Page 36 of My December Darling

“Oh, yes. My sister’smofongois just…divina,” Gaby says the word with a soft sigh that can barely be heard over the holiday music streaming out of the portable speaker on the kitchen counter.

Gaby took it upon herself to add some additional decorations to our apartment today, including hanging some multicolored lights along the top of our wall-length bookshelf, searching our closets for a nativity set that her mother bought us two Christmases ago and finding a place for it on a shelf, and setting the table with a holiday-themed tablecloth, placemats, and dinnerware.

Speaking of Catalina, the buzzer by our front door goes off, and Aiden presses the button to let her into our small walk-up. My heart picks up speed at the thought of Catalina seeing our place for the first time. I quickly scan the room again, double-checking to make sure that everything is in order.

Gaby rushes to open the door, acting as if she didn’t see her sister a few hours ago while Aiden and I hang back in the breakfast nook.

“Come on in.” Gaby grabs Catalina’s hand and pulls her inside.

Catalina glances around our apartment and the growing pile of boxes by the front door before looking over at Aiden and me. Her eyes narrow when they connect with mine, and for a brief moment, I wonder if this was a terrible plan.

Now you’re questioning it?I shift my weight with nervous anticipation.

“Aiden made your favorite!” Gaby drags Catalina further into the apartment before shutting the front door behind her.

“And I helped,” I tack on, earning another wayward glance from Catalina.

“Byhelpedhe means taste-tested the sauce.” Aiden’s grin expands.

I shrug. “It’s tough work but someone has to do it.”

Catalina’s eyes roll as she walks up to Aiden and greets him by pressing her cheek to his before coming up to me. The faint smell of her perfume hits me first, filling my nose with the sweet scent of flowers, along with a note of something I’ve come to accept as distinctly hers.

She grips my shoulders and rises onto the tips of her toes as she repeats the same gesture with me. My parents aren’t affectionate people, so it has taken me time to get used to the Martinez way of greeting family and friends with what they call a kiss on the cheek.

Now, come to think of it, I don’t remember a time when Catalina has made the effort for me. She has done a remarkable job preventing any physical contact, so the opportunity has probably been avoided at all costs.

“Hi,” she says as our cheeks brush, sending a current of energy rippling across my skin and down the length of my spine as my stubble rubs against the soft skin of her cheek.

The contact can’t last more than two seconds, but my heart racing in my chest makes me feel like I’ve spent the last ten minutes on the treadmill.

Pull yourself together, I tell myself as she steps away.

I’ve never been the type to be nervous around women, but then again, most women actuallywantto spend time with me—whether that be purely platonic or more. Catalina, on the other hand, can’t seem to escape me quickly enough, although I’m starting to realize it’s a defense mechanism rather than a way to snub me. She keeps most people at a distance, and I’ve never tried to fight my way out of that category.

Her eyes flicker over me once more before her sister tugs her toward the bookshelves beside our TV. They’re a recent addition to the apartment, and one Aiden insisted on us buying to add some personal touches to our drab space. He added a few model airplanes that he’s collected over the years while the rest of the shelves showcase all the LEGOs I’ve built since college.

I wasn’t really a LEGO kid growing up since my parents didn’t believe in kids having fun, but once I entered adulthood, I discovered the soothing hobby, and it stuck.

Catalina reaches out for a limited edition set I built a year ago before she pulls her hand back and tucks it behind her.

“Told you Luke was a nerd like you,” Gaby says loud enough for me to hear.

“I amnota nerd.” I walk up to them.

“Exactly how much have you spent on resale LEGO sets?”

“There’s a market for those?” Catalina asks with pinched brows.

“Ask Luke. If he’s not working, he’s online shopping.” Gaby grins.

My gaze narrows. “I stopped doing that months ago.”

“Why?” Catalina turns to look at me.

Aiden laughs behind me, and I flip him off without looking.

Gaby’s eyes sparkle. “Yeah, Luke. Why do you avoid resellers again?”

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