Page 26 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

“That’s ’cause he IS!” Sarah swung onto the Bride Street sidewalk as Leia juggled her belongings. “Gimme your stuff and put your coat on.” Shaking her head, she slowed to a stop. “What time did Dad get back?”

Leia set her bags on Sarah’s lap and slipped into her coat and scarf, playing catch-up. “Six-thirty Toronto time, but they sat on the plane for two hours because of thunder snow!” She laughed. “Gotta love Canada in January.”

“God, I don’t miss Canadian winters at all.” Sarah sniffed as Leia claimed her bags. “How many times did I get stuck because some idiot didn’t clear the snow from their sidewalk?”

“Too many.” Leia rested her garment bag over her forearm and walked quickly, keeping pace with her sister who pushed the hand rims of her wheels and sped along the pavement at a fast clip. “But Christmas here without snow felt like just another day, nothing special.”

“Yeah, but you don’t always get a white Christmas back home either.”

“I know, but at least it’s not drizzling and damp. How do you deal?” Leia scowled at the threatening sky and held up her bare palm, checking for raindrops. “It’s depressing. Everything’s gray and blah.” Her eyes skipped to the street and its dead end, the high brick outer wall of Pentonville Prison.

“You get used to it. And there are so many great things here: theater, gorgeous parks, museums—and ME!” Sarah laughed, fluttering her eyelashes. “A bit of rain is a small price to pay to be with your favorite sister, right?”

Leia’s heart panged. Thanks to university, Tyler, and careers, the sisters had lived in different cities for eight years. “Yeah, of course it is. I miss hanging out with you, Saz.” She smiled. “When you’re not pinching my clothes, or helping yourself to my dessert. That chocolate stain on your favorite dress is karma, you know.”

“I have no regrets. That dessert was heavenly!” Sarah grinned up at her and pushed the left-hand rim, swerving right onto Roman Way, a quiet side street with low-rise red brick apartments.

“So, how do you feel? About your presentation?” asked Leia. “Nervous?”

“No, I’m more annoyed I have to wait until after lunch. I’d like to get it over with.”

“Well, whenever you do it, you’re gonna kill it. You know your stuff better than anyone—and they love you! They were all raving about you on New Year’s—if you don’t get the promotion, I’ll be shocked! Promise you’ll text me after?”

“Yep.” Sarah nodded, swerving around a tree leaning over the edge of the sidewalk. “What are you sewing today?”

“I’m finishing your denim skirt so you’ll stop stealing mine.”

Sarah beamed. “Yours are the only ones I can get on and off easily.”

“I’m also making a prom dress for my coworker’s daughter. She wants ‘ballerina gone bad’. It’ll be sleeveless with a traditional ballerina neckline, but I’m going to scatter crystals along the bodice for some sparkle and add flirty tiers to the skirt. They’ll twirl and move when she dances. It’ll be badass but cute.”

“Sounds adorable. That Simon guy is pretty great, eh? Letting you use his space.”

“Yeah! I might even get it done before I head back to New York. He’s such a nice guy.”

“And what about his friend?”

Argh. She’s so predictable. “What about him?” Leia looked away, her voice flat.

“Is he a candidate for your no-strings sex project?”

Well, at least she stopped being judgmental. Leia pursed her lips. “Um, maybe.”

“I knew it! You would’ve been home earlier if you weren’t hitting it off.” Intermittent drops of rain dotted the pavement and Sarah’s glasses. “So, did you two make hookup plans for later?”

“Jeez, this weather…” Leia pulled up her hood. “I grabbed your umbrella—do you want it?”

“No!” Sarah shook her head. “Tell me! Stop avoiding. Why didn’t you arrange something?!”

Wincing, Leia gave the right of way to an older gentleman walking two Yorkshire terriers wearing matching Arsenal football club sweaters.

Sarah craned her neck, watching the tiny pups scramble past. “Oh…okay. I get it. He’s fugly, right?”

“No! He’s very attractive, actually. Hair to die for, killer body, and dimples for days. He was flirty and funny. Smelled incredible. Self-aware, too. That’s rare these days.”

“Yeah, and it’s even rarer to find someone like that without a girlfriend or boyfriend.” Sarah frowned. “So, he’s seeing someone?”

“No, he’s single. But that makes me wonder”—Leia blew out her cheeks—“what’s wrong with him?”