No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty-Five

It's nearly midnight.

I've watched the buildings surrounding this one empty. I've watched the lights, one by one, dim. And yet the city is still bright. It's noisy, although I can't hear it all the way up here.

My eyes slowly drift to the dark sky. There are barely any stars, just an endless darkness. It seems so close. I think about places miles and miles away from here, places you can go to where the sky is illuminating, even at night. Millions of stars.

I find myself wishing I were there.

My exhale is deep and long, full of tension and frustration.

"Oh, Scarlett," I whisper to myself, closing my eyes.

Don't think of him.

Don't—

My phone rings. I look at it, blaring against my desk and begin to smile.

"Hi," I answer softly, setting down my drink.

"Hi," Giovanni murmurs, just as soft.

"It's been a strange few days."

"I've picked up the phone quite a few times."

I chuckle, closing my eyes. "Me too."

It takes a while for one of us to speak again.

"I hope you are with friends."

I turn my chair towards the window again, huffing warmly. "Why do you say that?"

"Because it would mean you weren't alone right now."

I hear my own breath catch, his words triggering something deep within me... a chipped piece of myself that can't seem to heal. I force the tears back.

"I'm working. I have my own traditions for Christmas, ones I like to do alone."

"Tell me about these traditions then. They must be pretty great."

I say the first things I can think of. "Christmas films, a walk in the snow, hot chocolate... pajamas all day. The works."

"Wow, that is something."

I wipe my eyes. "What are your traditions with your family?"

"Well, I head to my mothers on Christmas Eve, which is where I am now. We play Christmas records from morning to night. My sister decorates the house. I cook with my mother. We read, talk, sit around together until it's ready."

I smile warmly. "And when it's ready?"

"We toast to a great year, eat some pie and open gifts." I hear him chuckle weakly. "It's not anything out of this world. We fight half the time over crazy things. It's gotten worse now that dad is gone. He was the mediator."

I laugh with him, my lip trembling violently. I bite down on it hard to keep it still.

"I think mines better," I joke when I can and hear his laugh.

"Yeah... maybe." I hear him breathe in. "I'd tell you to come—"

I shake my head slowly. "I can't."

"I know."

I press the phone to my chest so he can't hear my sharp intake of breath as I struggle to contain myself. Come on, Scarlett.

I pull the phone back to my ear with a chuckle. "I... well, I'm still at the office. I should start getting home now."

"You're still there? Is your driver waiting?"

"No, no, I gave him a break for a few days to see his daughter. I have a car."