Page 21 of My December Darling

“Nope.”

“This might be the first time I’ve ever seen you procrastinate with anything.”

“Don’t google what’s wrong with me. According to WebMD, I’m probably dying.”

He chuckles under his breath. “You can’t keep putting this off forever.”

“No, but I can put it off fornow.”

Once he gets married, Aiden will be moving in with Gaby, and I will either have to find a roommate to take over Aiden’s part of the lease or accept that I will have to live alone. I’ve avoided the task, both because of work and since I’m not sure what I want to do. Finding a roommate is going to be a pain in the ass, but living alone reminds me too much of my lonely childhood, so I’m struggling with analysis paralysis about the whole thing.

“We knew this would happen,” he says with a sigh at the end.

“Yeah, well, I did hope we would be roommates for life, but then you had to go and fall in love with someone else like a complete cliché.”

“One day, you’ll be in a similar position.” He has the absolute goofiest smile on his face.

“Maybe.” I keep the hope out of my voice.

“Youdowant to get married, right?”

“Yes, but preferably to someone who wants to elope at the courthouse. Your wedding invoices give me second-hand hives.”

“They’re notthatbad.”

“Says the man paying eight grand for a videographer.”

“Gaby says it’ll be worth the cost when we show it to our future kids one day.”

“I’m sure that’s what she tells you to make you feel better.”

He shoots me a half-hearted glare that makes me grin. Luckily, Aiden’s job pays well, and Gaby makes good money as a certified public accountant in Lake Wisteria, or else I’d be concerned with the money they’re spending on their special day.

“So…” He flips the pancake. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Did anything seem off with Catalina yesterday?”

I stiffen before relaxing my muscles. “What do you mean?”

“I was just… I’m probably reading into things too much.”

My heart, which was already stuttering a few seconds before, begins to pound harder in my chest. “Spit it out.”

“I thought I noticed something between the two of you.”

Fuck. My hand squeezes the fork I’m holding, but I loosen my grip before Aiden takes notice.

“Like what?” I ask with a rasp.

“Don’t make fun of me for saying this.”

I stare blankly at him.

“Just like…sparks?” He brushes his stubbled cheek.

I press my lips firmly together to stop myself from commenting, which earns me a glare.

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