Chapter 29
Vanessa
I’d never been one for Christmas shopping. The only people I ever thought to buy a gift for were my girls. Since this year Kyle was taking me to meet his family, my list was much longer. Well, Kyle’s was. He was an only child, but he bought presents for everyone invited to be there.
Kyle admitted he generally gave gift cards, but because we had decided to drive to Canada rather than fly, this year he went all out. To alleviate the pressure caused by the city’s traffic, he hired a car service to follow us around. Only after a few stops, the trunk had started to fill up. After the driver closed the hatch, Kyle told him we were headed to Rockefeller Center, and he’d text when we were ready to be picked up.
Hand in hand, we braved the throngs of people clogging the sidewalks. Every once in a while, we’d stop to gaze at the awesome holiday window displays. “It’s so pretty, Kyle. I’ve never taken the time to appreciate Manhattan during the holidays.” I let out a sarcastic huff. “Truth be told, I’ve never really taken the time to sightsee in my own city. Aside from visiting Ground Zero, I haven’t been many places—unless I walked by it of course.”
He pulled me into a recessed area of an office building. “Wait, what? You’ve never been to the top of the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Yankee Stadium, or a Broadway show?”
“No to all of the above.”
“How about ice skating at Rockefeller Center?”
“Nope, but I do love ice skating… now.” I winked.
“We’ll need to rectify this.” He pulled off his gloves before cupping my cold face with his warm hands. “I’m confused though, how is it that you want to travel and see the world, yet you’ve neglected this magnificent city?”
Great question. I took time searching for any answer that would make sense and not make me sound like the ultimate New York loser. It was when our eyes locked that I knew why. “Because I didn’t have anyone to share it with.”
I looked away, but Kyle’s touch forced me to look at him. “Talk to me, Nessa.”
“All of what you said were things that Robert and I talked about experiencing together. I guess when he passed away, I felt guilty.”
Kyle’s soft lips met mine. “When you’re ready, I’d love to show you all those things and more. But, I don’t want to rush you.”
“I’m ready to finally live… and I want to do it with you, Kyle.”
Based on the way he stared right into my soul, my words were profound. He bent and slowly placed one single kiss to my forehead. “I love you.” He then wrapped his gloveless hand around my mittened one. “Let’s do this. Next stop, seeing the prettiest Christmas tree in our city with the most gorgeous girl in New York.”
“New York?” I pulled my hand away and placed my mittens on my down-covered hips. “Just New York?”
He pulled me back into his arms and nuzzled his nose beneath my ear. “No, the world, baby. I meant the world.”
“Uh huh. Good recovery, Mr. Flirt.”
“You can’t call me that anymore… you tamed me. You better come up with a new nickname.”
“Ok, Lyle.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
I reached up, grabbed the back of his head, and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Fine, Mr. All Mine.”
“Now that’s a name I can live with.”
By the time we reached the spectacular pine, I was exhausted. After about fifteen minutes of staring at multi-colored lights, I reached my limit. I couldn’t prevent myself from yawning and leaning into his body as he held me from behind.
“You ready to go?”
I nodded my head against his chest. “Yes. I’ve never walked or shopped so much in one day before. I’m going to need time to recover.”
Kyle sent a text to our driver to pick us up. “Come,” he said, leading me away from the tree and toward Fifth Avenue. Relief flooded me when I saw the black SUV heading in our direction. Even my feet were thankful to see him.
We settled in the backseat and exhaled. Just as I was ready to close my eyes, that damn Groupme app simultaneously dinged on our phones. Brae forced us all to download it before her wedding so we could all stay connected. None of us used it, except for her.
Brae: Hi! Sorry for the group text but we’re having a holiday party next Saturday. It’s a white elephant party so just bring one unisex gift. Don’t put anyone’s name on it. Fifty bucks max… be creative. ;-)
We both uttered, “What the fuck is a white elephant party?”
Ding.
Des: Fun! I’ll be there.
Ding.
Cassie: Is there a minimum limit?
Ding.
Brae: Nope! :)
Ding.
Cassie: Great!
Ding.
Kyle: So a pack of gum is okay?
Ding.
Jude: She said creative, not cheap.
Chime.
A message appeared:
Luca left group.
Ding.
Kyle: Why does he get to leave?
Ding.
Brae: :(
Ding.
Jude: We’ll make sure Luca gets the gum.
Ding.
Brae: That’s not how a white elephant works.
Ding.
Vanessa: We have no idea what you’re talking about.
Chime.
A message appeared:
Kyle added Luca to the group.
Ding.
Luca: Asshole
Ding.
Des: Can you boys grow up?
Ding.
Cassie: I’ll bring Christmas cookies.
Ding.
Brae: Yummy!
Ding.
Luca: I’ll bring a gun.
Ding.
Kyle: Leave the gun… bring the cannoli.
Ding.
Jude: Hahaha
Ding.
Cassie: Ugh… The Godfather.
Ding.
Vanessa: I still don’t know what a white elephant is.
Ding.
Luca: Google it.
Ding.
Kyle: Watch your tone, Benedetto.
Chime:
A message appeared:
Luca left the group.
Ding.
Brae: You can buy him gum.
Kyle turned to me. “This will go on all night.”
Ding.
Kyle: Nessa and I will be there. Bye.
He took my phone from my hand and shoved them both in the pocket of his jacket. Just as he did that, from the lining of his coat we heard—ding… ding… ding… ding… ding.
Kyle
When we walked into the Sorens’ apartment, Brae had it decorated to the hilt. Their dining room table was adorned with a red and green plaid tablecloth and a poinsettia centerpiece with a gold candle protruding from the center and random gifts surrounding it.
Frank Sinatra crooned, “Jingle Bells,” through the Bluetooth speaker.
“Hey, you two,” Jude greeted us at the door. He kissed Vanessa on the cheek. “I’m glad you could make it.”
Like we would have a choice. Vanessa reached into her bag and pulled out her gift. At the sight of it again, I snorted.
“What the hell is that?” Brae asked when she approached us.
“If you have to ask, Jude is lacking,” I said when the dildo was placed on the table.
“Vanessa, really? You didn’t even wrap it.” Brae’s nose crinkled in disgust. “A huge dick is sitting on my dining room table.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Jude said with a grin, turning his wife’s face the same shade as the poinsettia.
“Nice one, Jude-alicious.” Vanessa high-fived Jude. “Brae, you said to be creative, and this is the gift that keeps on giving.”
Luca joined us. “Hey, Benedetto.” I shook hands with him before he pulled Vanessa into a hug.
He glanced at the dildo and shook his head. “Well, I know which gift I’m staying away from.”
Desiree and Cassie laughed, but Brae took this all very seriously and scolded Luca. “It doesn’t work that way, Luca.”
Vanessa chimed in, “About this white elephant shit, it’s way too confusing. I vote for a grab bag.”
When everyone started agreeing with my girl, Brae conceded. “Fine.”
A pretty waitress appeared and asked what we wanted to drink, while another one, just as attractive, walked around with a tray of appetizers. The old Kyle would have been flirting up a storm, but I already had the prettiest girl in the room. Luca, however, took the opportunity as being the only single man there. That’s when I noticed they both had wedding rings on, so he was out of luck.
The Sorens didn’t spare any expense—not that Jude ever had. The man went all out with everything he did, a party with just the seven of us didn’t deter him. When Brae walked into the kitchen, Jude rushed over, dipped her as if they were in a dance, and planted a kiss on her mouth.
“Babe, that mistletoe is my favorite decoration.” Jude smiled as he looked up at the greenery hanging from the archway.
Once we all had a drink in hand and food in our stomachs, Vanessa and the ladies walked over to the table. Desiree picked up a box and gave it a small shake. “Are we going to pick gifts now?”
Brae clapped her hands. “Okay, who wants to go first?” She motioned toward the pile of gifts. Without hesitation, Cassie, Des, and Luca all reached in and grabbed one. Brae and Jude shrugged and took the last two remaining gifts leaving Vanessa’s and mine as the only ones left standing.
I snatched up the phallic gift. “Gotta love a good dildo. Looks like I’m the lucky one.” My eyes cut to Vanessa, and I added, “Or you are. There’s nothing hotter than watching a woman using a dildo.”
Vanessa took my contribution and unwrapped it. “Oh, look! Custom lube made by Cleary Laboratories. See! The gift that keeps on giving.”
No one else made any motion to open their gifts and really how could anything follow such a hard act? Brae came to the rescue and said, “Maybe this would be a good time to sing Happy Birthday to Jude.”
All eyes cut to her husband just as he rolled his. “Baby, you promised.”
“There was no way I wasn’t acknowledging your birthday. You should know me by now.” She smiled at one of the waitresses and seconds later, the other appeared with a huge cake lit with the appropriate amount of candles.
Cake led to everyone sitting casually in the living room sharing stories. Most of them revolved around Jude, Luca, and my college days. The girls piped in with some of their own tales. I wasn’t a mushy, emotional kind of guy. That was obvious in the way I chose a non-mushy, emotional kind of girl. But sitting there among our best friends, having her by my side, warmed me like nothing ever had in my life.
I had a lot to be thankful for, and I had no intention of taking any of it for granted. My girl had already lost so much in such a short amount of time. It was my goal to add only great memories, love in spades, and anything else she thought she couldn’t live without.
While staring at her profile, she turned to look at me with a smile. “What?”
“Nothing. I’m just really happy.”
The smile spread even more, lighting up her whole face and those gorgeous green eyes. “So am I, Kyle.”