Chapter 19 #2
Lying on his side facing me, he traced a lock of hair off my cheek so gently, as if I were made of glass. “I’m not trying to muddy the waters.” His blue eyes were so warm, so full of affection. “I know you need space…”
Did I need space? I was trying to remember why.
Oh. Because he supposedly cheated on my roommate with a bunch of sorority girls, and the last thing I wanted was to risk my heart again with a guy like that.
Only, is he really a guy like that? He doesn’t act like it. Can I trust myself to be right this time?
“My moms are complaining I haven’t been home since June,” he continued. “Otherwise, I’d make an excuse to spend Christmas in Newhope.”
“It’s a family holiday.” My voice was quiet.
His brow furrowed, and his eyes flickered to my lips. “I know. That’s why I thought…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but I knew what he was thinking. His family. Did he mean me now?
Then he’d kissed my cheek and told me to have a safe trip before he slipped out again.
“So why do you look like the saddest Christmas elf on the shelf?” Kim leans against my shoulder.
“I’m not sad.” But my eyes are on my untouched drink.
We’re standing at the small bar in the back of the room near the pool tables while the rest of our family dances and celebrates. I look up and see my own parents moving their hips in time to the Bo Diddley Christmas beat.
“Mm-hm.” Kim arches an eyebrow. “Let me guess, it’s a guy.”
Kimmie Joy is our oldest cousin. She moved to Newhope as a baby with my uncle Jack before any of our parents even met. For a while it was just her and Aunt Dylan and her dad. Then slowly, the entire family started making their way home and having babies.
All except my parents, who stayed in LA for work.
Now Mav and Gigi are with us in LA, but we come back to our original family home on the coast as much as possible. We all grew up together, and nobody knows me as well as they do.
“It’s not! I’ve just got a lot going on.” But my voice goes weirdly high, giving me away.
“What’s his name?” Kim straightens beside me, crossing her arms, and I know she’s not letting me out of this one.
I glance around to make sure no one’s headed this way. “Gavin Knight.”
Her amber eyes widen. “Mav’s teammate? Does he know?”
“No.” I grab her arm fast. “Nobody knows, so don’t say a word.”
Her brow arches. “So what’s the problem?”
I shrug, playing it off. “I’d like to get to know him better, before the entire world finds out and goes crazy.”
“You don’t trust him. Why not?”
Dang Kimmie Joy Bradford. She’s six years older than me, and I’ve never been able to get anything past her. Who am I kidding? I’ve never been able to get anything past anyone. It’s some sort of miracle Mav and Gina don’t know about Gavin and me—or a testament to how busy we all are.
“We went to college together, and he dated my roommate Karen. When they broke up, she said it was because he cheated on her. He says it was the other way around.”
Kim’s nose wrinkles. “You don’t know who to believe?”
My shoulders drop. “I want to believe him… Mav says he’s not a player.”
Kim lifts her chin. “If Mav vouches for him, he’s a good guy. Your cousin would never lead you wrong.”
“But what if Mav doesn’t know him like I do?” I’ve been burned before. “Why is trust so hard?”
Her lips twist, and she puts an arm around my shoulders. “Is he hot?”
Nodding, I pick up a spicy candy cane. “Very.”
“Eh, I say take a chance. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Boy, if only she knew. I’m so close to telling her when our aunt Allie dances up to us.
“Here are my girls!” She pulls me into a hug.
She’s actually Kim’s step-mom, but we would never, ever call her that. It sounds too Disney-villain, and Aunt Allie is the best human on the planet beside my mom… and all our other aunts.
“You two better get on that dance floor, or I’m going to go get Austin and Edward to make you.”
“Austin’s here?” My voice goes up, and I’m so excited.
We rarely get to see Allie’s son from a previous marriage anymore. He moved to Texas to play football, and he’s a big star—just like Uncle Jack was before he retired.
Austin was always one of the big boys when we were little, but he was so sweet to us anyway. He’d give us rides and tease us. I think we all had baby crushes on him.
Kim’s back stiffens, and she seems suddenly nervous. “I just remembered I have to take care of something at the house.”
Aunt Allie makes a complaining noise, but I catch Kim’s arm before she disappears. Our eyes meet, and she steps to me, giving me a hug and pinching my upper arm playfully.
“Don’t worry, Hads. You’re the smartest girl I know. You’ll make the right decision.” Then she whispers in my ear. “Keep me posted.”
I watch as she makes her way out the back screen door at the same time as Austin and Edward enter through the front. They’re grown-up men now, and handsome as ever… although, I guess I’m a grown-up woman, too.
With a big fat secret in the middle of my big ole family, and only one person who knows the truth.