Resolutions and Revelations

Chapter 1

Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of wait staff, event planning underlings, AV technicians, and more, Lily turned in a circle regarding all of her hard work. The final jewel in her crown of twenty twenty-four. Event planning had always been what she had wanted to do, and at the height of her career, she couldn’t be happier. At least that’s what she told herself.

A waiter passed by with a tray of canapes, the guests for the event had started to trickle in and it was a choreographed effort to make sure all fifteen different canapes and appetizers made it past every guest. She poached a mushroom cap, with a nod of thanks, thinking back Lily couldn’t remember when the last full meal for her had been.. Maybe Saturday? Today was Tuesday.. That wasn’t too bad for her. Really. 

“Ok boss, we are hitting go-time.” Danica sidled up to Lily. She was Lily’s right-hand and had a love for sports vernacular. It wouldn’t have surprised Lily at all if Danica ever said, “Put me in coach!”

“And everything is going according to plan? Any last minute calls you’ve been hiding from me?” She asked with a smile.

Danica shook her head, “Servers are dressed and lined up ready to circulate, the quartet has set up on the corner, the planted singers know their times for their performances, and the only thing left is for you to go get into your gala outfit.”  

Lily sighed, she didn’t want to have to wear the outfit, her job was done, she wanted to stay in the background. Glancing at her watch she had to admit Danica was right, the gala was going to be a long one. The doors opened at four, giving the event a whole eight hours to wine and dine, dance, and bid on the silent auction, with all funds raised going to the Kids Hospital in the city. 

“Are you sure that there are no emergency details I can take care of first?” 

Grinning, Danica shook her head. “No but you could tell me what your resolutions are going to be.”  Danica had worked long enough with Lily to know that not only did Lily plan out and think REALLY hard about her resolutions, but she also kept them on her phone at the ready so that if she ever accomplished one she’d have the satisfaction of crossing it off right away. 

Lily pulled her phone out of her pocket. Opening up her 2024 Resolutions note - she frowned. Despite all of her good intentions, none of the habit forming resolutions had stuck. 

1. Get a dog, or start walking dogs - Nope, she didn’t have the time for that kind of commitment.

2. Try out a new fitness routine - Lily used the excuse that all the running around she did for her events was exercise enough.

3. Call her sister more - She was still working on this one… despite it being December Thirty-First

This list continues for another twelve items, if Lily was honest with herself, the resolutions never really stuck because they were more superficial than anything. 

Danica knew the whole list, and she knew what had and hadn’t been accomplished on the list, but was always willing to support Lily in her resolutions. 

“You know what?” Lily looked at Danica, “I have one more for this list. I don’t want this year to be a complete bust.”

“Now don’t be that hard on yourself,” Danica interjected. “You have accomplished so much this year, who cares if they weren’t on your list of resolutions. Just because they aren’t on ‘The List’ doesn’t mean they don’t count.”

Lily waved Danica’s comments away. “I know but you know what number fifteen is going to be…. Find Love, Have a real, messy, spontaneous romance.”

“Oh… and this is going to happen in the next…” Danica glanced at her watch, “ seven and a half hours?” 

“Details! If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s definitely the details.” Lily grinned at Danica, “Don’t you have to get changed too? You go first, I just want to do one more walk around and make sure everything is how I want it to be and then we can switch out.” 

Lily surveyed the ballroom, the colour theme for the event had been blues and silvers, a classic colour scheme if there ever was one, but Lily couldn’t fault the clients for it.In the pristine white of the ballroom, the colours blended so fluidly that it was… magical. She didn’t have any other word for it. 

She quickly looked over her resolution list again. She had managed to cross some of the things off her list, but Danica hadn’t been wrong, her latest declaration did seem a little far fetched. But ever the go-getter, she diligently typed resolution number fifteen for the year 2024. 

Find Love. Have a real, messy spontaneous romance. 

Chapter 2

“Excuse me, I was wondering who I would talk to about spontaneous romance?” 

“What?” Lily looked up sharply. Had this guy looked at her phone? Or was he eavesdropping when she was talking to Danica?

“Hi, I’m Max, and I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation with yourself.” He said with a grin.

Lily did a mental facepalm. She’d been saying the words as she’d typed them into the phone. Could this get any more mortifying?  

“Really, I’m not making fun of you. I admire your decisive attitude for such a strong resolution at the last hour.” When Max grinned, there was a dimple that Lily could eat ice cream out of, given the chance. 

“Right… You were definitely not supposed to hear any of that.”  Lily willed her cheeks to stop flushing, but that had never worked in the past and unsurprisingly it didn’t start working now. 

“Surely you’ve been romanced before though, you’re stunning.” Max continued.

Lily wasn’t sure if this was a good compliment or if she just wanted the ground to swallow her whole. 

Max was a fine specimen to look at. Easily pushing six foot four, with broad shoulders and the dimple. Oh that dimple! His hair had a cow lick in the front that despite Max’s best efforts and gel, it still was resistant to submission. Lily had a cousin whose hair was rebellious like Max’s and the only way he’d ever successfully won that battle was to shave it right off. 

“It was nothing, just a whim while I was talking to my co-worker.” Lily waved it away, Max didn’t know that her resolutions were practically gospel.

“I don’t know, you seem like someone who takes them kind of serious, I mean you did type it into your phone.” Max flagged down one of the servers as they passed by with another tray of canapes. Lily eyed the platter, this one had minute crab cakes on it, and she couldn’t resist that. 

“Let’s make a bet. If I can make you fall for me before the ball drops in eight hours, I win. But if I fail, I’ll make your next year’s resolutions for you.”

“How are you going to make my resolutions for me?” Lily asked, too stunned to process the rest of Max’s statement. 

“I don’t know, I didn’t think that part through, I’m just hoping I win the bet. Do we have a deal?”  Max shoved his hand forward to shake, wiggling his fingers at Lily. 

She eyed the hand as if it might reach out at attack. 

“It won’t bite” 

“Fine, what’s the worst that can happen?”

“Excellent! So first we need to try to eat all the appetizers.” Max rubbed his hands together, like a kid in a candy shop, making a plan of attack for scoring the best candies. 

“Right… First I need to get changed and there are over fifteen different appetizers for this event, for just the first round. Good luck with that. I guess I’ll meet you …” Lily looked over the ballroom, “Over by the ice reindeer sculpture in twenty minutes?” 

“Absolutely.” Max grinned and turned on his heel, leaving Lily to wonder what she had just agreed to, and how was he going to pull it off while she was working the actual event. 

“Your turn! The glam squad that you hired is phenomenal, look at me!  I look like a professional snow princess!” Danica did a twirl to show off her transformation. 

Lily smiled, if only she could feel that comfortable all dressed up like Danica did. “You are never going to guess what just happened.” 

“If it has anything to do with that gorgeous tall man that you were shaking hands with, you are right because where my mind went is most definitely not what happened. Did you guys make a sex pact?”

“A Sex pact? I don’t even know the guy…” 

Danica grinned, “You don’t need to, Silly, those shoulders are meant for ankles.” 

Lily blushed. She wasn’t a prude by any means but Danica was just a little more forthcoming and open about her sexual appetites and preferences.

*****

Twenty minutes later, fully primped and flustered by the difference the glam squad had made, Lily walked into the ballroom, questioning whether she was really going to go through with this insane bet. 

“Lily…” Max met her at the ice sculpture. “I practically have to lift my jaw up off the floor. You look… amazing!”

“What did I look like before?” she asked, in embarrassed shock. 

“Oh you were still beautiful before, but whatever you changed, you look like royalty now.” 

“Oh… well thank you?”  This profusion of compliments was not an everyday occurrence for Lily. 

Did he just say she was beautiful?  When was the last time someone had said that to her?

Danica came up to Lily’s elbow, looking between Max and Lily. “Am I interrupting anything?” 

Lily shook her head, “No, not at all. Max was just commenting on the skill of the glam squad. Is there anything I need to know about?”

Danica laughed. “You planned the event, so no there’s nothing going haywire yet, the first guest singer has arrived and is ready to go on in five minutes, but other than that you can breathe for the moment.”

Lily nodded. “Ok, sounds good. And Danica… Thank you. In case we get caught up later, Happy New Years.”

Danica gave Lily a quick hug and then scooted off into the guests, to make sure everything continued to go smoothly.

“Guest singers?”  Max asked. 

“The client didn’t want to pay for a full band with a singer, so we compromised and we planted singers in the guest list, who will come at staged times and sing with the string quartet, so that all the music won’t be instrumental, and it’ll just look like one of their many guests has a surprising talent. You know, gotta keep the magic alive.” 

“Should you be telling me these trade secrets?”

“For some reason, I’m not sure you were really supposed to be on the guest list, based on your blase attitude towards formal wear and your decided use of time placing a bet with… the staff.”

Max waved away Lily’s insinuations. “I can be rich and stuffy with the best of them but really where is the fun in that.” Max flashed his dimples at Lily, and continued. “Besides, correct me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure your assistant just told you, you had time to take a breather…. So, that means step one in our bet can commence.”

“There are steps?” Lily raised her eyebrows.

“Well by my calculations we have…” Max paused and made a theatrical point of looking at his watch and doing some mental math in the air, “six hours and thirty-eight, no thirty-seven minutes. Come come, time is of the essence.”

Lily laughed, shaking her head. 

I guess I’m really going through with this. 

“Well then lead the way my hunk of a leading man… let’s get spontaneous?”

“That’s the spirit!” Max reached out, grasping Lily’s hand, and firmly placed it in the crook of his elbow. “Now, here’s your mission if you choose to accept it. We must make sure no one suspects a thing. Always docile, with a firm smile in place, but let the shenanigans begin.”

Lily followed where Max led, unsure that spontaneity was a characteristic that she had, but she was going to do her damndest to give it a try.

“First, are baby steps.” Max started with a sparkle in his eye. “I’m assuming you know what the entire menu is, off by heart, and what all the appetizers are… right?”

Lily nodded. She’d only been breathing, sleeping and dreaming about this menu for months. 

“Good, now I need you to make up one that isn’t on the menu, one that sounds appalling and delicious at the same time.”

“Why would I do that?  Um… ok Squid, battered in a cranberry glaze? Two good things, but put together could be good, could be bad?”

“Oh I like your style.” Max patted Lily’s hand on his arm, like a patronizing grandpa. “Now, we’re going to talk about it like it was the absolute best appetizer we’ve had yet tonight. The goal… is to make one of the other guests request it from a server.”

“The chef is going to hate us!” Lily gasped. 

“He’ll never know it was us, I promise.”

The professional, and rule-abiding side of Lily rebelled against this idea, but the part of her who wanted that messy, real and spontaneous Love, said, if she really wanted to find it, she was going to have to step out of the box, and blur a couple lines. Maybe not as far as a felony, but making a chef crazy… that was a simple enough thing… right?

“Ok… so what do we do?” Lily looked at Max, he was the guru of how to be spontaneous it seemed, she needed his guidance. 

“We need to find someone who looks like they love appetizers, and then place ourselves in their vicinity but not in direct contact. Remember we can’t have this traced back to us.”

“Are you a spy? Or someone who works in politics, planting rumours about other candidates?”

Max shook his head, “Nope, just have had my fair share of time in these stuffy events, to know how to make my own fun.” 

Lily frowned. Her event wasn’t stuffy, was it?

Glancing at Lily’s face, Max saw the error in his ways. “Not saying that this event is stuffy, but it’s not exactly how I would normally spend my time if my attendance wasn’t required. You know?”

Lily sighed, she let his comment pass, but wondered at his required attendance, she knew the guest list off by heart, unless Max was a last minute plus one, which would make him a horrible date for whomever he came with, or he’d snuck in, his name didn’t ring any bells for her. 

“That guy over there.” Max gestured with his head, tilting it in the direction of a portly gentleman, he had a napkin already in his hand, and his wife was idly wiping away some stray crumbs that had fallen off his walrus moustache. “I know the Bennett’s, they are the couple standing behind our mark, they’ll play along with this.”

This was obviously not the first time Max had done something like this, but it was harmless enough. 

“Thad! Patsy! How are you two doing?” Max called out across the floor, pulling Lily with him. Lily flushed as people turned to look at who had the audacity to yell across a ballroom. Of course she was stuck to his arm, and just hoped that the Washburns, the client hosting the event, didn’t notice her on the arm of a guest. 

“Max!” The man named Thad shook hands with Max, clapping a hand on his elbow. “You never stay away from these things do you?” 

Max laughed and shook his head, “Do I have a choice?”

“Thad, Patsy, meet Lily, she’s the hostess with the mostess, not really she’s the brains behind this whole soiree.” 

“Nice to meet you.” Lily smiled at the new faces. “Are you having a good time so far?”

“Oh Lily, it’s exquisite!  The ice reindeer is phenomenal, and everything has been delicious that’s passed by, I mean the Washburn’s events are never disappointing but the level of design on this one, is absolutely breathtaking!” Patsy gushed. 

“I’m so glad to hear it. And you said the canapes have been good?” Lily felt the blatant elbow in her side, from her companion. Now was her chance! “Have you tried the Cranberried Squid?”  

Patsy’s face blanched at the suggestion. 

Oh no, maybe it’s not going to be an easy sell.

“It’s amazing! Sounds horrible, but an absolute must try, the chef created it specially for this event, pulled out all the gastronomic stops, is what Lily was telling me earlier.” Max cut in. 

That man could sell anything. Maybe that was how he’d gotten in?

Thad and Patsy nodded along with Max’s spiel, not looking completely sold on the idea but willing to humour him and discuss the merits of its appeal. 

“It’s working.” Max whispered as he leaned into Lily’s shoulder. Goosebumps raced down her bare shoulders as she felt the caress of Max’s breath when he spoke to her.  “Mr. Portly is looking around at the servers, trying to spy our concoction.”

Lily glanced over her shoulder, Mr. Portly, an apt name if there ever was one, was gesturing at a server. She watched as the server made his approach. 

“Get ready to move.” he whispered again. 

“Move?”

“We can’t be seen here when Mr. Portly asks, you can’t get caught remember?” 

“What are you two whispering about?” Thad asked with a twinkle in his eye.

“Oh, I was just telling Lily about the secret passageways in this hotel and about how I wanted to show her them, if you’ll excuse us…” Max smoothly pulled Lily away, while she nodded her thanks and pleasantries to Thad and Patsy as they left.  Just over her shoulder her ear picked up on the mention of cranberries and squid… they’d done it! Mr. Portly had asked a server for the fake canape!

Chapter 3

Lily looked around the ballroom, Max had gone to get refreshments, a festive mocktail for herself, and whatever he chose. Danica gave her the thumbs up across the room, letting her know that everything was still going smoothly. This was the first time Lily had ever taken a step back at one of her own planned events, she was trying to learn to let go of the reins a bit, and Danica had been working with her for the last six years, so there was no question the woman knew what she was doing. Although, she did wonder how the request for the fake appetizer would go over. She smiled to herself. Maybe stepping out of her comfort zone really wasn’t that bad. 

“Your beverage my lady.”

“Oh why thank you my liege.” Lily curtseyed to Max, as she took her glass. 

“Now who’s the fancy one?” Max asked with a smirk.

“What, just because I like to follow rules doesn’t mean there aren’t a few secrets in this dress.” She smiled and took a sip of her mocktail, it was really just sparkling water and cranberry juice but it hit the spot. 

Max’s eyes roved over Lily’s dress, his gaze heating, “I’m sure there are some secrets in there.”

Oh… was he looking at Lily like he was undressing her with his eyes? 

Lily smiled. “So, we’ve tricked some poor guest into asking for something that doesn’t exist… I’m not sure how that is supposed to help you make me fall in love with you though?  What’s your next step Romeo?”

“I was always more of a Mercutio, and no you might not be in love with me yet, but I have loosened you up a bit, your smile is softer now.” 

She lifted her hand to her lips.

Her smile? How did this man come up with the sweetest things to say so easily? Did her heart just flutter? Was there a stipulation if Max won the bet? Was he going to win the bet?

“Mercutio dies though.” Lily blurted out, trying to distract herself from the flurry of thoughts in her head. 

“True, but for the right reasons.” Max winked. “So, step two on my intrepid task of making you fall in love with me…”  Max looked around the ballroom. A shadow passed over his eyes as Lily watched him, but he quickly blinked it away and turned his full attention back to Lily. 

“I think you need to be a guest singer at your own fete.”

“No” Lily immediately took a step back. “I cannot do that, all that attention, what if I’m not good, I’m definitely not part of the singing plants, and the Washburns would not appreciate me warbling along with the quartet.”

Max looked over the crowd of party goers again. “The Washburns aren’t here yet, they like to make an entrance and will show up closer to when dinner is served. Besides, I think that as part of this bet, we should set up a stipulation that you can’t say no, as long as it isn’t putting your life in danger.”

“But it could put my job in danger.”

“I’ll hire you if you get fired. Who is your boss, I’m sure we could talk to them and get it smoothed out.”

Lily looked down at her hands. She was the boss, but she wasn’t about to admit it at this very moment. 

“I’ll sing with you.” Max threaded his fingers through hers, smiling he tugged her along to where the quartet was set up. “Do you know Baby It’s Cold Outside?”

“Wasn’t that song you know, cancelled?” Lily whispered, trying to tamp down the nerves and mortification that were threatening to overwhelm her. 

Was she really going to do this?

“It might’ve been but it’s a classic and a duet, how else was I going to sing with you?” Max pointed out, with the microphone that one of the players in the quartet had handed him. 

“Remember no-one knows you if you suck, and they’ll just think you’re drunk, And if you’re good, well it’s a bonus!”

“Gee, thanks… so my only options are suck and act like a drunk or surprise everyone because they have such low expectations of me?” Lily deadpanned. “When you put it that way, how can I say no?”

I really can’t stay

Oh but it’s cold outside

I have to go away

But it’s cold outside

This evening has been,

So very nice

Lily’s hands shook as she held the microphone, singing the lyrics to one of her all-time favourite christmas songs, with a tower of a man, who was opening up windows and doors in front of her, for her to explore. When was the last time she’d sang?

As the final notes, rang out and their harmonies blended, Lily took a breath. 

I will not cry, I will not cry. Why was that her mantra? 

She couldn’t shake the feeling off for lack of better word to describe it, a shell was falling off of her.  She looked to Max. He was staring at her like she had three heads. 

“What? What is it? Was I bad? Did I mess up?” Throwing up her hands to her face in mortification, she passed the microphone back to one of the musicians and stepped away quickly, trying to back away from Max and disappear in the crowd.

Her movements shook Max into action. “You were amazing! I assumed you could probably sing, you look like you could sing, but I didn’t not expect that.” He followed Lily into the ballroom, reaching out to catch up with her as she made her way… away. 

Where was she going to go? Maybe this was all a bad idea. She should just go into the back, grab her clipboard, and just double check something. That would put her back on the right track. 

“Lily, wait up… where are you going?” Max followed her through the guests, unaware of the stares he was drawing, or oblivious, Lily wasn’t sure. Max’s hand clasped onto Lily’s pulling her to a stop. 

She turned around, bumping into Max, chest to chest, he placed her left hand in his, and looped his arm around her to his waist, “Since we’re on the dance floor, we’ll definitely blend in more if we’re dancing.”

Lily tried to shake her head, but they were so close she risked hitting Max with it. “I don’t know who you are Max, but I can’t just go and be free like that. It’s scary, and uncomfortable.” 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that I would be putting you into such a precarious position.” Max murmured into her neck, as they moved in slow circles. “But nothing bad came of it.”

Lily sighed, he wasn’t wrong, but this was who she was. She was strait-laced, detail oriented, one to be counted on always, the reliable sister, trusted confidante. Not the singer at parties, not the joker who makes up fake foods. What was happening to her?

“Did you know that when you sing, your whole demeanour changes?” Max continued. “You used to sing, didn’t you?”

Lily nodded. 

“And you don’t anymore? Not even Karaoke?”

She shook her head. 

“Why?”

“I don’t know, I just didn’t make time for it, it was time for me to grow up and do the adult things?” She shrugged. 

“You know you can do fun things AND be an adult right?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I should check in with Danica anyway.”

Max shook his head, “Oh no you don’t get out of this that fast, I’ll let you have the ‘I need to be an adult’ story if that’s what you need to tell yourself but you aren’t in love with me yet and I still have four hours and twenty-three minutes to go.” 

“Yes, and dinner is about to be served, which means you need to go find your seat, because the Washburns will be here any minute… according to you.” Lily looked around the edges of the ballroom, trying to spy Danica in the midst. 

“Fine, but I’m not done yet! I will eat as fast as humanly possible, I still have some tricks up these highly tailored sleeves on mine.” 

Chapter 4

“What has gotten into you?” Danica asked with a grin on her face, as Lily cut through the guests. 

“What?”  Lily tried to play as if she didn’t know what Danica was talking about. She’d have to be a fool to think that Danica wouldn’t have noticed the singing. She might’ve gotten away with the fake appetizer. 

“You sang. At an event. And you were good.” 

“Thanks, I think.” Trying to ignore the incredulous tone in Danica’s voice at Lily being good at singing. “Has anything come up?”

There was a delicate ringing of the bells throughout the ballroom, a signal for all the guests to really find their seats. The Washburns were nothing if not theatrical. Danica and Lily stepped further to the side, letting some of the party revellers past. 

“Nothing really, have you spent this whole time with Shoulders? Oh the chef was upset for a couple minutes, there was a weird request for an appetizer but I got him calmed down and distracted.” 

“An appetizer? Shoulders? The guy’s name is Max, and he’s just showing me how to live more spontaneously.”  Lily shrugged, downplaying just how shaken up Max had left her. 

“Yeah, some guest was asking for squid in cranberries?” Danica’s face was a picture of disgust, her opinion of the squid idea. 

*****

“And that’s the final course,” Lily looked down the list of food specs, everything had gone off without a hitch. All the guests had sat at their assigned seats so there was no shuffling of meals for the dietary restrictions. 

The next part of the event was the dancing, yes there had been dancing before the dinner but now the whole ballroom floor was going to be opened up.The servers were clearing the dishes and moving the tables out of the way, while the guests made their way out to where the silent auction had been set up. The Washburn’s had planned their speech over the auction items. 

Danica was directing the servers to where the tables should go, they were still going to need some set up for the dessert buffet that would come out at eleven thirty, and then a poutine buffet at twelve thirty. If the Washburns were anything, it was not stingy. They didn’t hold back on anything. Full wallets, full bellies, seemed to be their motto.

“Well, I thought that was never going to end.” Max snuck up beside Lily’s elbow. 

“Was the meal not to your liking? Perhaps missing some squid?” She grinned at Max, feeling a glow in her chest that he’d come back and sought her out again. These feelings needed to be shut down. It was just a bet, this was just a game to Max. But what was it becoming to her?

“Everything was delicious, though there were a few things that I found missing from the menu.” Max passed a heated glance over Lily’s lips, and pulled the clipboard out of Lily’s hands, “You don’t need this. I’m sure your assistant has everything well in hand.” 

“But… you know this is my job.” She attempted to argue.

“Yes, and if anything bad happens I’ll fix it, but so far this event has gone off without a hitch despite a very odd request for Squid in cranberries and a rogue singer taking over the microphone with the quartet. Now let’s go spend some money… shall we?”

“Money?” Lily confusedly followed Max, through the guests to where the silent auction was taking place. 

“Have you looked at the items yet?” He asked.

Lily shook her head, “No, I’ve had no reason to. I let another team of my planners take care of it. I figured the ballroom, and all the meals was more than enough for Danica and I to tackle.”

Max nodded. “I suppose that’s a valid excuse. But come, let’s look anyway.”

They scooted along the tables, and displays. Paintings, jewelry, vacation stays and spa packages, the auction had something for everybody. Max was writing his name, willy-nilly on half the items. 

“What are you doing?” Lily asked, alarmed. “Can you even afford to win all these things?”

Max grinned over his shoulder as he signed his name on yet another item. 

“And of course we’d be remiss in not thanking the staff that have helped put on this incredible event. And for everyone who is reaching into their pockets for the auction. I’m sure Tobias would appreciate it just as much, but you know how those who have cheated death are, they want to embrace all that they have. Which is why he seems to be ever so elusive at these events.” 

The Washburn’s were wrapping up their speech as Max and Lily left the auction area. 

“Do you even know how many things you put your name on?” 

Max shook his head. “No, I’m sure I’ll find out what I’ve won by the end of the night if not early tomorrow.” 

Lily was flabbergasted.

Who was this man? What was he doing with her?

Chapter 5

“Let’s dance… Come on, I can hear the music starting up. You need to show off this dress!” Max threaded his fingers through Lily’s and pulled her into his arms, rocking from side to side in the middle of the dance floor. He led her into a dip, and Lily couldn’t contain the surprise of laughter that bubbled up.

“We’ve already danced!”

“Yeah, but that was the unofficial dancing, I just wanted you in my arms, now it’s serious.”

Other guests followed Max’s lead, and slowly joined Lily and Max on the dance floor. 

“Maybe I need to hire you as an official ‘party starter’, to help get people on the dance floor like this.” She murmured as she snuggled closer into Max’s arms. 

“Are you falling for me yet?” He whispered.

“I don’t know.” Lily’s heart skipped a beat at the question. 

Was she falling for him?

 Max had taken her out of her comfort zone in a matter of hours. She lifted her head up to look into Max’s eyes. Maybe they would be able to tell her what she needed to know.

He met her gaze straight on. “Are you weighing your options?” Max’s gaze fell to her lips, his grip tightening on her hand and at her waist. 

Lily bit her lip, was he going to kiss her? What would it be like? She hadn’t kissed anyone before in a span of six hours, but how else would she find a spontaneous and messy romance. That’s what she was looking for right? She should go for it. 

“Tobias! I thought that was you.” A mature voice cut through Lily’s thoughts. 

“Oh Mrs. Washburn, how are you enjoying the event, is everything going the way you had hoped?” Lily asked as she stepped out of Max’s - or were they Tobias’s - arms.

“Oh yes, Ms. Michaels, everything is beautiful, it looks like the auction will have raised even more funds for the hospital than in previous years. You and your team have done a wonderful job. And you’ve found my truant son.”

“Son? Right, Tobias you said. He was looking for something and I was just giving him directions.” Lily took another step back, leaving Mrs. Washburn with Max, the imposter. “I’m sure you can find what you’re looking for on your own now, right, Tobias?” Lily’s face flushed as she said Max’s real name and continued stepping backward until it was a safe enough distance to turn and flee. 

“Lily!” 

She heard Max call her name as she headed towards the kitchens. The Chef was maniacally strict about who could and couldn’t come into the kitchen, so she was reasonably confident that she could hide out in there for the rest of the night. 

***** 

Danica sidled up beside Lily, as she looked out the porthole window of the kitchen doors. “What are you doing? One second you’re dancing with the dreamiest man in the whole place, who based on the whispers could afford to buy this place twice over, and now you’re hiding in the kitchen. You haven’t come out in the last half hour.”

Lily sighed. “Did you know Mr. Handsome is also Mr. Tobias Washburn, as in our client’s son?”

Danica gasped. “But he said his name was Max, at least that’s what you told me his name was.”

“That’s what I thought it was. I didn’t think anything of it, about how he knew more things than most about the event, and that explains why he wrote his name on half a dozen items at the auction. But why would he approach some rando talking about spontaneous love and make a bet, he couldn’t possibly win?”

“A bet?” Danica eyed Lily, “Spontaneous Love? Are you saying, you, Lil’ Miss Strait laced, all her eggs lined up in perfect lines in the fridge, logos to the front of all her condiments, agreed to a bet, for spontaneous love?”

“Well when you put it that way.” Lily sighed again. Soon the entire ballroom was going to run out of oxygen based on the amount of sighing she’d been doing and not the swooning type of sighing… well maybe a little bit of that too. 

Danica looked out the window beside Lily’s, “Um… I think you’re hiding place isn’t going to last much longer, Mr. Tobi-Max is headed this way.”

Lily glanced at the window, her heart picked up at the sight of Max heading determinedly for the kitchen doors. “What time is it?  Is it time we start circulating the champagne? I think I should go count the champagne glasses in the back.”

“Wha..? Lil…? Oh… ok?” Danica spluttered at the vacant spot Lily had just been in. “I guess I’ll see what the client’s son wants.” She murmured to herself as she opened the door to head Tobi-Max off at the pass. 

Lily watched from around the corner. She didn’t need to count champagne glasses, and it wasn’t time for the countdown yet, only thirty more minutes to go. 

“Lily, you can’t hide from me forever.” Max’s voice carried down the hall to her. 

Dammit! 

Danica had sold her out, that girl was always after the romantic grand gestures. But who’s to say that Max was here to do a grand gesture?  Lily’s heart raced in her chest. She wanted the grand gesture, as much as she wanted to deny it. But just because some random guy had convinced her to come out of her comfort zone, and let loose a little bit, didn’t mean it was the happily ever after that she read about in her books.

Max came around the corner. Lily held her clipboard up in front of her face. 

Because he’ll never see the woman in an evening gown hiding behind the clipboard.

“Lily, can we talk?” Max stepped closer to Lily, his hand gently pushing the clipboard down, from covering her face. 

“Why? Is this how you amuse yourself at these events?” Lily’s face flushed with her telltale embarrassment and anger. Feeling like a fool, tended to make her a little feisty. “You pick someone who is technically working for your parents, so that there are no repercussions? From both sides this would need to be kept quiet. Can’t have you seen fraternizing with the help, well Tobias can’t but Max, oh he can do whatever he wants. Where did the name Max even come from? The name you would choose for your dog if you had one?. Although I’m thinking that would be too much responsibility for someone like you.” She snapped. 

Max held his hands up in defence. “Lily, just let me explain.”

“What’s there to explain? You’re just some rich boy playing at Mommy and Daddy’s soiree.”

Max shook his head. “That’s not it at all, and everything we’ve done in the last six hours has been real. I don’t randomly bet people to fall in love with me.”

“Oh gee, that makes me feel so much more special. I just looked that pathetic, that you thought you could play along for one evening, have a good time, come up with some laughs you could share with your tennis club friends for the new year?” Lily was vibrating. She was so mad at the whole situation.

For something that was extremely short lived, why was this hurting so much?

“Lily! Oh… um… the countdown is going to begin, you need to come help with the sparklers and champagne.” Danica came flying around the corner.

“Right. Well. Happy New Year’s Max, or Tobias, whatever you really answer to. I have to get back to real life.” Lily quickly turned her back on Max, following Danica out to help with the final preparations. 

“I guess you could say you did something messy, for new year’s?” Danica asked, trying to distract Lily from the whole situation. 

“Messy is right.”

Chapter 6

Lily and Danica, along with servers and other helpers, circulated throughout the event space, handing out sparklers, and champagne flutes. They even had hats and kazoos if anyone asked for them. 

This had been one of the better events that Lily had organized for New Year’s Eve, all personal drama aside, the guests had been lovely, no one had any complaints  - except for the missing squid appetizer. That thought still made Lily smile, despite the twinge to her heart. She clamped down on any truant emotions. She had a job to do. 

TEN!

It was time. Another year over, another year of experiences, memories, heartbreaks and laughter to remember, new resolutions to be made. Lily thought back through her list of resolutions. Anything business related she’d achieved. But she would expect nothing less from herself. That’s what she did. She made a decision, made a plan and went through it step by step, no room for failure.

NINE!

Personal resolutions, she had achieved some, like being closer to her family, mending the rift between some old friends, making more time for herself… well that one was and would always be a work in progress. 

EIGHT!

She’d set some goals to go out on dates in the past year. Ever since her horrendous breakup a couple years ago, she’d been living more the hermit lifestyle. The fallout of that heartbreak had made her even more risk averse in the romance department. At least that’s what her friends told her. 

SEVEN!

“Lily! I need to talk to you!” Max stepped into Lily’s path, taking the sparklers out of her hands and blindly passing them to one of the guests passing by.

“You don’t need to say anything Max. But you definitely lost that bet.”

SIX!

“But what if you won the bet?” He asked. 

“There was no winning for me. It was either I fall in love with you or you make my resolutions for me.”

“But you wanted spontaneous and messy love.” He argued.

“And all I got was being made a fool of.”

FIVE!

“You were never the fool. I was the fool.” Lily watched as Max ran a hand through his hair. “I should’ve told you who I was. I should never have made that bet and just told you straight out I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.”

“How can I believe anything you say though?” 

FOUR!

“Right. That’s a solid argument. My name is Tobias Maxton Washburn, I go by Max with my friends. I was sick, and now I’m not and in getting better I vowed to live my life to the fullest and make every moment of every day count. And you were one moment that I was willing to bet a lifetime on.”

THREE!

The clock was ticking down, wherever Lily went, Max was following, and with every step away from him she took, her heart felt just a little heavier. Were the words that Max was saying true? Or was this just a ploy?

Remember the Washburn’s speech, they referred to the children’s hospital and Tobias owing them so much…

“Were you really sick? When?” Lily turned and faced Max. There were 2 more seconds until the clock would strike, and she desperately needed the truth. 

“I had Aplastic Anemia when I was a teenager, that’s why my family always donates to the children’s hospital. I had a scare about a year ago that looked like it was back. After a copious amount of tests, it proved negative but it made me see life for how short it really is. I vowed to make the rest of my life on this earth count.”

TWO!

Max sped up his explanation as the guests stepped closer to one another for the final bell. “I saw you, I heard your resolution to your friend and I said to myself I want to be that spontaneous messy love story that that woman is looking for. Lily, We might have started off on half-truths, but every emotion throughout has been genuine. Give me that chance to show you what living outside the lines can be like.”

ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Max took a step closer until they were chest to chest. Lily gazed up at Max. What he said sounded real, sounded like he meant it, but was she willing to risk living outside the lines, risk the heart ache, the soul crushing weight of when it ended that she would feel like she wasn’t good enough again? Wasn’t her resolution to be spontaneous?  Had anything of the spontaneity that had happened that night caused any harm?  Could she really let go?  

From one second to the next, Lily made up her mind. Yes, she might get hurt, but how would she know without trying. All the heroines in her books had happy ever afters, why couldn’t she?

Standing on her tiptoes, she looked up into Max’s eyes. “Ok”

“Ok? Like ok ok? Can I kiss you now, ok?”

“Dammit Tobias Maxton Washburn, you better kiss me before I change my mind!” Lily’s hands reached up to the lapels of Max’s jacket pulling him down to her level. She closed her eyes, and Max was there, meeting her with everything she had, and matching it. 

When they finally came up for air, the guests surrounding them were singing Auld Lang Syne. It had been a New Year’s Eve, to remember. Lily thought as she threaded her fingers through Max’s. Maybe spontaneity wasn’t as bad as she thought. She’d have to mark some time in her agenda for spontaneous moments. 

The poutine buffet came out, giving the guests their first meal of the new year. Lily looked over the entire event. It had been a smashing success. To the new year and beyond, she thought, before looking over her shoulder where Max was waiting for her at the door. Danica had the rest of the event under control. It was time for Lily to celebrate her New Year.