t be pleased once he sobers up. Especially if he finds out she left with me.
We walk silently for another few moments before I reach into my pocket and pull out the napkin-wrapped macarons. I unfold the thin paper and hold them in front of her. “I stole one for you.”
She looks at them for a minute and licks her lips, but she shakes her head. “I shouldn’t. I’m not supposed to.”
I push them closer to her. “Eat the macaron, Sophie. One little indulgence isn’t going to matter.”
She blinks at it as if contemplating a much bigger decision. But she reaches out for it, lifts it to her mouth, and takes a small bite.
“Thank you,” she says quietly.
I bite into the other and smile. “You’re welcome.”
She takes another hungry bite with wide eyes. “Oh my God, this is delicious.”
I laugh, finishing mine. “See what you were missing?”
She grins and leans her head into my shoulder briefly as we walk. “Ok, now maybe this was the best part of the night.”
I’m surprised by her affection. Yet I love the way it feels. I try to savor it, but after just a second, she lifts her head again and steps further away from me as we continue our walk slowly down the snowy street.
