Chapter 4

I realized I was still holding his phone. “I’m just going to send myself a few of the photos,” I said.

“Alright,” he said as he watched me program my number into his contacts. I messaged myself the entire set of pictures we had taken. I suppose that was a great excuse to make sure I left him with my number.

After handing him back his phone, I asked, “Do you mind if I post one of these to Instagram?”

He hesitated, then said, “Go for it.”

“I won’t tag you or anything. Not that I even know your last name.”

“Bullock.”

Bullock.

Adam Bullock.

Meredith Bullock.

Adam and Meredith Bullock.

Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bullock.

The Bullocks.

I laughed inwardly at my ridiculous thoughts, as I stared down at our photo. “Do you want me to tag you?”

He shook his head. “I’m not on Instagram.”

“Are you too cool for social media?” I teased.

“I went on there to see what the hype was all about once and accidentally liked someone’s photo from five years ago. Figured that made me look like a creep, so I vowed never to go on there again.”

I was cracking up. “I hate when that happens.”

After uploading my favorite photo of us—one where his arm was around me, I applied the Gingham filter and the hashtags: #AnUberChristmas #NewFriend #DontKnowHimFromAdam #ClarkKent

“Let me see,” he said, taking the phone from me. He stared at the photo and rolled his eyes. “Clark Kent, huh?”

“You remind me of him…in a good way.”

“My muscles?”

I giggled. “Your glasses. But now that you mention it…your muscles, too.” I felt my cheeks heat up after offering him that compliment.

Adam began to scroll through my other photos, most of which were of food. “Now, I see where most of your money goes. You’re a foodie.”

“Yes. I love taking elaborate photos of my meals in various lighting.”

“You’re very artistic.”

I couldn’t tell if he was bullshitting me. “Thank you.”

When he handed me back my phone, his hand landed on mine for a few seconds.

As much as I’d hoped to see him again, I honestly couldn’t fully read him. He’d alluded to the fact that he chose to remain single after losing his girlfriend to cancer in his twenties. Did that mean he wanted to be single forever?

How old is he anyway?

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-one,” he answered. “You?”

“Twenty-eight.” I smiled. “’Bout time I got my shit together, right?”

“Nah. You’re good. You don’t need to do anything differently.”

I shrugged. “I would hardly say that.”

“You’re a bright, attractive woman who stopped her life to take care of her sick grandmother. You’re just getting back on your feet between that and your douchnozzle ex throwing you that curveball.”

Once again, his words had soothed my soul somehow. Maybe I needed to take a bit of Adam’s advice, take my fate into my own hands. I got the sudden urge to ask him if he’d want to hang out sometime in the New Year. Maybe he was the type of guy who needed a clear signal, especially if he was closed off when it came to women.

My heart started to beat faster as I readied to pose my bold question.

Before the words had a chance to escape my mouth, the car skidded on some ice, sending us into a snow bank.

This time, Adam had come crashing into my direction. I felt his large hand on my knee.

“Are you okay?” he asked before promptly removing it.

No, put it back.

“Yeah,” I said as my heart pounded from the adrenaline rush.

The car wasn’t moving. The tires were rolling but we weren’t getting any traction. We were now stuck in the snow.

Crap! I was going to be late for my hearing.

The driver finally said, “You guys better go. I think I’m gonna be here for a while. The courthouse is only a couple of blocks that way. You can walk.”

I looked at the time on my phone and turned to Adam. “I’m actually running late. I have to go.” I waited a bit for him to say something, to give him a chance to make a move, but he just looked at me.

After I reluctantly exited the car, I realized he was getting out, too, and coming around to where I was standing on the sidewalk.

“Let’s go,” he said.

I perked up. “You’re coming with me?”

“Yeah. I’m going to the courthouse, too. That was always the plan.”

I hadn’t realized that, even though it made sense, given that he was an attorney.

“Oh, for some reason, I didn’t think we were going to the same exact place.”

As we trudged through the snow together, I no longer felt brave enough to ask him out. That car mishap had apparently knocked the courage right out of me, or maybe knocked some sense into me.

When we arrived at the entrance, I had to wait in a long line, while Adam could breeze right through the attorney only door. I held out a last bit of hope that maybe he’d ask to see me again, but was disappointed when he merely gave me a wave.

“Good luck today, Meredith. Whatever you do, just be extra nice to the plaintiff’s attorney, and I’m sure you’ll get what you need.”

I half-heartedly smiled. “Thanks. It was nice meeting you, Clark Kent.”

He walked through the metal detectors and yelled back to me in line. “You, too, beautiful.”

“All rise. The Civil Court of the City of New York is now in session, the Honorable Daniel Ebenezer presiding. Everyone please remain standing until the judge has entered and is seated.”

Daniel Ebenezer? Really? I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried. I was about to be tossed out on my ass by Scrooge on Christmas Eve? I started to laugh because it was so absurd. The bailiff shot me a warning glare, so I managed to turn my laughter into a cough until I settled down.

A judge in a black robe took his seat and everyone in the courtroom followed his lead. He put on reading glasses and buried his nose in some papers, then looked over at the bailiff. “Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started. Call the first damn case.”

Great. Just great. He really was Scrooge.

The bailiff cleared his throat. “Schmidt Real Estate Holdings vs. Eden. Docket number 1468944R.”

Wow. I’m first.

Nerves hit me full force as I stood and approached the little gate that separated the players from the audience. The bailiff nodded for me to enter and pointed to the right side of the courtroom where there was a lonely looking empty table.

A minute later, the squeaky little gate opened and closed again, and a suit walked over to the table on the other side of the court. I was so nervous that I hadn’t even looked over to check out my adversary…until I heard his voice.

“Your honor. Adam Bullock representing Schmidt Real Estate Holdings. We’ve been in discussions with the plaintiff and request an adjournment.”

My head whipped to Adam. Adam was my nemesis? And what was he doing requesting an adjournment?

The judge inched his glasses down his nose and spoke over them. “This case has already been adjourned once, Counselor. My docket is not your playground. Why can’t this be heard or settled today?”

Adam looked over at me. “Your honor, Miss Eden has provided some evidence that she may be entitled to succession rights. We’d like a little time to authenticate that evidence.”

The judge glanced over at me. “I take it you’re fine with this adjournment, Miss Eden?”

I was so stunned that I could barely speak. “Umm. Yes. Yes, Your Honor. Yes, I am. That would be great.”

The judge scribbled something down and spoke without looking up. “Re-calendared for Tuesday, February 14th, and I expect this to be worked out on that date.” He banged his gavel, and I stood there in shock.

I’m not evicted?

It’s over?

Oh my God.

My mouth hung open. I continued to stand there and just stare into space.

Adam walked over and extended a paper my way. His voice was all business. “You’ll need to fill this out, Miss Eden.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I just took the paper from his hand. “Oh. Okay. Thank you.”

Adam lifted his chin to the bailiff, and, without another glance my way, he was gone. By the time I finally lifted my jaw off the floor, he was already walking through the courtroom door into the lobby.

I picked up my purse and shook my head in disbelief. Outside of the courtroom, I looked around. Adam was nowhere in sight. This was the craziest day ever. I waited a few minutes to see if he’d come back to talk to me, but he didn’t. So, eventually I headed to the ladies’ room, and figured I’d call an Uber once I was done.

But when I went into the bathroom, I started to fold up the paper in my hand—the paper I’d completely forgotten that Adam had handed me—and noticed that there was something written in pen on it.

Meet me outside. I’ll get the Uber.

My heart started to pound. Oh my God. Forgetting I needed to pee, I took off for the front door of the courthouse. Through the whiteout conditions of the snow, I saw Adam getting into a Town Car. I didn’t bother to waste time with my jacket or hood; I just made a run for it—slipping and sliding all the way, barely avoiding falling twice to get to the curb.

Adam opened the car door with a giant smile and laughed. “Get in here. You’re going to break something.”

I was out of breath and on a high when I slammed the car door shut. “I can’t believe it was you!”

“Guess there is a such thing as luck after all.”

“I…I have no idea how to thank you.”

He winked. “That’s okay. I have a few ideas.”

The car slowed to a stop. Adam wouldn’t tell me where we were going, but we definitely weren’t heading to the airport or back to my apartment. But, I didn’t care. I never wanted to get out of this Uber. Not only was I sitting next to a hot guy who smelled good, but he’d saved my ass from being homeless on Christmas Eve—from Ebenezer Scrooge, of all people. I had no doubt that the judge would have evicted me had things not worked out the way it did.

Adam opened the door, and I looked up at where we were. “Rockefeller Center?”

“You said you loved the tree. Figured our flights were probably delayed anyway.” He shrugged. “And if we miss them…that wouldn’t be such a bad thing either, would it?”

I beamed from ear to ear. “No, it definitely wouldn’t be.”

Adam exited the Town Car and held out his hand to help me out. He didn’t let go even after the Uber started to pull away. His hand was warm and so much bigger than my little one. We walked side by side to the tree. I really did love it here. Rockefeller Center at Christmas was a magical place, even if I didn’t get my proposal.

Adam and I stood and stared up at the tree. He looked at me and then stopped a couple walking by. “Excuse me. Would you mind taking a picture of us in front of the tree?”

They both smiled. “No, not at all.”

Adam fiddled with his cell and handed it to the woman.

“You ready, beautiful?”

I’d assumed he meant to smile big for the camera. So I did.

But obviously he had something else in mind. He grabbed me into his arms. “Meredith Grab-my-junk Eden, you stole my Uber, snapped photos so I can lie to my mother, and made me commit perjury to a judge today, and yet I haven’t smiled this much on Christmas Eve in years. Will you do me the honor of putting this picture in the empty frame on your desk?”

I laughed. “I’d love to.”

With a big smile on both our faces, Adam bent me backwards into a deep dip, and planted his lips over mine.

It just goes to show that with a little luck, fairy tales can come true, despite Ebenezer Scrooge.

THE END

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Much Love,

Vi & Penelope