“That you like him.”
“Don’t be an idiot.”
“What are you two gossiping about?” Sean appears in the kitchen to grab another slice of white chocolate cheesecake; apparently, his favourite flavour.
“Eric was just telling me about Christmas,” Jake quickly responds.
I glare at him, but he doesn’t back down. Instead, he continues.
“I hear you’ll be taking part in all the festivities…”
“It’s an option, yes…” Sean says vaguely. “Will you be there, too?”
Jake looks at me. “If Eric invites me…”
“Do you really want to spend Christmas with my family?”
“Why not? The food is always good. And maybe…” He glances over at Mila, who’s wandered over to join us. “You could invite everyone.”
What a son of a…
“You reckon?”
He shrugs, feigning indifference.
“Don’t feel you have to.” Sean’s hand brushes against my arm. “Don’t listen to Jake.”
“I wanted to invite them anyway.” I turn to Sean; when I talk to him, something inside me stills. It’s as if I’ve found calm in a stormy sea. “I don’t want you and Mila to have to spend Christmas apart because of me.”
“It’s no problem for me, really,” Mila says. “Besides, Sean and I haven’t celebrated Christmas for years.”
“You never told me that,” I say to Sean.
“I told you it’s not the same as it used to be.”
Sean deliberately leaves out details when he talks to me.
I get it. Until just a few days ago, we were strangers. But I don’t want him to do that. I want him to be honest, to trust me.
“I’d love it if you both came to my grandmother’s for Christmas. I want to celebrate with you.” I smile at Sean, who responds in kind.
“What about me?” Jake interrupts, making me roll my eyes.
“If you care that much…”
“I don’t like being left out.”
“We noticed,” Mila teases, making us all laugh.
The two of them head back into the living room, Mila with another slice of cheesecake and Jake with his glass of wine.
“Thank you.” Sean’s voice brings my attention back to him. “Are you really sure you want us all at your grandmother’s house for Christmas?”
“It’ll be nice to have you all there. It’ll be fun, and… Different.”
Sean tilts his head.
“Having someone who’s there for me.” I let this slip, sadder than I intended.
