The Saddest Song

Chapter 23

Rainey

New Years Eve was sunny and warm in San Diego. The forecast for the mountains was cloudy and cold, no snow expected. This made for a nice drive. We had rain earlier in the week which meant there would be snow on the ground up there. On the ground, but not on the roads, made for perfect conditions.

Max and I left early, anxious to get there. Since Gran and Grandad wouldn’t be there, our moms had sent coolers full of food. Max’s mom even ordered us Danish Kringles for our breakfast.

“She’s making it up to you for getting the wrong flavor on Thanksgiving,” I said as we pulled out of my driveway.

“Yeah, she double checked the label ten times. I’m glad they are going to dinner with your parents tonight. I didn’t want them to sit home.”

“They’ll have a great time. Dad made reservations at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. They are taking Grandma too. She got back this morning.”

“We have to take her to Disneyland soon.”

I agreed and grabbed his iPod.

“May I?”

“Go ahead. As long as it’s mine and not yours I should be fine.”

We spent the next two hours happily talking non- stop. We arrived just as Sophie and Ethan were unloading their truck. They told us Rylee and Colin would be awhile since they had hit traffic coming from L.A. They had spent the holidays with Rylee’s family.

Max and I carried our coolers into the kitchen and Sophie helped me put all the food away. Max and Ethan took our bags up to our rooms and we followed them up to unpack. I was in the same room as last time and I hung up the dress I had bought for New Years Eve. It was short, black and had used up the entire Bloomingdales gift card my aunt had given me for Christmas. It was worth it. I had fallen in love the second I had tried it on. We all had decided to go all out tonight and get dressed up.

“Hey,” Max called from his room across the hall, “Colin and Rylee are here!” We helped them in with their stuff and then we all went into town and had lunch at a quaint, tiny restaurant. We walked the streets and went into all the little shops. It was cold out and the snow on the mountains and trees made it look like a winter wonderland. When we had covered all there was to do in the village we headed back to the cabin and the guys built a roaring fire.

Our plan for New Years Eve was simple. Dress up, dance and welcome in the New Year together.

Rylee had decided it would be fun for the girls to get dressed in my room and then we could make a grand entrance for the boys. We made sure all the food was on trays, while the guys filled up the ice bucket and set up the bar. Gran and Grandad had left us a case of expensive Champagne and we had a few bottles on ice. Before we headed upstairs to get ready Colin popped open a bottle and poured us each a glass. We carried them upstairs and I took a sip promising myself I would go easy. A couple glasses throughout the night, no more. Seemed like an easy promise at the time.





Max

We followed the girls upstairs to get dressed for our party. I could hear laughter coming from behind Rainey’s door. I quickly showered and put on black pants and a white dress shirt. I sprayed cologne, which I wore only on special occasions like school dances, and headed back downstairs. Colin was dressed similarly to myself, only his shirt was a light blue. He was lighting candles that he had placed on every available surface.

Ethan came down dressed all in black and the two of us moved couches and the coffee table to make room for dancing. When Colin finished with the candles he handed each of us a shot glass and piece of lime. “To us,” he said, and figuring it would be okay since I wasn’t driving, I joined them. When he handed me a second one, I downed it and then went to help Ethan select the music.

We put on a playlist of old standards and turned the lights down low. The flickering candles gave a romantic glow to the room while millions of stars twinkled through the floor to ceiling windows. If the girls wanted a romantic New Years Eve they were going to have one. I found myself wishing that Rainey and I were so much more than we were. I wanted her to want to have a romantic evening with me. Tonight I didn’t want to be just her friend.

It felt like forever until the girls were ready. Finally, Rylee came down the stairs. She was wearing a short red dress. Colin gave her a wolf whistle and met her at the bottom step with a red rose. She exclaimed, he kissed her, and I tried to imagine Rainey greeting me the same way.

Ethan met Sophie next. She wore a white strapless dress and as they kissed I grew anxious to see Rainey. I knew my feelings for her had grown into more than she was ready for but when I saw her coming down the staircase in a short, tight black dress and heels that made her legs go on forever, I knew it was hopeless. I had fallen completely in love, with my best friend.

Colin had given me a rose for her too but I felt suddenly tongue tied. I was used to her looking up at me, but when she stepped off the bottom step she looked me straight in the eyes, thanks to her six inch heels.

“You’re perfect,” I said, holding out the rose.

“Thank you. You’re pretty perfect yourself.” She held the flower to her nose and I managed to compose myself. I started to say something when a champagne cork popped and the party began.