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BEFORE anyone knew it, winter break had arrived at our doorsteps with a blizzard to spell New York shuttered. People were forced to shut inside with their warm hearths blazing and drowned in thick sweaters with a glass or two of bourbon to take the edge off. Just before the blizzard hit though, alert messages popping in every New Yorker's phone met with a disinterested swipe. Ross drove me to the airport, helped me out of my luggage, and kissed me with a casual tenderness. Hands around my waist, nose bumping slightly with mine.
The best thing about dating your best friend is how good they are at picking up how you like things. From rants of past haunts and lovers ,to knowing what made you sigh.
And Ross was a very good kisser, this I've already known beforehand. He always tasted of breath mints, kissed languid and teasing, and his hands were ever warm and touchy to a good point that it didn't feel like a bear was pawing at me.
When we pulled away, he smiled. Easy and comforting. "You think your mom won't mind having me for Christmas?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You want to come to Washington with me?"
"If you wanted me to."
I laughed, picturing Ross' mom at the idea. "Yeah, and your mom will filet me for lunch, no thanks."
He laughed. "All the love from me then. Have a safe flight."
"You too." I rolled my suitcase forward. "I didn't think you'd actually leave New York for Christmas. Not a single Beauchard left in New York- that's crazy."
He sighed. "Me either, but Seth won another accolade and Ethan just finished his mountain house in the Swiss Alps, so my mother's excited for the new prospects. Especially one that means celebrating Christmas in the snowy alps with her sons and brand new grandchild."
Ross' mother gave birth to three sons, all she's exceptionally proud of, all she keeps close to her as much as possible. Her adornment was precise and she was the perfunctory mother through and through, the one who was present in every mandatory and optional parental presence at school, drove her boys to and fro places when they were young, and made sure her boys had everything they needed.
Rana Gamal would never forgive me if I took away her youngest for the winter when she has finally managed to put them all in one place again.
I smiled, unable to stop myself from fixing his hair that was getting ruined by the wind.
"Hands are cold," he murmured, kissing the inside of my palm.
"Sorry." But I couldn't stop. The wind was battling whatever product he put, and he really didn't seem to mind. "Have fun with your new niece. I'll miss you."
"Likewise." Then he leaned in for what I thought was another kiss, but a split second movement and he pressed his lips to my forehead. "Merry Christmas, Naddy."
