Page 126 of Lessons in Chemistry

“The swimming pool is better here,” I say.

“Nothing to do with getting me to study with you?” Em asks.

“That might have something to do with it. What about you?” I ask Auggie.

“I’m staying here.”

I stare at him. “For the whole holiday?”

He nods.

“You’re not even going home for Christmas?” Em asks.

“Nope. There’s no point. Oh, sure, my parents and I will have Christmas dinner together, but we’ll barely say two words to each other. And anything Dad does say will be a criticism.”

My heart hurts. I hold him and run my fingers through his messy hair.

“I’d rather stay here,” he says.

“You should come home with us,” Em says.

Auggie waves his hand. “Oh, no, it’s fine. I’m used to spending Christmas alone.”

“Not anymore,” I say through gritted teeth.

Em nods in agreement. “You’re with us now. We’re not going to leave you alone at Christmas.”

“I appreciate the gesture, guys, but—”

I glare at him. “No buts.”

“Don’t resist. It’s futile,” Em says, making us laugh with his misquote.

Auggie smiles and holds his hands up like he’s being arrested. “Okay, I give in. We can tell your parents I’m your friend.”

“Why would we do that?” Em asks.

Auggie raises his eyebrows. “Have either of you told your parents that you’re in a poly relationship?”

“Well, no, but I was planning on it next time I see them. By the time we go home for Christmas, we’ll have been together for six weeks. That’s serious enough to introduce you to my parents as our boyfriend,” Em says.

Auggie looks at me. “Do you feel the same way, Casey?”

I puff my cheeks out. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell my parents I’m with you both. It’s just—I’m going to have to tell them I’m not straight and ace and that I’m in a triad. It’s going to be a lot.”

“Too much?” Em asks.

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. I’ve got no reason to think my parents won’t be supportive. But they will ask a lot of questions, and that will be exhausting.”

“Would it help if we came with you to help answer their questions?”

I shrug. “Maybe? I don’t know. I’m not going to hide who I am or who I’m with, but that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous about telling them.”

“That’s understandable,” Auggie says.

“You should come home with us. My parents are going to want to meet you.”

“So will mine,” Em says.