I run my fingers through the curls, setting them to make them look loose and flowy. It took me over an hour to curl my hair. I was wearing a golden A-Line Halter neck, floor-length maxi dress with ruffle beading. I decided to keep my makeup to a minimum meaning just lipstick, concealer, mascara, and blush as I wasn't feeling like doing a whole eye look, I did put on a little eyeliner thought. I put on a pair of golden earrings and flats because I can't with heels in this dress. I fix my lipstick in the mirror as I hear the bell ringing meaning people are arriving for my New Year's Eve Party.
I open the door and the first people to arrive are none other than my best friend Heidi and her husband Kevin.
"You look gorgeous as always" Heidi smiles embracing me in a hug.
"Says you!" I admire her emerald green knee-length silk dress, which went so well with her short blonde hair.
"What about me?" Kevin furrows his eyebrows. Heidi and I roll our eyes as I give Kevin a hug, "You look great as well Kev" I smile, "Sexiest man in the room as always" I joke causing Heidi to chuckle.
"Why thank you, I know" Kevin grins shoving his hands in his pockets.
....
It was now 11 pm, almost everyone who I invited was here except for a few people who had told me beforehand they wouldn't be able to make it. I couldn't help but get excited every time the doorbell rang thinking it could be Nayel but it was never him. It's so late now, I doubt he's coming. Which is fine, I just invited him as a formality he probably had other plans.
I was in the kitchen, filling in the platter with prawn tacos when I hear an all too familiar voice behind me,"Hey". I smile to myself before turning around. I hate that my heart did a thing when I heard his voice.
There stood Nayel in a black button-down shirt and black pants. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone exposing a few strands of hair on his chest and his sleeves were slightly rolled up. His hair was jelled back neatly. I haven't seen him in over a week and I don't know why I felt like I missed him.
Nayel was smiling, "Hi," I say smiling back at him.
"For the hostesses," He says handing me a bottle of wine.
I smile, "You didn't have to do that, thank you" I say before I could stop myself I wrap my arms around his neck pulling him into a hug. His hands hold onto my waist gently. This is the first time we've hugged, ever. His cologne runs into my nose reminding me of the last time we were this close and my cheeks heat up. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest.
"You look lovely" Nayel smiles yet again as we pull away from the hug and I couldn't help but turn red all over.
"You clean up nicely yourself," I say causing Nayel to smile.
I see my friend Quinn and her boyfriend Ricky standing behind us, Quinn making eyes at me and Ricky just looking over confused as to why Quinn suddenly got so excited.
"Hello there," Quinn says walking in catching Nayel's attention so he turns around to face them.
Nayel looks over at me and then smiles at Quinn and Ricky. I will never get used to him smiling, "This is my best friend Quinn and her boyfriend Ricky" I gesture towards them to Nayel.
"This is my boss, Nayel Jefferson" I say referring to him and Quinn smirks.
Nayel extends his hand, "Nice to meet you" to Quinn and then to Ricky.
"You too, I've heard so much about you," Quinn says and I narrow my eyes at her.
Nayel chuckles, "Good things I presume?"
Quinn laughs, "Unfortunately, quite the opposite"
Nayel looks at me with a smirk while I was glaring at Quinn, "Can't say I'm surprised" he shrugs.
"Why don't you guys go off and talk about dude stuff?" Quinn says looking over at Nayel then Ricky waving her fingers at them gesturing them to leave us be.
Ricky and I flash Quinn a "What the fuck" look before Ricky leads Nayel out of the kitchen. Nayel glances at me once with an amused look on his face walking out of the kitchen.
"Not funny Quinn" I glare at her, "Dude Stuff? Really?" I scowl at her.
"I feel like I interrupted your guys' second kiss" She teases and I roll my eyes.
....
It was 11:39, I was just chatting with some people. My eyes were roaming across the apartment looking for Nayel but I couldn't find him anywhere. Maybe he left? But he literally just got here at 11. I feel a little bummed he left without saying goodbye but I simply shrug it off.
I head on over to my pantry to take out a packet of salted nuts, I open the door and it closes behind me into the dark pantry lit up by the lights coming from the window when I almost jump out of my skin when I see a frame of another person. The person turned around and it was Nayel, I sigh in relief. My hand on my chest.
"What are you doing in my pantry?" I ask walking over to him, the light making his features glow.
"Sorry, I had to take a call and this was the only quiet spot." Nayel looks into my eyes as I stand opposite him, only a couple of inches between us in this tight pantry.
"And you decided to stay?" I ask and Nayel grins, "No offense but you're a weird guy"
Nayel chuckles, "Just got a bit overwhelmed, I like the peace and silence. It was either this or your bedroom and I didn't want to go into their yet" He smirks.
"What do you mean yet?" I furrow my eyebrows.
"Not until I'm invited" He smirks.
"Why would you ever be invited into my bedroom?" Were we flirting?
"I don't know" He shrugs, "Maybe for some work thing?" I roll my tongue on my teeth.
"Never thought you were someone who gets overwhelmed." I tilt my head staring at him.
"What do you mean?" Nayel questions copying me.
"You always seemed too cool for that" I shrug casually causing Nayel to chuckle.
"Thank you?" he says but it comes out as a question.
"You're really good at masking how introverted you are." I compliment him.
"I try" Nayel smiles, "can't believe you made me come here to hang out with all these employees I hate" He rolls his eyes.
"Cause they are just so awful right?" I shake my head, fake pouting at him.
Nayel takes a step towards me, "Simply unbearable" He groans.
"You aren't so bad though," He shrugs playfully.
"Why's that?" I challenge him.
"You throw a pretty decent party" Nayel smiles at me coyly.
"You showed up 2 hours late though" I raise my eyebrows.
Nayel grins, "I had things to do"
"With your girlfriend? Was she the one you were on the phone with?" I blurt out before I could stop myself.
Nayel takes another step towards me, our feet touching, "Why do you want to know if I have a girlfriend so badly?" He smirks.
I shrug, "I don't, I'm just making small talk" I lie and then move my head to stare out the window. There was a fog of tension between us, almost suffocating me.
Nayel moves a strand of my hair behind my ear and I turn my head to look into his eyes, his eyes were sparkling as they were running up and down my face, lingering on my lips.
At that very moment, I heard people counting down from 10 meaning it's almost midnight.
Nayel's hot breath was on my face as he moves a hand to my back resting it there gently, "They say if you don't kiss someone on New Year's Eve it's bad luck" I found myself saying.
Nayel flashes me a lopsided grin nodding, "yeah I've heard that too" and soon we were both leaning in. Our lips brush up against each other but we hear a loud thump in the background so we pull away and walk out of the pantry, someone had broken a vase and now it was already 12.
I turn around to see Nayel in the fully lit kitchen, "Happy New Year" Nayel smiles and bends down to place a soft kiss on my cheek, his stubble brushing up against my skin giving me goosebumps, "thanks for inviting me but I should probably head out now" he says and I see him walk out of the kitchen, he turns around gives me one last smile before disappearing from my view.
What the fuck just happened? Or didn't happen?