Annie shared a ‘don’t ask’ look.
“Did we miss anything?” Zack asked, changing the subject.
“Not really,” Annie told him.
“We met a couple of your friends,” Marcus told them. “Lance and Amelia.”
Jen gave a disgusted face. “Ugh that woman is the most annoying…” She put her hand up as if to stop herself from saying something mean.
“Lance is a nice guy though,” Annie offered. “It’s not his fault his wife is a little obnoxious.”
“I thought you hated Lance.” Zack looked surprised.
“I don’t hate anyone Zack. Hate is a very strong emotion.”
“I feel sorry for Lance; there are a lot of guys like him,” Marcus added.
“It’s his fault for marrying her,” Jen said stubbornly. “Anyway, we should get some more wine and dance a little.” Her eyes lit with excitement as she and Zack got up and made their way to the wine bar. They soon returned with a full bottle of wine and a large plate of appetizers.
“I figured we could all share,” said Jen and the four of them enjoyed the food and each other’s company. Soon it was announced there was only fifteen minutes until the New Year. Mr. Grant asked the crowd to gather outside for the countdown. By the time they made it out the door and on the great lawn there was only five minutes left. Shivering, Annie wrapped her coat tightly around her wishing Marcus would put his arm around her to keep her warm. They joined the crowd in the countdown. Five, four, three, two, one, HAPPY NEW YEAR! The cheer was deafening as kisses were given and hugs passed around. A man to Annie’s right turned and kissed her square on the mouth. Annie pulled back, shocked at first but then laughed when he turned and did the same thing to a girl behind him.
“I saw that,” Marcus teased.
“He just grabbed me!” she defended through her laughter.
Marcus smiled down at her. “Happy New Year Annie.” His arms wrapped around her in an embrace. He didn’t pull away but rather tightened his grip and Annie took the opportunity to hold him. When he finally pulled back he looked briefly at her, and in a flash, his lips were touching hers. The kiss was soft at first. Annie felt herself melt into him as fireworks went off somewhere in the background. His hands wrapped tightly around her, roaming her back as the kiss deepened. Annie’s fingers threaded through his hair, something she’d wanted to do since the minute she’d met him. She tingled all over as he pulled her closer to him. The cold was no longer felt as Marcus’ hand went inside her coat, holding her tightly. Out of breath they finally pulled away. Annie’s heart was racing and they were both breathless. Their arms were still wrapped around each other, neither wanting to let go but not knowing what else to do. “I’m sorry,” Marcus said suddenly as he let her go. “I’m sorry.” He turned and walked away. Annie stood in a daze as she touched her lips where his had been only moments before. Then she saw Jen. She was standing a few feet away and had witnessed the entire thing. Annie turned to walk back to the house but knew Jen was following her. She knew she’d have to tell her the whole story because Jen’s eyes had asked, “What the hell was that?” And Annie had answered, “That was our first real kiss.”
Chapter 13
As they entered the house, Jen grabbed Annie’s arm at the elbow, pulling her toward a hall where there were fewer people. “Spill it,” Jen said without emotion, her arms folded and face stern.
Annie hid her face in her hands. “Oh Jen, I don’t know how it happened. I really don’t. I look back at it all now and it feels like a dream; like it didn’t really happen, like I’ll wake up tomorrow and go on with my life as if nothing ever happened.”
“What did happen?” Jen asked again more sternly. “Annie, I saw that kiss. That was not a ‘we’ve been dating for three months’ kiss. It was something totally different. And don’t lie to me.
“Did we miss anything?” Zack asked, changing the subject.
“Not really,” Annie told him.
“We met a couple of your friends,” Marcus told them. “Lance and Amelia.”
Jen gave a disgusted face. “Ugh that woman is the most annoying…” She put her hand up as if to stop herself from saying something mean.
“Lance is a nice guy though,” Annie offered. “It’s not his fault his wife is a little obnoxious.”
“I thought you hated Lance.” Zack looked surprised.
“I don’t hate anyone Zack. Hate is a very strong emotion.”
“I feel sorry for Lance; there are a lot of guys like him,” Marcus added.
“It’s his fault for marrying her,” Jen said stubbornly. “Anyway, we should get some more wine and dance a little.” Her eyes lit with excitement as she and Zack got up and made their way to the wine bar. They soon returned with a full bottle of wine and a large plate of appetizers.
“I figured we could all share,” said Jen and the four of them enjoyed the food and each other’s company. Soon it was announced there was only fifteen minutes until the New Year. Mr. Grant asked the crowd to gather outside for the countdown. By the time they made it out the door and on the great lawn there was only five minutes left. Shivering, Annie wrapped her coat tightly around her wishing Marcus would put his arm around her to keep her warm. They joined the crowd in the countdown. Five, four, three, two, one, HAPPY NEW YEAR! The cheer was deafening as kisses were given and hugs passed around. A man to Annie’s right turned and kissed her square on the mouth. Annie pulled back, shocked at first but then laughed when he turned and did the same thing to a girl behind him.
“I saw that,” Marcus teased.
“He just grabbed me!” she defended through her laughter.
Marcus smiled down at her. “Happy New Year Annie.” His arms wrapped around her in an embrace. He didn’t pull away but rather tightened his grip and Annie took the opportunity to hold him. When he finally pulled back he looked briefly at her, and in a flash, his lips were touching hers. The kiss was soft at first. Annie felt herself melt into him as fireworks went off somewhere in the background. His hands wrapped tightly around her, roaming her back as the kiss deepened. Annie’s fingers threaded through his hair, something she’d wanted to do since the minute she’d met him. She tingled all over as he pulled her closer to him. The cold was no longer felt as Marcus’ hand went inside her coat, holding her tightly. Out of breath they finally pulled away. Annie’s heart was racing and they were both breathless. Their arms were still wrapped around each other, neither wanting to let go but not knowing what else to do. “I’m sorry,” Marcus said suddenly as he let her go. “I’m sorry.” He turned and walked away. Annie stood in a daze as she touched her lips where his had been only moments before. Then she saw Jen. She was standing a few feet away and had witnessed the entire thing. Annie turned to walk back to the house but knew Jen was following her. She knew she’d have to tell her the whole story because Jen’s eyes had asked, “What the hell was that?” And Annie had answered, “That was our first real kiss.”
Chapter 13
As they entered the house, Jen grabbed Annie’s arm at the elbow, pulling her toward a hall where there were fewer people. “Spill it,” Jen said without emotion, her arms folded and face stern.
Annie hid her face in her hands. “Oh Jen, I don’t know how it happened. I really don’t. I look back at it all now and it feels like a dream; like it didn’t really happen, like I’ll wake up tomorrow and go on with my life as if nothing ever happened.”
“What did happen?” Jen asked again more sternly. “Annie, I saw that kiss. That was not a ‘we’ve been dating for three months’ kiss. It was something totally different. And don’t lie to me.
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