For the beautiful girl I met by chance ...
Merry Christmas
Tuck
I picture him writing the words. It’s sweet. So very sweet. I’m chewing on my lips as a woman waltzes into the lobby.
Courtney. My eyes narrow, forgetting the necklace. She stops for a moment, tightens her lips when she sees us, and then puts her nose in the air. As she disappears around the corner to the elevators, I stuff the necklace in my satchel and motion for Cece to follow me.
“What’s going on?” she asks as she stands.
“Remember when we crashed Daniel Radcliffe’s party in the West Village?” I say as we fast walk to the elevators.
“I do love me some Harry Potter, and he was so sweet. Adored his wife. You made out with one of them, right?”
“Um, that was you, with her, while he watched.”
“Huh. Fun party,” she says. “Okay, so we’re following the supermodel. No matter what happens, I’m your human shield. Like Captain America, only better. My life before yours—oops, I meant your life before mine. Believe me; I will take that bitch to the ground and stomp on her with my Jimmy Choos.”
“Never doubted you.”
We ease inside the elevator like two church mice. Several residents are there, and as we go up, they get off on their floors. Courtney has already punched in the code for the penthouse and scrolls on her phone.
We reach the penthouse level, and she looks up, eyes flaring. “Hey, what’s going on? You need a pass code for this level.”
“But, darling, you already punched it in.” Cece wiggles her fingers at her as we dart into the hallway.
“And why are we doing this exactly?” She crooks her arm in mine.
“Um ...” My heart jumps in my chest, not because we pulled one over on Courtney, although that was deliciously fun, but because ...
Dammit. Because I want to see him.
I stop for half a second to fluff my bangs and check my lipstick. I’m about to knock when a shirtless Jasper flings open the penthouse door. “Dude. I thought you were my bracelet delivery, but hey, I fucking love company! Come on in!”
Rather bemused, we follow him inside and enter a three-storied marbled foyer. The walls are stark white with a modern-looking chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
He chuckles. “In person, Snow White and Princess Bride together. I love it. Welcome to my temporary home. I’m in the process of getting a kick-ass place below this. It’s gonna be awesome when it’s done. Big T is going to miss me; he just doesn’t know it.”
Cece gives him a smooch on the cheek. “Congrats, Prince Cupid. How is Prince of Princes? I hope he misses me.”
“Deacon? I can text him if you want.” He pulls his phone out and wiggles it.
She puts her hand over her chest. “Sadly, I’m taken, but give him a kiss for me.”
“He enjoyed his evening with you,” Jasper says.
“Did you have sex with Deacon?” I whisper out of the side of my mouth.
“I’m wonderful without sex, honey. He’ll never forget me,” she hisses back.
Jasper clears his throat and smiles. “So what’s up? You ladies just out strolling and popped by?”
“Yes. Is Tuck around?” I ask.
“They snuck up on the elevator,” Courtney grouses as she marches in the foyer, her four-inch heels clicking against the marble. She hangs a short pink fur coat on a hook and tosses her handbag on an ottoman.
“We missed our floor and kept going,” I say.