Page 69 of Christmas Bubble

“Bubble…um, Curtis was in the cabin next door, but there was some confusion when the owners turned up. Because of the storm, it wasn’t safe for him to drive home.”

Mom leans her elbows on the table they’re using to prop their tablet. “That’s very generous of you, honey. How handy that you were there.”

Curtis and I share a look. “Yes, very handy.”

“Well, we’ll let you enjoy the rest of your day. We just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas. Be good, boys,” Mom says, and Dad only has time to wave before the call ends.

“Oh my god, that was mortifying,” Curtis says, hiding his face with his hands. “Your parents totally know we’re fucking.”

“How would they know?”

“I’m on your fucking lap, Riley. Do you have the habit of keeping your friends this close when you video call your parents?”

I hadn’t thought of that. He feels so right on my lap that I don’t want to let him go. I didn’t think about how it would look to my parents. Although it is the first time since my divorce that they didn’t bring up Mel. Maybe I should keep Curtis with me every time they call.

“Are you going to freak out?” he asks.

“No, why do you keep asking me that?”

He huffs and tries to get up. I keep him in place.

“Let me go, mountain man.”

“Not until you tell me why you keep thinking I’m going to shoutno homoanytime I so much as have a semi-serious expression.”

26

BUBBLE

“No.It’s Christmas Day, and the reason I sometimes say stupid things does not belong in this cabin,” I say. “I am sorry though. This isn’t about you. It’s all me, okay?”

I really don’t want to drag Harley and his shit in here. He doesn’t deserve to occupy space here.

“I just met your parents.” I repeat it because I can’t believe that just happened. “They seem really nice.”

“They are.”

“Why didn’t you spend Christmas with them?”

Coach picks a crumb of cinnamon bun and rolls it around the plate. “They were on a Christmas cruise in the Caribbean and stopped in St. Barts for Christmas.”

“Do they travel a lot?”

He laughs. “Believe it or not, no, they don’t. They’ve lived their whole life in Denver. Turned up out of the blue on Thanksgiving Day to tell me they were traveling over Christmas. I’m happy for them. They deserve to enjoy their retirement.”

“How about you?”

He raises a brow. “I’m way,wayoff from retiring.”

I pinch the muscles on his arms. “Hmm, I don’t know, old man. I’m not convinced. Maybe you should take me into the bedroom and show me how you’re not quite ready for retired life.”

The chair scrapes against the floor as he stands, taking me with him.

“I could get used to being carried everywhere, you know?” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“I can’t help it. You bring out my inner caveman.”

“Take me to your cave then.”