Party Foul - Abby Knox Page 0,50

yourself and give it to her. Trust me, those WASP-y Shoreline folks won’t know what hit ‘em.”

Levi buttered the layer after layer of the delicate phyllo dough, a painstaking process for a man with hands about as trained and agile as boxing gloves. Levi’s mitts were made for fighting, not creating golden diamond-shaped sticky pastries.

He’d come to see his YaYa for lunch and now she was teaching him how to bake.

The best part was the final step, when she instructed Levi to pour the honey over the entire thing when it came out of the oven. The bubbling was so operatic he thought the whole sticky, buttery mess might fly out of the glass pan. YaYa always had a flair for the dramatic. The thought that she shared this in common with Fiona made him smile.

There was no way Fiona would instantly fall in love with him over some homemade baklava—but then again, maybe she would.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Fiona

* * *

Even at Christmastime, doing her favorite activity—using her saved-up birthday from her grandparents to shop for small presents for her family, all of the house staff and, the staff of the governor’s office—Fiona couldn’t escape that feeling of dread, as if someone was watching her.

She strolled down River Drive, past all the glittering shops in their decked-out holiday storefront windows. December was the best time of year to be downtown. She loved the massive golden angels and the trumpets that were affixed to the sides of buildings. Every nook and cranny of every old building in this town had something. A hidden Christmas tree, sparkly lights. Wreaths. Some place to drop off “letters to Santa.” A fountain that had been strung with lights instead of flowing water, as all the water would freeze.

But even in her favorite department store, where she’d found gifts for her parents, she had an odd feeling.

Walk it off, Fiona, walk it off. You’re being paranoid. You’re also upset that things were now weird with Kaylee.

That was true. She’d phoned her friend shortly after Levi had filled her in on the truth about Christoph, but Kaylee reacted less than receptively. Her response was along the lines of “Just because you have to settle for a nobody doesn’t mean the rest of us have to.”

The words had stung. Not because Kaylee was right. But because she was sure she was losing Kaylee over this whole relationship. If she was actually going to lose a friend because of Levi, then she and better decide this thing with Levi was real once and for all.

She rode the escalator up to the top level to the men’s department, considering whether she should buy a present for Levi. Does one buy presents for one’s fake boyfriend? She found herself wishing he was here to get a feel for something he might like. He was fun to be around. Made her feel safe. She didn’t think about the sensation of being watched whenever he was around.

A gold necklace shimmered at her in the jewelry case, and she asked to look at it. It reminded her of Levi and of the necklaces he sometimes wore. Not a lot of guys can wear a necklace, but he pulled it off. When the salesperson placed it in her hand, she knew as soon as she touched it that it was perfect for Levi.

If you do this, this is it. This is a real relationship. This is what he wants, and this is you telling him that this is what you want. You don’t buy necklaces for someone if you’re not interested in commitment.

That was it. She made a decision. And that decision was then boxed and gift wrapped with a festive red bow.

She thanked the salesperson and bolted to the escalator with her load of shopping bags, and was out the door before she could change her mind and return it.

Fiona found her feet continuing to wander down toward the end of the shopping district, through the museum district, then past Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, the white limestone cathedral that to her was the most beautiful landmark in the entire city. It didn’t get a lot of play when one saw the skyline of Newcastle, but whenever she would see the skyline or the silhouette, she always knew right where it was. Right between the Ecco Corp skyscraper and the stately Baldwin Insurance building with its clock tower that overlooked the river. It was there, in the financial district, across the bridge from the touristy Riverwalk, with