The Fling

73

I was pacing in my living room for at least ten minutes before Abigail was supposed to arrive. This night felt pivotal to our relationship, which was fitting considering New Year's Eve marked the transition of one era into another.

I looked at myself in a large mirror that hung in the hallway and questioned the casual clothing I put on after taking a long hot shower. We were having a quiet night in, so I'd thrown on some linen striped pants and a cotton sweater. It was a festive holiday, so maybe Abigail was going to show up dressed to the nines. I cursed myself for not asking her about tonight's vibe, and she was undoubtedly on her way, so it was too late for her to switch direction. I could always run upstairs and change into something nicer, if needed.

I walked to the kitchen and looked in the fridge. Was it too early to take out the food so that it could come to room temperature? Earlier that day, a charcuterie board from Graze had been delivered, and it came with instructions. I opened my junk drawer, where I tended to shove stuff like that, and found them. It said to get the board out two hours before eating. If I took it out right now, it would be perfect at nine. Fuck. Was that too late? I went back to the refrigerator and grabbed it, setting it on the island. Then I checked for the third time that I'd put the champagne I picked this morning in to chill, which of course I had. I was getting two flutes out from the cupboard when my security system alerted me that someone was outside.

"Hi," Abigail said with a warm smile when I opened my door. She was wearing pajamas, so I let out a sigh of relief. "Excuse my casual attire, but I figured this was fitting for our plans." She stepped inside and set down a shopping bag before I took her coat. Then she put my present under the tree and went into the kitchen. "I brought some hors d'oeuvres and Christmas cookies, but you look like you've got the food covered."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "I just took the charcuterie board out, so if you have something we can eat sooner, that would be perfect."

She began pulling things from the bag. "I've got stuffed mushrooms plus some cucumber slices that I'm going to top with crème fraiche and caviar. Oh and I brought some champagne."

"Caviar, eh? Pretty bougie for someone wearing flannel pants and a UCLA hoodie."

She laughed. "Caviar is heavenly no matter what you're wearing!" She then removed two gold headbands that said '2024' in sparkly writing from the bag. "And these will make our toast at midnight a little more festive."

I watched as she preheated my oven. "Do you need a pan? They're to the right of the sink."

Abigail put the mushroom caps on one of my cookie sheets and then got to work preparing the cucumbers. "Normally I'd use cherry tomatoes instead of cukes, but I know how much you hate them."

I sat down at the island and took a cookie from the tin. "I appreciate that."

"And obviously those are all gluten-free."

I knew she wouldn't bring something that wasn't. "What do you want to do tonight? Watch movies? Listen to music by the fire?"

"Yes to both things."

"Should I pop open a bottle of bubbly now or do you want something else to start with? I've got wine and most types of booze."

She stopped what she was doing and gave this some thought. "I could go for a good cocktail. Make me whatever you like to make yourself."

"You're implying that I have a signature drink."

"Don't you? I thought most people have a go-to," she said as added some caviar to the cucumbers.

"I used to drink whiskey-gingers. Then I got into tequila for a while. These days I gravitate more towards wine."

"If you've got ginger beer and limes, I'd love a whiskey-ginger."