Maddison shivered from December’s chilly breeze. She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging the wool coat tighter to her slender body, her purse hanging from one shoulder as she turned and made her way up the walk to the front door.
“Why didn’t Vincent come in?” Lucas asked when Maddison entered the house and closed the door behind her. No longer standing by the window, he stood at the edge of the living room near the entry.
“You know why,” Maddison said as she hung her purse on the brass coat rack in the entry and removed her coat.
“That’s silly, Maddie. You need to get over it.”
Maddison rolled her eyes at his comment and walked passed him into the living room, where she took a seat on the rocking chair. Lucas followed her into the room, making his way back to the window. He looked outside. It was almost dark.
“How long will you be here?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I never know.” Lucas turned and faced Maddison. “Would you prefer I didn’t come back?”
“I love you, Lucas,” Maddison insisted in a quiet whisper. Lucas turned to face her. He smiled sadly.
“Have you kissed him yet?” he asked.
“Why would you ask something like that?” Maddison scowled.
“I don’t know. I guess I keep thinking of the first time we kissed.”
“I don’t want to talk about this.” Maddison bit down on her lower lip; she didn’t want to cry. She refused to cry. Damn him.
Ignoring her discomfort, Lucas continued. “It was homecoming. I couldn’t believe you agreed to go with me. I wasn’t one of the popular jocks. Just a band nerd.”
“You were never a nerd,” Maddison said with a dry chuckle in spite of the tears filling her green eyes. She remembered how her girlfriends swooned over the quiet band boy, with his dark good looks and unique musical ability. There was not an instrument he couldn’t play.
“After that first kiss, everything changed between us, Maddie. I knew I loved you. And you knew you loved me. Sometimes, a kiss is all that it takes for someone to know what’s in his heart.”
“We had some wonderful times, didn’t we?” Maddison’s voice was barely a whisper. A tear escaped and slid down her face.
“Yes, we did. But some things don’t last forever.”
“I still love you, Lucas. For me, our love is forever.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Would you just kiss him, damn it.”
“I would rather kiss you.”
“I don’t think so, Maddie. It’s too late for us now.”
*
Reluctantly, Maddison agreed to go to Cindy and Chad’s New Year’s Eve Party. She wondered if Lucas would show up. She had asked him to go with her, but he’d only laughed at the request and told her if he went she would never get around to kissing Vincent. A New Year’s Eve Party, Lucas reminded her, was an ideal place to steal a kiss.
When Maddison arrived at the party, she had to admit she was happy to discover Vincent hadn’t brought a date. By the way he greeted her, it was obvious he was happy she’d come to the party alone.
“Did you have a nice Christmas?” Vincent asked after the two made their way to a quiet alcove off Cindy and Chad’s living room.
“I spent it with my sister’s family. It was strange not having Lucas there.” He could have been there, Maddison said to herself. I don’t know why he refused to go.
“I almost called you.”
“I wish you had.”
Before Vincent could respond, several of their friends join them and the conversation shifted into another, less personal direction. Cocktails were served, appetizers consumed, and the evening moved toward midnight.
Maddison couldn’t recall the last time she had laughed so much—or laughed at all. Vincent had a way of making her smile. For the first time in months, she felt happy and hopeful. Perhaps things hadn’t worked out for her and Lucas, but maybe they weren’t meant to. She wondered what Lucas would say if she shared that bit of insight with him.
Wanting to escape the swelling crowd of party guests, Vincent and Maddison slipped out onto the back patio. It was almost midnight. The night air was frigid but the propane heater Chad had set up on the patio earlier made it tolerable. Vincent wrapped his arm around Maddison and pulled her close as the two looked out to the swimming pool. Its lights were on, yet the water did not look inviting.
“I’m glad I decided to come,” Maddison said at last. She leaned against Vincent, comfortable in the intimacy.
“You weren’t going to?” Vincent asked.
“I wasn’t sure. It feels strange to come to these things alone.”
“You aren’t alone now,” he reminded her.
“You’re a good friend, Vincent. You always have been.”
Vincent turned to face Maddison, his one hand moving from her waist to her shoulder as he looked into her eyes.
“I want more, Maddison. Do you think it might be possible… that someday…” Vincent searched her eyes without finishing his question.
Maddison lifted her hand and lightly caressed the side of Vincent’s face. When had the friendship shifted, changed, blossomed into something deeper? Was Lucas right? Had the feelings she had for Vincent grown into love? Love not for a brother but the love a woman has for a man.
Sounds of noisemakers drifted from the house, with shouts and calls heralding the arrival of the New Year.
Maddison didn’t clasp Vincent’s face in her hands and bring his lips to hers because the clock struck midnight but because she needed to know. Was she in love with Vincent?
His lips met hers, hesitant at first, familiar and yet so different. Something burst within Maddison’s heart, and she pulled Vincent closer.
Wrapping his arms around Maddison, Vincent returned the kiss with all the pent up passion and longing that had been festering in his heart for months. Neither was certain if the fireworks going off overhead were real–or simply their hearts rejoicing at the discovery of their love.
When the kiss finally ended, Maddison rested her forehead on Vincent’s chest. She heard the rapid beating of his heart. It matched hers.
“Wow,” Vincent said at last, finally catching his breath.