Page 128 of Interference

“It’s on my bucket list,” I said with a smile. “That’s why I sent you guys there—so you could tell me if it’s worth visiting.”

Dad tsked. “Ah, there it is. We’re just your travel reviewers.”

With the most playfully indifferent shrug I could muster, I said, “Pretty much, yeah.”

My parents laughed. They regaled me with all the adventures they’d been having, and how they’d met another couple who knew some of the hole-in-the-wall restaurants the locals visited.

“Make sure you write them down for me,” I said. “Those are the best places to eat!”

“They’ve been amazing so far,” Dad said. “Well, except that one place. Ugh. What a disgrace.”

Mom also grimaced. “We should’ve known it was bad when it was empty on a Friday night.”

And of course, the conversation eventually landed in a predictable spot:

“Where’s Simon?” Mom asked. “Aren’t you two visiting his family?”

“We are,” I lied through my teeth. “He’s taking a shower, and then we’re heading over. I’ll tell him you said hi, though.”

“Tell him and the whole family we said Merry Christmas.”

“Will do.”

After we’d ended the call, I indulged in a moment of self-loathing. I hated lying to them. I hated that I couldn’t even tell my parents what was going on with Simon and me. They wouldn’t go to the press or anything, but my mom would worry herself sick over both of us for as long as we had to keep things a secret. It was easier to just let them think everything was fine. Fortunately, Simon and I always stayed in a hotel when we visited his folks, since while they were absolutely lovely people and had plenty of room, they were… a lot. We both needed the escape to a hotel to decompress each night.

Weirdly, I wasn’t hit with much sadness or nostalgia about those trips. I’d adored his family and enjoyed the visits, but I didn’t miss them as much as I was relieved to be done with Simon. Right now, I felt about as sad about losing them as I had a favorite sweatshirt my ex-girlfriend had stolen—kinda bummed, but hardly mourning.

Something told me that meant Simon and I should’ve broken up a long time ago.

I glanced up as Wyatt and Lily came out of the bathroom. His hair was wet and his jaw was freshly shaved, a towel around his waist and all his ink on display.

The melancholy fluttered away, replaced by that little jump in my heartrate that happened every time I saw him.

He met my gaze and paused, eyeing me. “What?”

“Nothing.” I got up and came closer. Tugging at his towel, I murmured against his lips, “Just wondering if I get to open my Christmas present?”

Wyatt laughed softly, sliding his hands up my back. “We need to leave in like twenty minutes.” He nipped my lower lip. “Think that’s enough time?”

I pulled the towel free and let it drop to the floor. “More than enough time.”

Chapter 36

Wyatt

Christmas morning at my parents’ house was as perfect as it could be under the circumstances. We’d started later than usual because Dad needed some extra time to get moving, which had also given Anthony and me a chance to sleep in and enjoy a little one-on-one time. After we’d arrived, Jon and I made brunch to give Mom a break. My oldest brother, Derek, was still on the East Coast, but he called, so we all had a chance to talk to him and the kids.

Considering how I’d been expecting to spend this Christmas just a few weeks ago, I had no complaints. As we settled in to open gifts in the living room, I was just grateful that the man sitting beside me had turned my world on its head.

I came so close to missing this.

My brother situated himself by the modest pile of presents so he could distribute them to everyone. That gave me another little pang of sadness; Dad had always been the one to hand out gifts, but it was just too hard for him to get up and down anymore.

He was here, though. Awake, alert, and smiling as he tore open some wrapping paper to reveal a new ereader. He watched my mom happily as she opened up the new set of mixing bowls she’d asked him for. And he seemed to enjoy watching my brother, me, and Anthony unwrapping the jackets he’d bought all three of us.

“I hope that’s the right size, Anthony,” he said. “If it’s not, there’s a gift receipt so you can exchange it.”

“No, it’s great.” Anthony smiled. “If it’s a little big, it’ll be perfect to put a few extra layers on, especially when I’m in Winnipeg or something in the dead of winter.”

---