Between Christmas and New Year's Eve there isn't a single word between them about last week's Christmas party. If anything at all, it's simply shrugged off as a holiday tradition combined with a group of relentlessly fiendish friends.
They're invited to the Watsons' place for a dinner party for New Year's Eve and while they aren't surprised to see one another, the tension between them is practically corporeal. Molly's red dress and Greg's loose tie do no help. Over drinks, dinner and dessert they talk and joke about this and that, but don't dare to touch on what happened under the mistletoe.
All too soon, the countdown begins.
Ten. The countdown begins as they find themselves staring at each other after what feels like hours of awkward small talk and are only now confronted with reality. They haven't spoke outside of work since Christmas, so standing this close to each other on New Year in the middle of a crowd is more than a little awkward.
Nine. They look to the crowd of friends and lovers closing in on them. Each and every one of them know exactly who they'll be kissing for midnight.
Eight. There's no one with him and no one with her. The champagne makes Greg bold enough to asks Molly if she has anyone to kiss for midnight. She tells him there isn't, but she doesn't tell him why. She is internally begging him to make his move the way he did last week.
Seven. "It's a shame," he says. "You look great."
Six. "Thank you. You too."
Five. There's that warm glance again and this time it lasts for what feels like a month within a moment. Greg breaks the awkward silence.
Four. "Do you…d'you think we should just…?"
Three. Molly doesn't hesitate, but tries her best onto to sound desperate when she answers: "Yes! Yes…I, I think we should."
Two. He chuckles. "Anything to shut 'em up, eh?"
One. She forces a laugh and nods as they lean in towards each other.
"Happy New Year!"
Had their courage been kinder to them it would have been a similar kiss to the last, but instead it's nothing more than friendly pecks on cheeks. After a platonic hug and "Happy New Year," they smile and applause the coming of 2015, saying nothing else of it even after they wave goodbye when the party is over.
