Part II

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II

It  was mid-afternoon and the two girls walked into a Starbucks on forty-third and seventh near Times Square, they had been shopping for hours and were now exhausted and energy depleted. Lucy sat on a soft armchair next to the window and let the bags she was carrying fall on the floor while her friend stayed at the counter to place their orders. A few minutes later Harriet came back with two chai tea lattes and a huge blueberry muffin to share.

"I can't believe I've once again only bought stuff for myself..." Said Lucy tired, looking at the numerous bags on the floor.

"Well that little red number is not just for yourself," replied Harriet taking a bite of the muffin.

Lucy sighed.

"I really need to learn some new tricks quickly if all I'm giving him for Christmas is sex."

Harriet laughed then became serious again.

"We never really had the time to talk about how it ended with Sam after you kicked his ass like a pro."

Lucy shrugged.

"Nothing much to say, thankfully! My father sent someone from the agency on the twenty-first to make sure the house had been vacated and they said Sam was just moving out."

"I'm surprised he didn't break anything before he left," said Harriet taking a sip of latte.

"We would have taken that from his deposit anyway, seems like he used his brain for once."

Harriet nodded.

"How did your parents take it?"

"Well, they were mad I didn't call them as soon as it happened and that I didn't ask for their help, which seems to be a common theme with people in my life. But they were impressed with the job done by James's lawyer and eventually agreed to let me take care of it on my own." Lucy took a bite of muffin and continued. "They still have to get used to my new relationship but I think they're just worried, and rightly so after all that happened. They see how much I care about James though and they seem to believe he's a half-decent guy, at least enough not to nag me the whole Christmas dinner with it."

Harriet laughed

"I'm happy that's the case."

Then Harriet's phone illuminated with a new message, she opened it and her lips quirked up in a satisfied smile.

"I got them, Lucy! John worked his magic! Our quest is over!"

Lucy let out a loud squeak and clapped her hands, then let herself go against the back of her seat with a sigh of relief.

***

It was seven in the morning on New Year's Eve and Lucy was sitting next to the big glass wall in James' flat, she was in her pyjamas with red trousers and a white t-shirt with a drawing of a deer in earmuffs saying "Oh, deer!". The sky was starting to brighten at the horizon and the living room was only illuminated by the lights of the Christmas tree and that of the kitchen where James was making hot chocolate with brandy for the both of them.

They had spent Christmas with their respective families then Lucy had to go back to work so they had decided to make of New Year's Eve their Christmas morning.

James walked to the living room carrying a tray with two mugs of hot chocolate topped with cream and a plate with ginger snaps biscuits and placed it on the floor in front of Lucy.

"Merry late Christmas," he said, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

Lucy grabbed the mug and inhaled the delicious smell of cocoa and brandy, warming her hands on the hot ceramic.

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