The Next Best Thing: Part II

Forty-Seven

Aidan left for home on Monday morning, Min and Lily on Tuesday; and Joss flew her family out to Rio de Janeiro for a drastic change of scenery in the idyllic resort town, and a warm Christmas.

Tyler was in Thailand on a girls' trip with her gorgeous mother. Eoin was back and forth the city, home in Chicago and visiting his sister before she would officially become a mother.

I was spending Christmas alone, my parents on the Mediterranean leg of their cruise and all my friends having planned their holiday around their families or significant others.

Christmas Eve rolled along with it a blizzard imprisoning me in the apartment echoing loneliness and deathly cheerful Christmas music.

I woke up to bake cookies in my jammies, rocking around the gigantic Christmas tree in the lounge, kissing myself under the mistletoe and waiting for Santa to bring my baby to me before midnight.

I watched reruns of old Christmas classics, which took up my entire afternoon and the supply of Oreos now running on empty. Simultaneously, I cooked a Christmas Eve dinner for one, complete with a bottle of wine to ease me into a long, warm sleep and more cookies with chocolate milk for my inner child.

I checked on Rae away with her family also in the Caribbean, the island of the Bahamas which the Campbells called home. She sounded very alive and peaceful in her zone, enjoying the sun, sand and surf. I would choose tan over frost bite any day.

She had to scream above the background noise and navigate her way between the vibing bodies on a white sand beach to a quieter spot. I doubt that existed on that island though.

I was curled up on the couch by eight, searching my Netflix for any movie appropriate for a person like me, snowed in and home alone on a day like this. My closest neighbours were hosting a dinner party that was only reaching its peak, the music only escaping through the walls as the night progressed.

I was only half-heartedly watching When Harry Met Sally when I was rung by the front desk. "A Mr. Eoin Macken for Zoe Moy," the temporary desk clerk informed me in his icy voice. Unfortunately, Nori had plans as well, travelling down to the West Coast for a sunny Christmas.

"Please, send him up," I interjected. I wasn't expecting Eoin back so soon - he was supposed to be spending the holidays with his family.

I welcomed him by the elevator gate, flinging my body against his and wrapping my legs around his waist. "I can't believe you actually came back," I shrieked into his ear. "I've missed you so much."

"Min called to tell me I had to get back immediately. She said you were going to spend Christmas alone and that you missed me. Is all that true?"

He raised his eyebrows and glared into my eyes, moving his eyes from side to side to study me. He was holding tight to my body that had craved his touch, the prick of my skin and the chills up my spine when he held me up against him like that.

"Yes." I bit his lower lip and nodded my head slowly. "I've been thinking about you, thinking about you a lot."

"I think about you a lot, too. My parents send their regards. They were thinking of you as well," he responded, pulling me closer.

"I miss them. Tell them that, okay? I like them."

"They like you too, Zo," he smiled, smattering small kisses on my nose. "We all like you. It's a family affair."

He was planted in the kitchen, his coat still on his person. I was in my silk pyjamas, my hair in a high, messy updo and my socked feet in black Uggs.

His body radiated warmth against the flimsy fabric covering up my skimpy choice of underwear for the day. I wanted to feel sexy on the inside, to feel beautiful and special, my early Christmas present to myself.