"Oh shit, Leftie! Welcome back, bro." Josh extends his hand for me to shake, which I do, but Danielle stiffens beside me, looking like she’s about to explode.
"Don't call him that!" Danielle shouts at her brother.
Josh holds his hand out as if he's waiting for payment. Danielle turns her nose up, with her arms folding across her chest as she shakes her head. The whole thing is confusing.
Josh's tone is teasing as he says, "Aw, what's the matter, Dani? Not enough jelly beans to pay the toll?"
"What's happening?" I ask the siblings, feeling like I’m missing some inside joke or something.
Evelyn narrows her gaze before throwing her hands in the air. "You all suck. I'm getting back to my croissants. The butter can't get too warm."
Josh smiles, elbowing me playfully. "It's funny how you two are dating, but you don't know about the jelly beans by now."
"I call her Jelly Bean." I tug Danielle close to me, feeling warmth all the way to my toes at her nearness.
"Josh, don't," Danielle warns, but I want to know what the hell is going on.
"Come on, guys, don't hold out on me," I tell him with a smile.
Josh doesn't need much prodding. "She used to bribe everyone with jelly beans to call you Collin. Didn't you ever wonder why she always had them on her? She got everybody we knew and in your senior class to call you Collin."
I'm alarmed by the realization that she's been looking out for me, but it also comes as no surprise. Danielle is beautiful inside and out. There's a reason why she stands out and why my best memories as a teen had something to do with her.
Fuck. My heart skips a beat as I look at her—my Jelly Bean.
Danielle turns to me. "I'm sorry, Collin. I know I shouldn't have gone behind your back to do that, but?—"
Fuck it.
I cut her off with a kiss. It's just enough to swipe my tongue around hers while my attention drowns out everything else.My mind registers Josh’s presence, but the need to kiss her overrides my common sense.
It takes every self-restraint I have to eventually pull away, not wanting to take it further while her family stares at us. Me being here as her boyfriend is awkward enough as it is.
"I can't believe that's the reason you always carried those things around and never told me."
Danielle gently touches the side of my face, and I instinctively lean into it. "You weren't exactly the most understanding person back then, but I wanted you to have some peace while you were here."
Josh rolls his eyes and walks away. "Great, so everyone's partner is here, love is in the air, and I have to wait for Hilary to get in from Chicago."
I turn to him. "They said there's a snowstorm coming. The bridge is going to be shut down after eight tonight. I'm not sure if she's going to be able to get into town if the bridge is closed."
Josh groans and storms off just as their mom comes out of the kitchen. She's drying her hands on her apron as she approaches with some pep in her step. "Oh my goodness, look at you, Collin. You certainly shot up in height, didn't ya? Good thing you took all those piercings out. You look great. Come tell me about work while the girls get dinner on the table."
I give Danielle a knowing look, and she shakes her head and leaves me to walk with her mother into the living room. It feels odd coming back here after all these years and joining the family for Christmas Eve dinner. I don’t remember the last time I celebrated holidays. Usually, I sit down in front of the TV with a bottle of beer and a big cheeseburger.
Danielle brings me a beer while Josh plops into an armchair and flicks on the TV.
"So tell me what you've been up to." Mrs. Brogan smiles and pats me on the leg.
"The Wright Spot is my shop, and it's been open for about six years now. We do really well."
"So you must live in one of those fancy houses on the bluff. Probably run into Evelyn's boyfriend, Jake, up there too," Josh says with disbelief.
I hate being in the spotlight, with everyone’s attention on me, and I try not to give him a reaction. "I actually own the lot where my shop is, and I built a small house off the back corner. It's a tiny house with a loft, and I get to live without a mortgage on either building."
"Oh, that's … um, nice." Mrs. Brogan speaks with some hesitation in her voice as well. "You know, you're more than welcome to crash here tonight. I'm sure Josh won't mind?—"
Josh cuts his mother off. "I mind. He's not getting my room, and I'm not sleeping on the couch. If Hilary makes it to Pittsburgh, I want her to come here and have a place to crash. That won't happen if he's knocked out in my bed. Let's be adults, Mom. He can stay with Dani in her room. I'm sure it won't be the first time, right?"