She giggles.
“Not that I’m complaining about that,” I add.
“I’ve seen your vacation socks.” She pokes my thigh. “You could use some new ones.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“I’m just saying, if that’s what you picked to bring onvacation…”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve been a little busy.” I roll my eyes.
“Wow.” Thorne’s awed voice interrupts our conversation. He pulls out a hand-painted canvas of him and Briar, his lips parted in shock. “This— Briar?—”
“Merry Christmas, Cassius.” Her voice comes out low and raspy.
“God, that’s a sex voice if I’ve ever heard one,” I say.
Thorne ducks down and catches Briar’s lips. I should look away, and yet I find myself staring as the kiss deepens. I catch a hint of tongue?—
“Get a room!” I shout. I lean forward and cover Jack’s eyes. “There are kids watching.”
Mira elbows me.
Jack shoves my arm away.
Thorne flips me off, but at least they stop kissing.
I sit back and grin. All in a day’s work.
Finally, it seems like things have come to a close. The chatter turns to the upcoming semester, the games left on our schedule, and…
Gosh, am I really going to be saying goodbye to Mira in just a few days?
“Come with me,” I blurt out.
She stares at me in shock.
“I mean, you know, we can find you something to do in Shadow Valley, right? It just seems silly to waste time…” My mouth dries. “Unless you want to stay where you are. That’s fine. I didn’t mean to assume that you should drop your life for, um… for that. For me. Not that you would be?—”
“Rhys,” Briar interrupts. “Jesus, shut up and let the girl answer you.”
All eyes are on us, and I swallow. This was the wrong place to ask her this. It was very impulsive, too.
“Talk me through this,” she says slowly.
“You pack up and move in with me. We can find you a job, or maybe you take a class if you want, or…” I’m fucking sweating. “I don’t know. I just know I’d rather figure it out with you than not say anything and constantly wish you were with me.”
Mira’s expression isstoic. Like, she’s giving me absolutely nothing.
Then, miraculously, a smile creeps across her face.
“Okay,” she agrees.
“Okay,” I repeat. “Yeah. We’re doing this.”
She holds out her hand, and I take it. Instead of shaking it, like she expects, I bring it up to my mouth and kiss her knuckles.
She laughs. “Merry Christmas to us, huh, babe?”
