FALLING IN LOVE AT A COFFEE SHOP | D.H [✓]

Twenty Three

(Aria's POV)

"Do you think we should use the red or green table cloth?! I mean either one is fine but do we lack more in one colour in our other decorations?!" Grace asks frantically why holding up the two table cloth options. To be completely honest, I wasn't paying much attention and I didn't see the need to panic on a table cloth colour. It's not like the guests were going to care, they just wanted the free food and champagne.

"Grace, it doesn't exactly matter, I mean no one is going to notice it. We have a healthy amount of each colour so it won't ruin anything.

She sighs, "You're right. I just want tonight to be perfect, you know? It isn't anything special but it's the first thing I've planned without Dave so I want to show people I can throw an awesome dinner party without him. That probably sounds dumb."

"No, it doesn't sound dumb. You're going to throw the best damn dinner party anybody has ever been to and they're all going to pray they get invited to another one."

"I hope they enjoy it, I mean it won't be spectacular but there's food and booze so they can find something to love. I think I'm going to go with the red table cloth."

"Good choice." I chuckle.

She looks around the decorated room proudly before she pauses, "WE ARE SO DUMB ARIA!"

"What do you mean?"

"Look around. What's missing?"

I look around the apartment and see every Christmas decoration imaginable. I'm about to ask what she's on about until it hits me. "We don't have a tree!"

"How could we forget about the tree?! That's the first thing you set up when it's Christmas time!"

"We can't have this dinner party without a Christmas tree!" I'm surprised to find myself so wrapped up in this party planning. I'm more worried than I should be.

"That's it. I'll have to cancel. It's over. It simply can't be done."

My mind starts to spin and I frantically try and think of how we can fix this. I had one of those artificial trees but it had ended up breaking last year and I completely forgot I needed a new one. We couldn't just go get another one since guests would be arriving in an hour. It would be cutting it way too close.

My eyes widen when an idea sparks. I whip out my phone and dial the familiar number and impatiently wait for him to pick up.

"Dan's phone." a familiar voice answers, not the one I was expecting, but it would do.

"Hey Phil! Random question, don't ask, but do you have an artificial Christmas tree that hasn't been put up yet by any chance?"

"Um, yeah we do."

"Would it be available to rent for an evening?"

He laughs, "I'm sure we can work out a price. We'll bring it over."

"Is there any chance you could bring it, like, now?"

"Now?! Um, yeah hold on let me ask Dan if he's almost ready. He's been freaking out over his hair all day. Just wait, I'll go ask!"

It sounds like he puts the phone on a table and I hear his footsteps become fainter as he goes to find Dan. Grace is looking at me with worried eyes and I give her a reassuring smile. Only we would be worried over an artificial Christmas tree that the majority of the guests won't give a second glance to.

"I'm back! Yeah we can be there in like, 10ish minutes! Do you have baubles and tinsel and stuff?"

"Yeah I have all that! Oh my gosh, you're honestly a lifesaver! You can have an extra piece of cake tonight, I promise."