Maybe One Date

During the confusing days between Christmas and New Year's, a knock interrupts Ivy, who is binge-watching the Christmas movies she hasn’t had time for thanks to work. Uncuring from the warmth of the pile of blankets she has herself under, she slowly makes her way to the door. “Chris! What a lovely surprise! Come in out of the cold!” She feels her face warm. She and Chirs haven’t seen each other since before Christmas.

“Hey Lady Noel,” he glances around her space. It looks like I’m interrupting some pretty serious RR.” He smirks.

“Hey, the office is closed for such a small window this time of year, so I have to make the most of it.” She grins and invites him to join her at the table. “Did you want some hot chocolate, or were you just popping by?”

“If you don’t mind the intrusion, hot chocolate sounds lovely.” He hangs his coat on the back of the chair.

“I don’t mind, I feel like the movies are rotting my brain. And! I’d love to hear how your Christmas went.” She busies herself with the kettle and finding mugs.

“Oh, it was just like every other Christmas. Mom and Dad got me a few gifts and we spent most of the day helping the little opening presents. Becca loved the journal, by the way, thank you for that. How did your gifts go over?”

“Really well! Everyone loved them!” She beamed as she set two mugs on the table. “You know hot chocolate seems to be becoming our thing.”

“So it is.” He takes a long sip and then wraps his hand around his mug.

“So can I ask why you stopped by? I didn’t think we were at a social call level.” Ivy teases.

“Well I hadn’t seen you since the carol festival, and I wanted to ask you something, and a phone call or text just seemed lame.” He tilts his mug back and forth.

“Well, you have my attention.” Ivy leans in.

“So I know it’s still December.” Ivy nods, her face warming, “But I was wondering if you had plans for New Year's? I found out that the Museum is doing a New Year's Around the World party, and I asked the guy to hold two tickets for me. Because I know I would rather ring in the new year getting to know you and trying out different traditions than sitting at home with my family.”

“You're asking me on an actual date? Not just some fill-in for a family event?” Ivy feels the blush and takes a sip of her drink trying to have her face, she likes Chris, but…

“If you want to be technical the date can start at 12:01 January first.” He flashes her that charming smile.

“That would keep me within my rules.” It’s her turn to tilt her mug back and forth.

“I sense there is a but at the end of that sentence.” He leans in.

“It’s just… I don’t do casual relationships.” She makes a point of looking him in the eye, “I know we’ve spent this month going to events together, but I didn’t view those as dates, I viewed it as helping out a new friend.”

“What if I wasn’t asking for something casual?” Chris overs his hand across the table.

Ivy stares at it for a beat, “But you're here on temp work.” She sets the mug down leaves the table and walks over to the calendar, making space between them.

Chris doesn’t move at first, “And the guys I work for always offer me a permanent job once the temp contract is done, I could stay.” He pushes his chair away from the table.

“I can’t be the reason you stay here.” She turns away.

She hears him get up, “And what if you were? It’s not like I’m giving up a dream job or perfect life to move to some backwater town for you, and even if I was, would that really be so bad?” She can tell he's close behind her now, “And, I grew up here, my family is here, my adorable niece is here, if anything you're just a fantastically wonderful bonus about finally coming home.” He places a hand on her shoulder, silently asking her to turn around.

She faces him, “And if it doesn't work out? I won’t be the reason you run out of town in the middle of the night, nor will I give up everything to get away from you.”

“I think we are getting ahead of ourselves here, I’m asking for a date, no plans need to be made right now, I want to keep getting to know you better and we have till February to worry about me staying.” He lets his hand fall from her shoulder, taking her hand in his. “I’m just asking for a chance, that's all.”

Ivy bites her lip, thinking about the fun not dating dates they’ve had throughout December, would it all change when the magic of Christmas wore off? Would he get tired of her and leave like everyone else? Was it worth the risk? “Alright, Chirs Kringle you got yourself a date.”

His face lights up, “You mean it? I promise we’ll have a great time and if you decide you hate the party, we can come back here and watch all the cheesy movies you want!”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep now.” She laughs.

“I don’t break promises.” He says with a tone more serious than the moment required.

“So I’m learning.” She gives him a soft smile.

He drops her hand, “I’ll let you get back to your RR, and I’ll see you on New Year's, I’ll pick you up at 5:30 and we can get dinner before the event?” She picks up his coat.

“I’ll be ready with bells on.” She winks.

“Now that, I’d love to see.” He laughs as she walks him to the door. “Thanks for taking a chance.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You might regret it.” She laughs nervously.

“Somehow I doubt I’d regret an evening with a beautiful girl like you.” He winks and walks out the door.

Ivy waits till she hears his car drive off before she bursts into giggles and skips back to her pile of blankets, before she turns her movie back on she pauses for a moment to embrace the love story she might just be starting.