Page 4 of The Holiday Exchange

“Actually, I’m the one who should be sorry.” He frowns. “That’s what I wanted to talk about.”

He did start to tell me something before I blurted out my invitation. Leave it to me to jump the gun.

Nathan averts his eyes. “I think we should take a break.”

Oh shit. This is normally how it goes for me, and I should’ve known better. Should’ve read the signs. The tardiness, the cancellations, the lack of enthusiasm for phone calls and the evasiveness when it came to any concrete plans. You’d think I’d finally catch a clue.

He pushes a hand through his hair. “I just wasn’t ready to get so serious, and you asking me to meet your parents tells me we’re not on the same page.”

“No, I…” My shoulders slump. Why even bother denying it? “You’re right. We’re not.”

When our eyes connect, I can see how uncomfortable he is, and his quick glance toward the door tells me he’s hoping to make a quick escape.

He crumples up his napkin and lifts his half-empty drink. “I hope working in the same building and using the gym won’t make it awkward.”

“No, of course not.” I straighten my shoulders with whatever dignity I have left. “We’re both adults.”

My stomach bottoms out as he stands and says his goodbyes. He can’t get out the door fast enough, but I’m rooted to my spot. I’m speechless and bummed and can already hear myself making excuses to my parents for my bad taste in men.

2

DAWSON

I try notto pay too much attention to Nathan and Briar, but it’s hard. When we spoke earlier, Briar didn’t mention anything about Nathan’s upcoming trip to Miami for the holidays, so I certainly didn’t bring it up. It didn’t seem like Briar cared he and Nathan wouldn’t be together.

When Nathan first told me he was going, I wondered if he would ask Briar, but he said he was going with his friend and asked if I wanted to go. He knows spending Christmas in a sunny, beach-type location isn’t my thing, though. I’d rather the two of us hang around here. Even when our parents aren’t with us, I usually at least see Nathan on Christmas, so this year will be…different.

Movement in my periphery catches my eye. I can tell by the way Nathan hurries out, trying to look nonchalant, that something is wrong. I know my brother almost as well as I know myself. I know his personality, his preferences, his body language, and most of the time, I can predict what he’s going to do before he does it.

Three to six months is the average for him when it comes to dating anyone. There’s nothing wrong with preferring to keepthings casual, but I hoped it would be different with Briar…though maybe I also didn’t hope it. What kind of asshole does that make me? I’ll self-reflect later. The issue is, Nathan doesn’t tell people that up front, and he’s the kind of guy who can make you feel like the center of the universe for a while, so the person on the other end of the relationship often gets the wrong idea and ends up with a broken heart.

If Briar’s body language is any indication, my worries have come true. If Nathan just ended them, Briar didn’t see it coming. The only reason I did is because it’s a pattern.

“I’m gonna take a break,” I tell Andrea.

“Sure thing, boss.”

I playfully roll my eyes at the boss comment. She knows I hate that. I might be everyone’s boss here, but I don’t feel like it. That’s just not my style.

I walk around the counter, heading for Briar’s table, and ask, “Can I sit?”

“You own the place.”

“Doesn’t mean I’ll sit if you want to be alone.”

He looks up, slightly squinty like he’s studying me, or trying to figure me out. He still makes my stomach feel like it’s full of butterflies, definitely not something a guy should feel for his twin’s boyfriend—or ex, even.

“I don’t want to be alone.” The way he words it makes my pulse stumble. I’m sure he doesn’t mean it like that, that he’s just saying he’s fine with my joining him, but when it comes to Briar, my mind likes to play tricks on me.

I pull out the chair across from him, turn it around, and sit down. “Want to tell me about it?”

“Oh, you mean the fact that I asked a guy I’ve only been dating a couple of months to meet my family and got dumped?” His voice is filled with both hurt and sarcasm. “Sorry. I don’t mean to take it out on you. I’m just feeling like an idiot.”

Shit. So Briar hadn’t known about the Miami trip. Come on, bro. You can do better than that. “Don’t,” I tell Briar. “It happens. And that…well, as much as I love my brother, it’s his MO. I didn’t feel right saying anything earlier. I hoped I was wrong. I do know he didn’t mean to hurt you. Nathan is just…too big to contain. I’m sorry you got caught up in it.”

He sighs, then gives me a sad smile. “It’s okay.”

“Are you in love with him?” I try not to hold my breath waiting for the answer, but it’s impossible not to. “Never mind. You don’t have to answer that.”