Kiss At Midnight
“Dammit, Annie, you promised,” JC reminded her over the telephone connection. “It’s New Year’s Eve, baby."
“I know. And I want to be there, Josh. I’ll have to see what the doctor says.”
“You that sick?”
“I’ve been ill for a couple of days. I never get the flu…” She didn’t tell him she had here suspicions that her malady would probably be resolved in about seven and a half months – at the birth of a little Chasez. Her cycles had never been exactly regular, so she hadn’t been too concerned about a missed month. It was now six weeks since they had left the island – and the last night of unprotected sex.
“Megan still coming with you? Lance is champing at the bit.”
“That’s the plan. Should we be playing matchmaker with our friends?”
“Hey, at least, they’ll have somebody to kiss at midnight.” He sighed, that was if Anne came to Orlando. He guessed Megan could come alone. Somebody deserved to have a kiss at midnight if he couldn’t. “If you can’t come, call me, okay?”
“I promise. I’m not trying to get out of it, sweetness.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll have passes for you and Megan at the door. If anyone won’t let you by, my cell’ll be on.”
“This is so exciting!” Megan bubbled with enthusiasm. Now, this was a New Year’s party! Rock groups performing, a large projection screen focused on the big ball in Times Square poised to drop at midnight.
Ann gave her a wan smile. She was not into the noise or the crush the way her friends was. She just wanted to be safely delivered into JC’s arms.
JC looked around, trying to find Anne in the crowd. She hadn’t called him back and he was worried. His insistence that she be there is she was sick had been selfish. If she were ill, she needed rest and to get better, not flying to Orlando, so he wouldn’t feel so alone on New Year’s Eve. He’d tried to call her, but got only voicemail on her cell and the answering machine at home. He’d even had his mother check on Anne’s apartment. No one had been home.
Familiar arms came around him from behind and that sexy scent…Anne.
“Looking for someone?” she asked, echoing the first words she had ever spoken to him.
“You.” He replied in the same way he had then.
She lifted to her toes to nip his ear. “I’d say we could go walk on the beach, but you’re on duty.”
He turned within her arms. “Actually, I’m finished for the night.” He kissed her softly. “Is it contagious?”
“Not exactly, but I got it from you.”
“Me? I haven’t been sick.”
Anne rolled her eyes. “I caught it in the tropics – from you.”
JC’s eyes went wide, then he grinned. “And it lasts roughly nine months?”
“You guessed it in one.” She wished she had her glasses. She wanted to read his eyes. “How do you feel about that?”
“That we should get married sooner rather than later!”
“Josh!”
He chuckled at her outrage. “Actually, that’s kinda what I was hoping for on that last night. I figured then you would decide you had to find me.”
She smacked him playfully. “Beast!”
“Hey, now!” He grabbed her hand and tugged her close.
“Ten!”
The couple looked at the big screen.
“Nine!”
Slowly, the ball descended in New York.
“Eight!”
“Seven!”
“Six!”
“Five!”
“Four!”
“Three!”
“Two!”
“ONE!”
JC lowered his mouth over Anne’s. It was gonna be a fantastic new year!