Bad Romeo Christmas: A Starcrossed Anthology (29 page)

He moves closer, and judging from how they both lean toward each other, there's some major league chemistry going on. When he puts his arms around her, she puts her hands on his chest. I'm not sure if she's trying to push him away or draw him closer.

"Daniel, we can't—"

"Yes, we can. I'm done living without you. It's finally our turn, and I'll be damned if I let you talk yourself out of it." He cups her cheek, and she closes her eyes as she leans into his touch. "Please, Erika ..."

She looks up into his face, her resolve fading. "According to the media, you're sleeping with your latest costar."

"Untrue," he says and gazes at her like she's a work of art. "I've never been unfaithful to Ellie. We're getting a divorce because Ellie's in love with her goddamn therapist."

"Oh, Daniel ..."

"I'm okay with it. I'm glad she finally has a man who loves her in ways I never could. In reality, our marriage died years ago, and I was too busy feeling guilty over loving you to end it." He moves his hands up to her shoulders and back down to her waist. "When I told Ellie about my feelings for you, she gave us her blessing. She's found happiness, and she couldn't begrudge me doing the same. So, Miss Eden, if you have no other objections, I'm going to kiss you now."

"Daniel, I—"

He cuts her off with a kiss so passionate, I wonder if they've forgotten I'm sitting here.

"Ah, okay, then," I say, as I put my glass down. "I should leave you two alone. I'm sure you have a lot to ... discuss."

Daniel spins Erika around and pins her against one of the bookcases. "God, you taste even better than I'd imagined."

In response, Erika moans and grips the back of his shoulders. "Don't stop."

They kiss again, getting steamier every second, and when she pushes his dinner jacket off and starts unbuttoning his shirt, I hightail it to the exit.

"I'm just going to close these," I say, grabbing the double doors. "You kids look like you need your privacy."

As soon as the doors click shut, unrestrained moaning comes from the other side.

···

I stand guarding the doors for a few minutes, concerned someone might barge in on them. I'm contemplating making up a
Do not disturb
sign when I hear a sniffle, and when I turn, the girl dressed as Uhura is coming out of the ladies’ room and heading toward the ballroom. She sniffles again.

Shit, is she crying?

"Hey!" I don't know why the hell I call out to her, but it doesn't matter. She doesn't turn around.

I hurry down the hallway after her. If there's one thing I hate to see, it's a woman in tears. I doubt she'd tell a random stranger what's wrong, but I have to try. Mind you, with the way things have been going tonight, it seems like confiding in me is the thing to do, so you never know. Maybe I could cheer her up by talking about Trek stuff for a while. God knows, my hero suit is starting to chafe. I'd love to go back to being a geek for a while.

She stops at the edge of the ballroom and looks around.

"Excuse me, miss?" I know the likelihood of her hearing me over the music is slim, but I try anyway.

When she moves into the crowd, I pick up my pace.

I'm nearly to the end of the hallway, when I see Zoe striding toward me.

"Josh, I need your help." She looks anxious, but at least she's not crying.

"Maybe later, Zoe, okay?" I try to keep an eye on Uhura, but when Zoe blocks my path, I lose her in the crowd.

Dammit.

I guess she'll just have to survive without me.

"Josh –"

I hold up my hand. "Zoe, is this urgent? I have an important call to make."

I can tell by her expression that Zoe isn't someone who enjoys waiting. "Fine. I'll be here when you're done."

I walk back up the hallway a few yards and dial Angel, hoping she's calmed down enough to accept my apology. I'm disappointed but not surprised when it goes to voicemail.

"Hey, this is Angel. When you hear the tone, imagine it's me swearing because I missed your call. Byeeee."

I take a calming breath as the tone sounds. I'm not sure if I can find the right words to make her understand how much I regret our fight, but I'm sure as hell going to try.

"Hey, beautiful girl. It's me - the stupidest man on earth. I'm guessing you don't want to talk to me right now, and I can't say I blame you. I behaved like an ass. I let my insecurities get the better of me, and I took it out on you. I can't tell you how sorry I am." I lean against the wall and drop my head back. "I hate that I made you think I don't trust you, because that's not how it is at all. Of course, I trust you. The only person I don't trust in this relationship is myself, and that has nothing to do with you, or even Julian." When I close my eyes, I get an image of her in my mind. It makes me smile, but it also makes my chest ache with how much I love her.

I hear someone clear their throat, and when I look down the hallway, I find Zoe there, tapping her wrist. I wave her off.

"Anyway, sorry you're hearing all of this in a message, but I needed you to know that I love you more than anything, and I hate that I upset you. Give me a call back when you get a chance."

I hang up and walk back to the impatient blonde.

"So you've finished your call?" she asks as I stop in front of her.

"Do you see a phone up to my ear?"

She crosses her arms. "That seemed like a lot of groveling. What did you do?"

"Nothing that bears repeating. What's up?"

She looks over her shoulder to the ballroom, then back to me. "I need a favor."

"Okay. What is it?"

She chews her lip for a second then says, ""I need you to kiss me."

Just when I thought this night couldn't get more bizarre.

"Zoe, I appreciate that you're helpless in the face of my overwhelming sexual appeal, but as I’ve already told you, I have a girlfriend."

She looks at me like I'm speaking Swahili. "And?"

"And even though she'd probably like to smack me in the face right now, she's placed a long-standing reservation on my lips, so I can't help you."

I try to go around her, but she sidesteps to stop me. "Wait. Just listen a second, okay?"

"Come on, Zoe. It's almost time for the countdown."

"I know, that's why I'm here." She has this pleading, desperate look in her eyes that ruins my resolve to not get involved in any more drama tonight.

"Okay, what's this all about?"

She moves closer. "Look, I don't want to marry you, Josh. I just want you to kiss me at midnight."

"Why?"

"To make Jack jealous."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Why aren't you kissing Jack instead? You guys seem close."

She laughs. "That the problem. We've been hooking up for months, but once he's done with his booty call, that's it. He leaves, and I don't hear from him again for weeks." Her confidence falters when she says, "I'm sick of being treated like a fuck buddy. I want ... more."

Man, I feel like Dr. Phil tonight. I've spent more time dealing with other people's dramas than concentrating on my own.

"Have you told Jack you're not happy with the way things are?"

She looks at me with incredulity. "What, and risk him laughing in my face? No thanks."

God, this girl has so many walls, she could rent herself out as a paintball arena.

"Zoe, don't you guys ever drop the bullshit and just be real with each other?"

She looks at the ground. "That's not how we are."

"Then how the fuck do you expect to have any kind of relationship? You don't even know who you are underneath all your insults and banter."

She leans back against the wall and drops her head. "Being mean to him is easier than showing him how much I crave his attention." Her voice has gotten so quiet, it's hard to hear her. "It's ... safer."

She seems so terrified of vulnerability, I feel sorry for her. "I understand opening up is scary, but only being intimate with Jack when you're having sex is like going through life eating breakfast cereal for every meal. It might be satisfying in the short term, but eventually, you're going to need some real food."

She looks up at me in confusion. "I don't eat cereal. Too many carbs."

I roll my eyes. "I'm not talking about food, Zoe. It's a metaphor for your inability to truly connect with Jack because of your intimacy issues."

"I don't have intimacy issues." Her defenses flare for a second, but then she goes limp, and she says in the smallest voice, "It's just ... when I think about opening up to him ... telling him how I feel ..." She looks up at me. "I get so nervous, I want to hurl. I'm not used to caring about anyone the way I care about him."

"Do you love him?"

She stares at me, brows drawn down. "That's the scariest part of all. I think I do."

I put my hand on her shoulder and smile. "Well, admitting it to yourself is a good place to start. Now you just have to say it to him."

Just then, Jack appears at the end of the hallway and squints at us. "Zoe? Is that you?"

I squeeze Zoe's arm. "Okay, showtime."

Zoe's expression fills with panic. "What, now? No, Josh! I'm not ready."

"Yes, you are."

"No! I can't do this."

"Yes, you can."

"Shit!"

When Jack moves toward us, I push Zoe up against the wall and kiss the hell out of her. For a second she freezes in surprise, but then she pushes her hands into my hair and kisses me back.

Goddammit, my hair's going to be completely ruined after this. The things I do for people.

To make a good show, I moan and run my hands over her body. She does the same to me. Our kiss seems to go on forever, and for a horrible second I fear Jack has stormed off, but then a hand clamps over my shoulder and wrenches me backward.

"What the fuck, man?!" Jack's face is bright red. Okay, maybe this was a bad idea. He looks like he's ready to kill me. "Get the fuck away from her!"

I wipe my mouth. Jesus, that's a lot of lip gloss. "Sorry, man. I thought you guys were just friends. Didn't realize there was something more between you."

Jack looks at Zoe, then back at me. "Yeah, well ... there is."

"Oh. So, you're dating?"

It's clear Jack is nowhere near ready to make these kinds of admissions, but what the hell. These two need to stop dancing around each other and start the new year with a bang. Literally.

"Yes, we're dating," Jack finally admits. "Among other things."

"Zoe," I say, acting confused. "What the hell's going on? You told me he didn't have real feelings for you."

Zoe glances at Jack. "I ... ah ... I didn't think he did."

"That's bullshit," Jack says, moving over to her. "I might not have come out and said it, but, Jesus, Zo ... you have to know that ... well, I ..."

For the first time since I met her, I see Zoe let down her guard. She's so desperate for an admission from him, she's on the verge of tears.

"You, what, Jack?" I press. "Like her? Big deal. I like my dental hygienist, but that doesn't mean I have a say in who she makes out with."

He snaps around to face me. "I more than like her, asshole, so I do get a say."

"More-than-like. Wow." I act impressed. "Well, that's different. Zoe, do you
more-than-like
Jack, too?"

For a moment, I worry she'll chicken out, but then she squares her shoulders and puts her arms around Jack's neck. "Yes, I more-that-like him. In fact ..." She takes a deep breath. "I'm ... in love with him."

Jack freezes for a second, shock and disbelief on his face. Then, he breaks into a blinding grin. "Seriously? You love me?"

Zoe gives him a wary look. "Yes, and if you dare make a joke out of this, Jackson Avery, I'm going to rip off your balls, and I'm not talking about those hideous slippers."

"Oh, sweetheart." Jack leans down and kisses her tenderly. "I couldn't make a joke right now if you paid me. I've been in love with you for years, you beautiful idiot. I was just waiting for you to realize you loved me back."

He kisses her again, and for the third time tonight, I feel like the epitome of a third wheel. I have no idea why people feel comfortable enough to make out in front of me, but I wish like hell they'd stop. It's bad enough I'm here without Angel. Having to witness everyone else having mouth sex is goddamn torture.

"So I guess that means you're not kissing me at midnight, then, Zoe?" She moans and grabs Jack's ass. "No? Okay, then."

I leave them behind, and when I get back out into the ballroom, Marco is on the dance floor making a speech. There's only a couple of minutes left before the countdown, and I'd like to find my friends before then.

The phone buzzes in my hand, and I breathe a sigh of relief to see Angel's name.

"Hey, beautiful," I say. "I'm so glad you called me back."

"I got your message." She doesn't sound angry anymore which I'll take as a good sign.

"Good. I'm so sorry about earlier. I was a total dick. I had no right to say those things to you."

"It's okay. I shouldn't have defended Julian so much. He is too flirty considering I have a boyfriend. And after our fight I got to thinking you were right. If a girl was all over you like that and sent you flowers, I'd want to rip her tits off."

"Yeah?"

I can hear the smile in her voice when she says, "Yeah. You're mine, and I'll fight anyone who tries to take you away from me."

"Ladies and gentlemen," Marco says, "the magic hour is upon us, so grab your loved ones, and let's count down to the new year! Ten! Nine! Eight!"

Shit.

The whole crowd joins in, and I hold the phone close to my mouth and yell so Angel can hear me. "They're doing the countdown! Hold the line, okay?"

I push past people as I try to find my friends. It would suck if I didn't get to them in time.

"Seven ... six ... five ... four ..."

At last, I see Elissa, Liam, Cassie, and Ethan over by the windows. I do my best to hurry, but people keep getting in my way, and by the time I make it to them, the countdown is done.

"HAPPY NEW YEEEEEEAR!"

People clap and cheer and scream so loudly, the noise is deafening, and even though I'm only a few feet away from Elissa, she can't hear me call her name. When I get close enough to tap her on the shoulder and wish her a happy new year, she's already macking on Liam like there's no tomorrow. Cassie and Ethan are no better.