Chapter 22
Sunday, December 16
Dazey lay nestled around my feet when I ate breakfast on Sunday, and I reached to tickle her chin. Now that morning had arrived, I no longer found myself second-guessing how to handle overhearing Marco and Vince’s conversation, especially when I thought about Glen and Dorothy insisting long-lasting relationships needed open communication. I had to tell him. Face-to-face, not via text. It was too important.
It was still early, and I wouldn’t see Marco for a while, so I turned my attention to the Advent calendar. There were only nine boxes left, and the stack that had once looked like an abstract Christmas tree was now an ever-dwindling collection of scattered packages.
Number sixteen was an easy-to-find tube wrapped in snowman paper, and it sounded hollow when I shook it. I didn’t think it would be a second death-trap sled, and when I tore off the paper, I uncovered an empty box with another of Anita’s notes.
Today’s mission: Take the plunge.
Join the annual Holiday Dip at 3 p.m.—details on the back.
P.S. I bet the Grinch would look fabulous in a swimsuit!
P.P.S. At least it’s not ice climbing, right?
My groan was only half-hearted as I scanned through the instructions, thinking this task actually sounded like fun. I already knew the annual Holiday Dip consisted of a few hundred people in fancy dress running into Sixteen Mile Creek up to their waists, crouching so the water covered their shoulders, and dashing out again—all for a good cause, as the proceeds went to cancer research.
The water would be freezing this time of year, and when I looked outside, I saw the sky was a gloomy gray, likely making the event more frigid. Still, I was ready for my assignment—excited, even. I had to admit the way Anita gently yet continually nudged me with this Advent calendar wasn’t only doing good things for my confidence, but also slowly restoring my festive mood.
I messaged my sister. Holiday Dip as the Grinch? Bring it!
Yay! she replied, before adding, You sound like you’re enjoying yourself. Or is it because you’ll see Marco half naked…?
After I sent her a heart-eyed emoji, I read for a while and then tidied the apartment. Once that was done, I got dressed and did my makeup and was about to go to the kitchen for more coffee when someone knocked on the front door.
It was Marco, hands stuffed in his pockets, an olive-green beanie wedged under one arm. His cheeks had turned rosy from the cold, but his smile lit up my heart like a thousand suns. “Hi,” he said. “I know it’s only eleven, but are you busy?”
“Nope,” I said, my own smile matching his. “You finished early.”
“I rushed my butt off to see you.” He put his arms around me. “I hope you don’t mind me coming over.”
“Never in a million years,” I replied, kissing him deeply before grabbing hold of his hand as I led him to the living room. “I was thinking about making lunch. Are you hungry?”
“Can we talk first?” Marco asked, before waiting a beat and adding, “Walter mentioned you stopped by Central Kitchen yesterday, but I didn’t see you.”
“I overheard you and Vince talking about me,” I said quickly. “About the bookkeeping.”
“Ah. I figured as much, given the time Walter said you were there.”
“Things sounded heated, and I didn’t want to barge in and create more problems. I shouldn’t have eavesdropped.”
“No, no,” Marco said. “We should’ve closed the door if we didn’t want to be overheard. That’s totally on us. I’m not surprised you left. I really put Vince’s nose out of joint by handing you our paperwork without consulting him first. I made things awkward for everyone.”
“What if I gave you all the stuff back?”
“No, I don’t want to turn down your help. It would be ridiculous.”
“Honestly, it’s okay if you want to,” I said.
“Is there a lot left for you to do?”
I shook my head. “No, I should get everything sorted out sometime next week.”
“That would be fantastic,” Marco said. “Vince was acting so defensive about it all, so how about when things calm down at work, say between Christmas and New Year, you, Vince, and I go for dinner. I’ll introduce you properly, he can get to know you and see how brilliant you are.”
“That sounds great.”
“Perfect. I’m really glad we worked this out.”
“About working things out…” I hesitated, biting my lip. “There’s something else I need to say, but I’m worried you’ll think I’m weird or… something .”
Marco nodded. “Remember how we agreed to follow Dorothy and Glen’s rules? You can tell me anything, Callie. Always.”
“All right, here goes.” I took a breath. “The thing is, I like you. And while I realize we’re not about to make any promises, I hope we can spend some time together and see where this goes.” I paused again. “I guess what I’m saying is, I don’t want this to be a fling.”
“Neither do I,” Marco said. “Being with you is amazing. Friday night was incredible. You’re incredible, and in case you’re wondering, I’m not interested in seeing anyone else.”
I wrapped my arms around him. “I was so sure I wasn’t ready to date yet, but then you came along and…” I smiled and gave a small shrug. “A couple of weeks ago, Anita told me I should write a new chapter for my life. I didn’t think it could happen so soon.”
“Looks like I owe your sister another huge thank-you.” Marco held me close, staying silent for a few beats, and when he spoke again, his voice was low and gravely. “Also, could you make your chapter really, really long or maybe let me stay for more than one?”
“I think we can come to some kind of arrangement,” I said with a grin before kissing him on the lips, thinking I might never get enough of this feeling. “In the meantime, want to hear what bananas task Anita cooked up for today?”
He pulled back a little. “Hit me.”
“My utterly adorable yet complete nuisance of a sister had the genius idea of signing up for two spots at the Holiday Dip at Sixteen Mile Creek. The one where you’re supposed to head into the freezing water.”
“I’ve heard of it. Vince went last year. It looks like ridiculous fun.”
“Ridiculous is right,” I said. “Anita gave me a Grinch mask so I really lean in to the holiday spirit.”
Marco started to laugh. “I can use the antlers and nose we got caroling and pretend to be Max the dog.”
“Does that mean you’ll come with me?”
“Wouldn’t miss it, especially if you wear that tiny bikini again,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “You looked so damn hot in that thing, it took every single shred of self-control I possess to not stare at your ass.”
“Oh, you want to stare at my ass, do you?” I tilted my head. “I’ll make you a deal. We go to your place, where you model your swim shorts for me, and maybe I’ll do the same for you.”
Marco grinned. “What will you do if I don’t have any?”
—
Shortly before 3 p.m., Marco and I stood on the bank of Sixteen Mile Creek. The winds had picked up, whipping the strands of my hair that weren’t covered by my hat into a complete frenzy. My coat and gloves couldn’t even protect me from the wind chill today.
“I’m beginning to think this might be a terrible idea,” I said, stuffing my gloved hands into my armpits, bouncing up and down as I tried to generate extra body heat before it all got stripped away. “I’m going to kill Anita when she gets home, providing I don’t turn into an iceberg.”
Marco laughed, and as one of the organizers shepherded the eager—and in my case, not-so-eager—participants together, he wrapped his arm around me. “It’ll be over before we know it.”
I swear the temperature plummeted as we stripped down to our bathing suits and dropped our clothes into the bags we’d brought with us. Marco took my hand, and we followed the stream of other brave souls as we made our way to the creek’s edge.
There were a couple of other Grinches in the crowd, a few Elsas from Frozen , elves with striped swim leggings—probably a far better idea than my skimpy outfit—and one person even donned a blow-up snowman costume, making me wonder if they might float away.
Meanwhile, Marco looked gorgeous in his palm frond–print board shorts, his flat stomach, toned arms, and shoulders on full display. Every inch of his impeccable physique could’ve been sculpted from granite, yet Marco seemed to have no clue of how much of an effect he had on others. I noticed the stolen glances and approving eyes as we moved past the groups of spectators huddled together, and I couldn’t blame them. I had a hard time not gawping at Marco myself.
“Let’s do this,” he said, popping the antlers on his head and setting his red plastic nose in place. “Lead me to the water, master Grinch. Woof.”
I didn’t have time to reply because the organizer blew her whistle. I quickly pulled my Grinch mask over my head as Marco and I screamed a battle cry and charged into the creek with our designated wave of other participants who’d had the same ridiculous idea as my sister.
“Aaaargh!” I screamed as soon as my feet hit the water. “It’s freezing.”
Marco didn’t let go of my hand but pulled me in farther, and I found myself submerged almost up to my knees. “Come on, we can do it,” he said, turning around, his face in a grin. “Oh, crap, it is cold.”
With another scream I let go of his hand and dashed past him, wanting to get this task over with as quickly as possible. I ducked, lowering the rest of my body beneath the water, including my face, cursing under my breath.
“Hurry. It’s your turn,” I said to Marco when I reemerged, but he shook his head.
“Please don’t make me,” he said, bringing his palms together. “ Please .”
I let out a whoop and splashed him with both hands over and over until he relented and disappeared under the surface. One huge push of his muscular legs, and he came back up. I grabbed his hand and made a dash for warmth, laughing as we waded past Santas, two sets of three wise men, and a kid dressed up as a Christmas tree.
It felt like my skin was being attacked by a thousand pins and needles, but still I couldn’t stop giggling as I pulled the thick, fuzzy, gingerbread man–covered fleece blanket we’d brought with us around our shoulders.
“That was epic,” I said, teeth chattering as I pressed my soaked body against Marco’s.
“Off the charts.” He pulled me closer, his arms sliding around my waist as his eyes flashed when he looked at me. He dropped his voice a little and murmured, “You’re driving me wild in your tiny bikini. Good thing it’s cold out here.”
His saucy comment made me laugh, and as I stared into his eyes I said, “I know exactly how to warm you up.”