When I leave I know, absolutely, I did the right thing. “We can go,” I say to Max as I approach him.
“Are you okay?” he asks as he opens my door and lets me get in before closing it.
I sit quietly as we drive, not having answered him. When we reach home, I place my hand over his and smile. “I was lucky I was able to get away. Some aren’t so lucky. What we gave them is just a small amount, but at least it’ll give someone a fighting chance. So for that, yes, I’m okay.”
“Come on, Snowflake, let’s go enjoy our New Year’s Eve.”
We go inside and already there are a few people here. I can’t help but stay close by Max. “Oh my God.” I recognize that voice from my phone calls with her. “Oh my God. You’re Lily!” This tiny, dark-haired, and slightly overweight woman bowls me over in a hug. “I’m Michaela,” she says as she keeps hugging.
“Pleasure to meet you. This is Max, a good friend of mine.”
“Hi, Max,” she says and looks back at me. “I have something for you. Lame, I know, but you helped me so much I just wanted to give you something.” She hands me a box which is nicely wrapped. “Please, open it.”
I tear the paper, and open the box and inside is a copy of her book, which she’s signed to me at the front. There’s also a mug, a book mark, and a keychain. “Thank you, so much. These are my first-book related souvenirs. And my first autographed book by a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.”
“It’s called swag, all of this, except the paperback. It’s all called swag.”
“Thank you, I’ll cherish it.”
“You’re welcome. Anyway, I have to get back to my husband. Really nice meeting you, Lily. And you too, Max.”
“My pleasure,” Max diplomatically says. “Wow, she was like a very excited tornado,” he whispers and chuckles.
“I’ll just go put these in my room. I’ll be a minute.”
“Don’t be two, because you’ll miss the countdown. I’ll get us some champagne.”
We head in separate directions, and then meet up at the back of the family room. Everyone is standing around, watching the TV and waiting for the ball to drop in Time Square.
“Here you go, Snowflake.” He hands me a flute with champagne.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five.” Max puts his arm around my waist, drawing me into his side and his warmth. I look up at him. “One…Happy New Year,” everyone yells.
For one brief second, I hear nothing, I see no one but Max. “Happy New Year, Snowflake.” He leans down and brushes his lips against mine. The kiss is sweet, the warmth of his lips stay on mine, and slowly, he parts his mouth and gently asks for my permission to allow him to kiss me. It’s more than a peck, and more than anything I’ve ever felt before. He brings me in tighter to him, and he sprinkles a few kisses from my lips to my ear. “You’re wrong, you know,” he says as he places one more kiss below my ear and pulls back to look at me. My heart’s beating wildly, and my pulse is thumping quickly.
His brown-flecked eyes hold such fierce passion. “About what?” I say, as I get lost in the intensity of his orbs.
“You’re not half a snowflake. You’re whole, and you’re perfect to me.” He leans down and kisses me again. I feel the moisture of a tear roll down my cheek. But I close my eyes, and enjoy the purity of the man standing in front of me.
I can drive myself around now. I went for my driver’s test two weeks ago, and I passed. It’s the last week of January and it’s gone by in a blink of an eye.
I’ve been working on all the books I get sent, and I can’t believe I’m booked solid until the end of February. I’ve taken on new clients, and I’ve managed to be able to save half that money for when I move out. The other half I’ve been giving to Dale for the loan on the car. Today I have another thousand dollars to give to him.
I walk to his office and knock on his door. He looks up and smiles, “Come in, Lily. Close the door.”
I close the door and sit down opposite him. “I have some more money for you.” I slide the envelope across the table at him.
“You do?” He takes out his book he’s been keeping track of the payments. He has me sign it, and he signs it when I give him the money. “How much is it?”
“A thousand this time,” I proudly announce with a huge smile.
“Huh,” he mumbles as he opens the envelope and counts out the ten hundred dollar bills. He stops and starts adding all the payments together. “You’ve had the car nine weeks, and you’ve paid the one hundred and seventy-five a week we agreed to, plus you’ve given me, in addition to that, another three thousand, four hundred dollars. That makes it.” He double checks his figures. “You’ve paid four thousand, nine hundred and seventy-five dollars.” He tucks his pen behind his ear and sits back in his chair. “Should I be worried?”