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“I just feel bad.” He furrows his brows and looks down. “I had also kind of hoped I could have sat with you on the way back, but Cami almost bit me when I tried to sit near you.”

Laughing at that, I lean over and hug him. “I’m going to miss you.” I smile against his neck.

“Me too.” He hugs me tighter and pulls me across into his lap, and I giggle as he readjusts us to be comfortable.

“I was going to ask you to come home with me for Christmas,” he murmurs after a beat of silence into my hair, resting his head on top of mine, and I stop breathing for a second against his neck.

“You were?” I breathe out against his neck and feel him nod. I don’t know how to respond to him. Would I have been going as his “fun” friend or more? Does he want more? Do I want more? I’m overwhelmed by thoughts of whether I want another relationship, particularly with Grant, given his history of casual hookups. I love being around him. He makes me feel safe and comfortable, but also excited and free. I don’t feel like I have to explain myself to him, and he just lets me be me.

I just don’t know if all that means we should be more.

“Would you have come?” he asks me, and I feel him pull back to look me in the eye, so I do the same.

“Yeah, I think I would have,” I whisper, nodding, and he kisses me sweetly, and I kiss him back, feeling vulnerable. When I pull back, I look him in the eyes and ask the question I’m scared of. “Are we still having fun, Grant?”

“I’m always having fun with you, Brooke, but when we get back from break, maybe we can talk?” He looks as nervous as I feel to be talking about what we could be, and smiles at him and nods.

He pulls me back in, and I go willingly. “We should head back before Cami gets suspicious.”

I feel him stiffen against me, pulling back, and I climb back over to my seat. As he drives off, he grabs my hand and holds it as he drives.

I’ve not even left yet, and I’m itching to get back from winter break.

Santa and his ho, ho, ho, ho, ho’s Group Chat

Adam P-Merry Christmas, everyone!

Brookie B-Merry Christmas, Team

Brookie B-I’ve got to say. That is the best group name yet.

Grant A-Merry Christmas! I’m Santa, right?

Gunnar C-As if I’m Santa.

Gunnar C-Oh, and Merry Christmas. I hope Santa came for all of you, except Adam, who undoubtedly received coal.

The Bear-Why can't I be Santa?

Adam P-Guys, we all know Cami is Santa and we are all her ho’s.

Cami L-Damn straight I am. Merry Christmas, bitches.

Brookie B, Gunnar C, Grant A, The Bear, and Adam P hearted Cami L’s message.

Chapter Forty Two

Grant

Being at home again is always a change after living independently. Suddenly, someone's doing my laundry again, cooking my food, and I have to get used to the routine they've got without me.

My room is the same, nothing touched, waiting for me to return, like my moms worried that if she changes anything, I won't come home.

Unlikely, nothing beats unwinding at home with my family.

I head downstairs, and I can hear my mom in the kitchen and my dad watching something on TV in the family room.

"Hey, honey," my mom says as I walk into the kitchen. At Christmas time, she's always baking. I'll probably have to hit the gym hard when I'm back from all the cookies I've eaten.