Page 10 of 27 Kisses

My eyes dart to her. It’s not just her words. She’s said this or similar words many times before. “You’re still grou?—”

“Not tonight,” she says, quickly darting a look at Garrett.

She doesn’t want him to know. Doesn’t want to discuss what happened ever again. Or so she’s told me. “On Friday then?” That’s when her grounding ends.

“Friday would be great. But she invited me to this thing they’re doing a few weeks from now.”

“A few weeks?” It’s not like her to be vague, so I’m immediately suspicious.

“Um…twenty-four days from now?”

I’m still trying to piece it together when Garrett jumps in. “Christmas?”

She shrugs.

I gape at her. “You want to spend Christmas with Zoey instead of your family?”

She shrugs and darts a look at Garrett. “It’s just another day, right?

“Well,” Garrett says, looking sheepish.

I glare at them both. “You canna skip Christmas.”

“Uncle Garrett does.”

“We don’t skip Christmas?—”

“Anyway, I’m not skipping it. Zoey’s family goes all out. They have a huge tree and decorations, and everything. It’s not a big deal.”

I’m seething, and I avoid looking at Garrett. “Lanie?—”

“What?” she says, shooting out of her chair. “We’re not doing anything.”

I practically growl the words. “You don’t know that.”

“When was the last time we did anything special on Christmas? You get the artificial tree out. Put on a few ornaments. On Christmas morning, we exchange presents. It’s over in five minutes.” She crosses her arms. “Zoey’s family has a big Christmas dinner and a real tree. It’s fun and not?—”

Sad.Is that the word she left out?

“We have fun.”

She doesn’t answer. But her jaw is set as she leans against her chair and stares at something across the room.

Garrett swirls the ice in his drink. He’s no help. I try again.

“Darlin’, Christmas is for family?—”

“Then why isn’t our family ever here for Christmas?”

She’s not wrong. Everyone has their own family now. Zye and Miles. Isaac and Simon are usually off with Prince Adrian. And Garrett avoids Christmas. Should I let her go? My chest squeezes painfully. If Lanie isn’t here…I’ll be completely alone.

Garrett spears his manicotti and shoves it in his mouth. He won’t look at me, but I can’t worry about that. If Emily were still alive…but she isn’t. And nothing will bring her back.

I clear my throat. “This year’s gonna be different.”

Both of them stare at me. Lanie looks guarded, like she doesn’t quite believe me, but I can see the spark of hope in her eyes. And I want to protect that hope. Nurture it.

Garrett stares at me with eyes so big they give the moon something to shoot for. And I recognize that look. Fear.