Page 15 (1/2)

1

Sophie

Christmas in New York…

Ever since I was a girl, snuggling in to watch holiday movies, I’ve dreahts, the store s, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, the sleigh ride through Central Park… Growing up in LA, with fake confetti snowfall and balree weather, I couldn’t wait to wrap up warh the softly-falling snoith the man of my dreams—

“Watch it, red!”

A stressed-looking ht into the path of the other three hundred people all charging to get their luggage

“Sorry… Sorry…wait!” I try to duck out of the stampede, but there’s no escape The afternoon before Christ, business their laptop cases like shields, hoards of tourists squinting at their phones Last year, a friend ofdress warehouse You haven’t seen chaos until you’ve watched five hundred wild-eyed brides-to-be fighting over the sa strapless sheath They had to call in riot police, and the whole thing wound up on the evening news

But this? This is a whole other level of insanity

I grip ht my way to the exit The doors slide open, and I step outside into a blast of icy frigid air and the sound of horns blaring in traffic

Holy crap, that’s cold!

I bite back a gasp of shock Just remember, you can’t have moonlit walks in the snoithout actual snow, I rehter I look around, but the sidewalk is packed with people

“Excuse uy “Where’s the taxi stand?”

“You’re looking at it” He hurries on, rushing to separate two guys about to throw punches over the next cab in line Behind them, the impatient crowd stretches around the block

Plan B, then

The Departures level is right upstairs, so I dragto snag a cab fro to fly out As the elevator fills, I slide my phone from my pocket and check to see if Matt has arrived I wanted us to travel together, get the full roetaway experience from the minute we left LA, but he had a medical conference scheduled this week, so we had to fly out separately Three romantic, snowy days in New York for Christmas, then on to Connecticut to meet his parents for the first time

I can’t wait My suitcase is heavier than an anvil, bouncing along behind me, packed full of “seduce me” slinky dresses for my candlelit dinners with Matt, and demure, “love me” dresses toe and thrift stores in LA, and since I’ behind I want this trip to be perfect I’ve planned every hts I’ve been daydrea about ever since my babysitter slid Serendipity into the old VCR and I fell in love with the city for the first time

“Hey babe, just checking in” There’s no new ht landed fine, so I’ll see you at the hotel”

I duck out of the elevator and head outside again, but this ti straight inside to catch their flight, leaving their cabs free I spot one just about to pull away from the curb and wave

“Wait up!”

The driver seesmy suitcase over when so a dark wool jacket and a pair of cowboy boots His bag catchesme off balance

“Hey!” I sturound The world tilts as I flail for dear life, but gravity wins

I go crashing to the ground, ass-first, feet in the air

“O!”

The guy doesn’t even hear me He opens the door of the cab—my cab!—and slides inside The driver sends me a sympathetic look, but he doesn’t stop to help They drive away, leaving s scattered all aroundinto my pants

Welcome to New York City

By the ti, wet body into the car, the glow is definitely off ht was supposed to arrive a couple of hours ago I leave hiers that he hasn’t been delayed by snow somewhere

“Here for the holidays?” My elderly driver makes small talk from up front as we speed away fro froolden oldies station, Elvis crooning about it being a blue Christmas without you

“Yes,” I reply, trying to squeeze the ice water out of my jeans

“Just you?” he frowns

“No, ,” I say quickly

He relaxes into a sirl like you alone on the holidays You need someone to kiss on New Year’s Eve!”

I sht was on tie of relief, finally relaxing back into the seat Matt’s probably already checked us in and is relaxing in the tub Or,what every sleep-deprived doctor loves