Page 71 of My December Darling

Fuck.Aiden really had to go open his big mouth and stir up some trouble because he didn’t trust me to inconvenience the Martinez family on my own. I’m both annoyed at hisperseverance and touched that he cares enough about me to want me around for the holidays.

But mostly, I’m annoyed, especially as Catalina scowls at me.

“I’m used to it.”

“Well, prepared to get unused to it because you’re not hanging out in your apartment, watching sad holiday movies by yourself while eating a frozen dinner.”

I raise a brow. “One, Aiden promised to make me something, and two?—”

She slices her hand through the air, cutting me off. “No.”

“No?” I ask with a hint of amusement.

“I don’t care what Aiden promised. I can’t sit around my house, ignoring the fact that you’re all alone in yours.”

I take a deep breath. “Why not?”

Her brows scrunch together as she bears a look of concentration. “What do you mean why not?”

“Why do you care if I’m all alone?”

She looks so damn determined in that moment. “Because I like you.”

The tension in my chest loosens as I smile. “You do?”

Her eyes roll. “Yes, but keep acting all pathetic and I might change my mind.”

I grab her hand and brush my lips across her knuckles. “Is that right?”

She visibly trembles.

“How can I make sure you don’t change your mind?” I ask.

“Come over for Christmas Eve.”

I give her hand a squeeze before releasing it. “Who knew you were so demanding?”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Her voice has a huskiness to it that wasn’t present a few moments go.

“I look forward to finding out.” I stand, drop a quick kiss on the top of her head, and escape the break room before I put my self-restraint to the test and fail miserably.

On Christmas Eve, I show up to the Martinez home armed with a decently priced bottle of wine and a batch of chocolate chip cookies I panic-baked to make up for not having any presents. Aiden stole one earlier and claimed they were nearly as good as the town’s best bakery, Sweets & Treats, so that made me slightly more confident in my choice not to come empty-handed.

My idea seems to be the right choice when Catalina drags me inside with a smile on her face.

“You baked cookies?”

“Yeah.”

“Keep this up and I might have to take you with me when I leave.”

“I wish,” I answer honestly.

Her eyes twinkle as she pulls me deeper into the house. The smells coming from the kitchen make my mouth water, and I’m tempted to go in there to check on what’s for dinner, but Catalina doesn’t stop walking until we enter the living room where everyone is spread out in array of holiday-themed clothes and accessories.

“Luke.” Aiden’s dad greets me with a clap on my shoulder and a one-armed embrace.

“We’ve missed you.” His wife comes up to my side and plants a kiss on my cheek, staining it red with her lipstick.

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