about it, fine. But I wasn’t getting involved.
Things never worked out when I did.
Given the craziness that preceded it, Christmas was fairly
uneventful. Which I was more than happy with.
Since both Stacey and Danielle were leaving New Year’s
Eve supper early to go to other parties, it seemed Levi and I
would be ringing in the New Year in a very quiet, very unex—
citing way.
Stacey was wearing a festive minidress and black leggings
with silver sparkles. Her hair was pulled back in a silver
headband. Levi had on jeans and a sweatshirt. Even Danielle,
who was going to hang out with a few other friends after
hanging out with us, was wearing a skirt. I did make some effort and wore nice dark jeans and a black wrap sweater
with purple sequins.
“Hey, Adam!” Levi greeted my uncle, who was sitting on
the couch. “I didn’t realize we were going to have a chaper—
one. Better cancel the keg!”
Adam laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t breaking hearts tonight, Adam!”
Levi teased.
Adam blushed. The ladies certainly loved him; he was a
charmer.
“He’s staying for supper, then heading off,” I said. It seemed
that everybody had somewhere else to be. Even Dad was over
at Levi’s house for their party. I was invited to a couple places 236
but turned them down. Levi wasn’t interested in going far
in his condition, although he didn’t want to stay at home
and have all his parents’ friends fuss over him. His surgery
was in a couple days, so he was understandably in a sol—
emn mood.
The five of us settled down at the dining room table. I
didn’t want to go too fancy tonight because I wasn’t sure what
kind of food Stacey liked and Levi was no help. I did a basic
chicken Caesar salad, ricotta gnocchi with creamy pesto
sauce, bruschetta, and baked Alaska for dessert.
“Oh, wow!” Stacey exclaimed with a full mouth. “This is
SO good.”
All right, maybe I’d wanted to impress her just a little.
“So,” Danielle said to me as she rubbed her tummy, “I
think I have to end our friendship if I want to fit into my
dress for the winter dance.”
“It’s six weeks away,” I reminded her.
“Oh, I’m only taking a break.” She eyed the remaining
piece of baked Alaska in the center of the table. “I plan on
stuffing my face more. I can start worrying about the dance
next year.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got less than four
hours.”
“Do you know who you’re going with?” Stacey asked
Danielle.
Danielle raised her eyebrows. “There’s a certain drummer
that I have my eye on.”
“Uh-oh,” I teased. “You know what they say about
drummers?”
“That they have excellent rhythm,” Danielle deadpanned.
237
“No.” Levi looked at me. “That’s not it. Could you remind
me, Macallan?”
“Oi, they’re so chuffed because they can bang a drum . . .”
I started.
Levi graciously continued. “I been bangin’ on me table
since I was a wee one. Where’s me groupies?”
“Dodgy, drummers are.”
Levi then delivered the punch line. “Blimey if I haven’t
been bangin’ me head listenin’ to you lot.”
Danielle looked at the two of us. “Does anybody ever have any clue what you two go on and on about?”
“I do,” Levi and I said in unison.
Danielle looked at Stacey. “We should get out of here before
I start banging my head.”
Not surprisingly, Danielle and Stacey left for their
respective parties instead of hanging out with me and Levi.
Adam stayed a while to help me with the dishes since
Levi needed to rest his leg. Adam also helped me get Levi
down to the basement so he could lie on the sectional’s chaise
lounge.
“You need anything else?” Adam asked.
“I think we’re good.” I gave him a big hug. He high-fived
Levi and then left us alone.
“Now, is there anything else I could get you?” I bowed
down as if he was my master.
“It’s about time I get some respect from you.” He then gestured for me to twirl around.
“In your dreams.”
238
“Hey, it couldn’t hurt to ask.”
“I wouldn’t press your luck on that.” I lifted up a pillow and
pretended to hit him.
“You wouldn’t hurt a man who’s in such a delicate condition, would you?” He stuck out his lip in a pout.
“You don’t know me very well.”
His eyes lit up. “Actually, I do. Could you hand me
my bag?”
I obliged.
Levi dug around the duffel. “I have a surprise for you.” He
then presented a DVD of the Buggy and Floyd Christmas Special.
“Where did you get this?” I knew it had aired in the UK a
couple weeks ago, but I had no idea when it was coming
stateside.
“I have connections.”
I tore open the case and put the disc in. “Did you watch it?”
“No way. Not without you.”
I didn’t know if I would’ve had the same willpower.