CHARMED - New Year's Eve Excerpt
Mason stood and escorted me toward the dance floor where couples were gathering. “You were much happier before. Did something happen?”
Telling Mason about my conversation with Scott wasn’t fair to any of us. I didn’t know what had happened or what was going on in Michigan, and I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. Nope, I was a give everyone the benefit of the doubt kind of woman, always levelheaded.
“Can we not talk about that right now?” I glanced at my phone. “We only have a couple of minutes until midnight. How about we share our resolutions?” I smiled. “I’ll go first, if you’d like.”
Mason smiled back at me. “By all means, the floor is yours.”
With my glass in the air, I said, “My resolution is to grab life by the balls and make the most of each second. Not to hesitate when an opportunity presents itself, and not be afraid of failure. To do everything I’ve wanted to do, but haven’t had the guts to do it.” After a slight pause, I added, “I want to live a life of no regrets.”
Mason nodded and lifted his flute as I had. “My resolution is to not let opportunities slip by, because I may not get the chance again.” Then he gently tapped his glass against mine.
We took a few minutes watching others find the person they were going to kiss at the stroke of twelve.
Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . .
We turned to look at Josh, who was standing next to the band and looking out over the dance floor.
Seven . . . six . . . five . . . four . . .
Mason and I counted along.
Three . . . two . . . one.
Josh yelled over the mic, “Happy New Year!”
Confetti fell, noisemakers blew, and couples kissed while friends hugged. When I glanced back, I saw Jack in a lip-lock with a blonde. Sophie was kissing the man from the bar, and Josh was shaking hands with patrons.
After we took our obligatory sips of champagne, Mason placed both our flutes on the table. He put his hands on my shoulders, and once our eyes connected, he smiled. He leaned down, bringing his lips close to my ear, which was now filled with the sound of my heartbeat rather than “Auld Lang Syne.”
“Happy New Year, Gretchen.” He placed a soft kiss just below my ear.
My skin prickled, my pulse gained speed, and a chill ran down my spine. Everything about the way I felt was wrong yet right at the same time.
Ever so slowly, he caressed my cheek with his. The slight stubble on his face sent chills through me. His warm breath feathered over my skin, taking my breath away.
His big palms framed my face. “I’m not going to kiss you, although every cell of my body is screaming at me to. Even though I can’t follow through with my resolution right now, please follow through with yours.”
At his words, I swallowed hard.
“Can you do that for me, Gretchen?” he asked, then pressed his lips against my forehead.
Instinctively, I wrapped my hands around his thick wrists, holding him—and anchoring myself. Once he broke our connection, I nodded.
“Yes, I promise.”
“Can you promise me one more thing?”
“I can try.”
“If you ever need me, you’ll call. There’s so much I want to say to you, but that wouldn’t be fair of me. Even though I know your family doesn’t like Scott, I know you do. But if he ever hurts you or does something to make you sad, please know that I’m a phone call away. You can come and visit me; we can go to the beach or hang out. Whatever you need, I’ll be there for you. You’re a special woman, Gretchen Prescott. I knew it the first day I met you. If having you for a friend is the only way I can have you, then I’ll be the best friend you’ll ever have.”
As he spoke the words, my heart filled and my eyes stung. But the way he looked at me warmed me to my bones. It wasn’t a look of pity or even concern; it was the look of someone who cared—a look I’d hadn’t seen in Scott’s eyes for a long time.
“That will be the easiest promise I ever had to make. But I do have one condition.”
He smiled brightly. “Let me hear it.”
“That you’ll allow me to be that friend to you too. I know you have Lucy, but if you ever need me, you’ll pick up the phone and call me, text me, or send me an e-mail. Can you promise me that?”
He extended his arm and held his hand out to me. Once I placed mine in his, he brought my hand to his lips. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Mason stood and escorted me toward the dance floor where couples were gathering. “You were much happier before. Did something happen?”
Telling Mason about my conversation with Scott wasn’t fair to any of us. I didn’t know what had happened or what was going on in Michigan, and I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. Nope, I was a give everyone the benefit of the doubt kind of woman, always levelheaded.
“Can we not talk about that right now?” I glanced at my phone. “We only have a couple of minutes until midnight. How about we share our resolutions?” I smiled. “I’ll go first, if you’d like.”
Mason smiled back at me. “By all means, the floor is yours.”
With my glass in the air, I said, “My resolution is to grab life by the balls and make the most of each second. Not to hesitate when an opportunity presents itself, and not be afraid of failure. To do everything I’ve wanted to do, but haven’t had the guts to do it.” After a slight pause, I added, “I want to live a life of no regrets.”
Mason nodded and lifted his flute as I had. “My resolution is to not let opportunities slip by, because I may not get the chance again.” Then he gently tapped his glass against mine.
We took a few minutes watching others find the person they were going to kiss at the stroke of twelve.
Ten . . . nine . . . eight . . .
We turned to look at Josh, who was standing next to the band and looking out over the dance floor.
Seven . . . six . . . five . . . four . . .
Mason and I counted along.
Three . . . two . . . one.
Josh yelled over the mic, “Happy New Year!”
Confetti fell, noisemakers blew, and couples kissed while friends hugged. When I glanced back, I saw Jack in a lip-lock with a blonde. Sophie was kissing the man from the bar, and Josh was shaking hands with patrons.
After we took our obligatory sips of champagne, Mason placed both our flutes on the table. He put his hands on my shoulders, and once our eyes connected, he smiled. He leaned down, bringing his lips close to my ear, which was now filled with the sound of my heartbeat rather than “Auld Lang Syne.”
“Happy New Year, Gretchen.” He placed a soft kiss just below my ear.
My skin prickled, my pulse gained speed, and a chill ran down my spine. Everything about the way I felt was wrong yet right at the same time.
Ever so slowly, he caressed my cheek with his. The slight stubble on his face sent chills through me. His warm breath feathered over my skin, taking my breath away.
His big palms framed my face. “I’m not going to kiss you, although every cell of my body is screaming at me to. Even though I can’t follow through with my resolution right now, please follow through with yours.”
At his words, I swallowed hard.
“Can you do that for me, Gretchen?” he asked, then pressed his lips against my forehead.
Instinctively, I wrapped my hands around his thick wrists, holding him—and anchoring myself. Once he broke our connection, I nodded.
“Yes, I promise.”
“Can you promise me one more thing?”
“I can try.”
“If you ever need me, you’ll call. There’s so much I want to say to you, but that wouldn’t be fair of me. Even though I know your family doesn’t like Scott, I know you do. But if he ever hurts you or does something to make you sad, please know that I’m a phone call away. You can come and visit me; we can go to the beach or hang out. Whatever you need, I’ll be there for you. You’re a special woman, Gretchen Prescott. I knew it the first day I met you. If having you for a friend is the only way I can have you, then I’ll be the best friend you’ll ever have.”
As he spoke the words, my heart filled and my eyes stung. But the way he looked at me warmed me to my bones. It wasn’t a look of pity or even concern; it was the look of someone who cared—a look I’d hadn’t seen in Scott’s eyes for a long time.
“That will be the easiest promise I ever had to make. But I do have one condition.”
He smiled brightly. “Let me hear it.”
“That you’ll allow me to be that friend to you too. I know you have Lucy, but if you ever need me, you’ll pick up the phone and call me, text me, or send me an e-mail. Can you promise me that?”
He extended his arm and held his hand out to me. Once I placed mine in his, he brought my hand to his lips. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”