Page 19 of 27 Kisses

“Stop scowling, Aidyn, and sit down.”

I shake my head. “I need to get back?—”

“Ramon has everything under control, and it’s not exactly busy.” In a lower voice, Garrett says, “If I have to play nice, so do you.”

“They aren’t my parents.” But it’s a lame excuse, and we both know it.

“Please?” he asks, with big sorrowful eyes. “For me?”

Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. But I sit down. I can’t resist him. “For Lanie.”

Once everyone orders, Mrs. Bishop smiles. “We’re glad everyone’s here. Well, except for Jane.”

“What’s this about, Mother?”

“We want to get everything settled for Christmas.”

Garrett rolls his eyes, and it reminds me so much of Lanie and her teenage moments that I have to bite back a laugh.

“This is so exciting,” she continues. “We’ll all be together this year on Christmas. Our children and grandchildren. Except for dear Emily, of course.”

Do they think they can take over everyone’s lives without a thought? Maybe we had plans. And then a thought hits me. Am I being included because of Lanie? Or the diner? Might as well rip off that Band-Aid. “Where’s this grand party going to be?”

Mrs. Bishop looks startled by my question. “At Garrett’s, of course.”

Garrett chokes on his drink. Obviously, he didn’t know.

“You’re having your family Christmas at Garrett’s house?” I ask again because it’s still so hard to believe.

But his mom doesn’t miss a beat. “Of course,” she says, looking at me like I’m the slowest person ever, and maybe I am. “Garrett is hosting Christmas this year.”

Five

GARRETT

Sixteen Days Until Christmas

What the fuck is happening?

The sounds around me are dulled, like I’m wrapped in a cushion.

Is this a joke? My parents don’t have a sense of humor, but they can’t be serious. Sure, let’s put the guy who hates Christmas in particular and family events in general in charge of family Christmas. I laugh abruptly. “What the fuck?”

“Garrett! Watch your language?—”

A hand grips my shoulder painfully. “Can I talk to you?”

I stare at Aidyn. He’s not exactly blurry. More like he’s in and out of focus. My mind is unable to latch onto anything. A blackness hovers in the background, threatening to take over. His fingers tighten and I focus on the pain. The green of his eyes. The sound of his voice. “Garrett?”

What did he ask? I nod. But it’s less of an answer to his question and more of an agreement to him taking over.

He moves close to me and motions for me to get up. The voices around me are faint.

“Garrett, are you okay?”

I’m not sure who’s asked, and I don’t really care. All my energy is focused on Aidyn and not passing out in front of my family.

Aidyn grabs my wrist and guides me through the restaurant, which seems to have filled with more people. He leads me through the kitchen and out the back to the garden. Emily’s garden.