All of You Read Free Page A

go to the bar with me.
One drink, on me. An apology for the hot chocolate.” Lincoln waited
for my answer.
    “I can't — “ I started to say but Lincoln
interrupted.
    “Yes, you can,” he said stubbornly.
    “I don’t —” I tried again.
    “Yes, you do,” Lincoln interrupted again, but
this time he held his hand out for me. I looked down at it and then
back up at his face. His eyes were hopeful and confident and so
damn sexy.
    “Can I borrow your scarf?” I asked.
    “What?”
    “Your scarf. Since you’re the one who covered
me in hot chocolate, if you’re going to force me to go to a bar
with you, you could at least give me your scarf to cover the
stain,” I said teasingly.
    Lincoln’s smile broke out, and I felt myself
smile involuntarily in return. He unwrapped his scarf from around
his neck and handed it to me. I took it, situated it around my
neck, and draped it down my coat. The fabric hid the majority of
the stain and the rest would be difficult to see in a dark bar.
Lincoln extended his hand again and this time I took it as he
started leading me toward the exit of the tent. When Lincoln wasn’t
looking I pulled the scarf up to my face and inhaled deeply. Damn,
he smelled amazing.
     
    ~~~~~~~~
     
    Lincoln and I walked into Patrick’s bar with
our hands still joined. It felt awkward to hold his hand,
considering I had just met him, but it would have been more awkward
to pull my hand free. Besides, it felt nice and warm.
    The parade had ended only an hour before
midnight. By the time we left the tent and made our way through the
crowd, there was only a half hour left until the New Year
arrived.
    Patrick’s was packed with people in various
stages of alcohol impairment. There were sure to be more than a few
people who wouldn’t remember ringing in the New Year. But for the
most part, everyone seemed to be well behaved and having fun, just
extremely loud and boisterous.
    People were dressed in various paraphernalia
to help usher in the New Year. Hats, tiaras, colorful feathered
boas, and goofy, glowing plastic glasses with the numbers for the
New Year on them all added to the party atmosphere.
    The men drank beer and shouted insults at
other men while flirting with the women. The females in the bar
laughed and gossiped with each other and either welcomed or fended
off the advances of the latest drunk to hit on them. Everyone was
happy and celebrating, and it made me smile.
    It had been a long time since I had been out
having fun with other people. It’s not like I was a hermit. I had
fun at work with my coworkers, but I didn’t have anyone other than
my family who cared to spend time with me doing fun things.
    A sense of dread inched into my mind, making
me question why Lincoln would want to spend time with me. I
reminded myself he was just trying to apologize for covering me in
chocolate and I felt silly for reading too much into this.
    “Is this all right?” Lincoln asked, looking
down at me and squeezing my hand. I didn’t know if he was referring
to the bar or to holding my hand but I gave him a small smile and
nodded. Lincoln led us toward the back corner of the bar. The area
was crowded, and several tables had been pushed together.
    A man stood up on a chair and bellowed over
the crowd in our direction. “LINC!!! OVER HERE!!!” He jumped off
the chair and gave Lincoln a strong one-armed man hug. “You finally
made it!! Ken’s been here for a half hour already! What took you so
long?”
    Lincoln looked back at me and pulled me
forward as if I was the answer to the man’s question.
    The man looked at me with surprise and then
grinned at Lincoln and slapped him on the shoulder. “You dog. Does
this mean I don’t get to be your New Year’s kiss at midnight?” They
burst out in laughter.
    “Dude, I’d have to be rip-roaring drunk
before I kissed you, and even then I’m sure I could find something
better like a bag full of used jock straps!” Lincoln said and
laughed along with the