Free Who Gets the Friends? by Tim Smith Page A

really like cuddling in front of a fire.”
    “So do I.”
    She took a sip. “So you survived Thanksgiving with your family?”
    “Barely. You were right about well-intentioned but misplaced sympathy.” He shook his head. “When I got home my face was tired from maintaining a perpetual smile.”
    Jessica laughed. “I know what you mean. I went to Cincinnati after work and had to do the same thing. And how many times do you think I had someone hug me and say You poor thing! ?”
    “I don’t want to think about it.”
    She took another drink, then cradled her glass. “But that’s all in the past. What’s your favorite thing to do around the holidays?”
    Tom thought for a moment. “I like to go downtown and look at the old Christmas window display from Rike’s department store. You know, the one they rescued and restored a few years ago, depicting Santa’s toy shop?”
    She smiled. “Yeah, I always liked that, too. I like driving through neighborhoods and seeing the light displays. Some people really put a lot of time into those things. What about going to one of the malls?”
    Tom took a long swallow. “Only during the week. You won’t catch me there on a weekend.”
    “Me either.” She paused. “What would you like to find under the tree this year?”
    He turned her face to his, then kissed her. “What was under it earlier this evening.”
    She gave a seductive chuckle. “Kind of hard to wrap.”
    “Yeah, but it’d be fun unwrapping it.”
    She laughed. “You’re a nut!”
    Tom’s laughter subsided. “What would you like Santa to bring you?”
    She peered into his eyes and lightly stroked his cheek. “Someone like you.”
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Jessica entered her apartment the following evening and noticed that she had a little extra spring in her step. She’d had a silly smile all day, one that had her co-workers wondering what she had been up to. The only one who had the faintest clue was Peggy, who needled her about it.
    She tossed her coat on the sofa, then looked through her mail. She had received a couple of Christmas cards. Her smile faded when she saw the return address on one of them. Brad’s parents. Damn! I didn’t expect to get a card from them. She opened it and read the holiday greeting, followed by the words “I know this is a difficult time for you, as it is for us. Let’s get together over the holidays.”
    She dropped the card on the table and tried to get her emotions under control. Come on, keep it together. You wanted to move on. You can’t do that if every little thing gets to you.
    She was startled by the ringing telephone.
    “Hi, Jessica, it’s Tom. How are you?”
    She smiled. “I’m pretty good. You?”
    “Great, actually. I wanted to thank you again for coming over last night.”
    “You’re welcome. I had fun.”
    “So did I. Your pics turned out great, by the way.”
    She laughed. “I’m trusting you that those won’t show up on some website.”
    “Not a chance. Private stock.” He paused. “But I have to tell you that was fun, too.”
    She sat on the sofa. “See what happens when you combine two things you like to do? In case I didn’t tell, you’re very good at both of them.”
    “Thank you, and so are you.”
    She sighed. “I thought about that all day. It made everyone wonder what I was smiling about.”
    “Funny, but I got the same reaction at work.” He paused. “In fact, just thinking about it now is producing a reaction.”
    She grinned. “You mean I’m not the only one getting hot?”
    “No, you’re not. Maybe I need to take a cold shower.”
    “I’d like to join you.”
    “Wouldn’t be cold very long.”
    Jessica giggled. “We should change the subject. I’ve been thinking about something you said last night. Are you busy every night this week?”
    “Not every night. What did you have in mind?”
    “Why don’t we go downtown and look at the window displays like we talked about? I haven’t done that in