Page 84 of My December Darling

“Well, this is me making it my business.”

“Why?”

“Because I care about you and want you to be happy!”

I shoot her a scathing look that quickly melts away at the sight of her smile.

“Andbecause I’m super nosy.”

I bite back a groan. “I’m well aware of that.” Growing up with a little sister taught me as much, although I know her curiosity comes from a place of love as well.

“Just tell me one thing,” she says.

I sigh. “What?”

“Does he make you happy?”

I don’t hesitate to reply. “Yes. Very much so.”

I’m not aware that I’m smiling until my sister returns mine with one of her own. “Good. Then that’s all that matters to me.”

A tight ball forms in my chest, surrounding my heart until it aches. “Now, are you going to get ready for tonight? Or are you going to keep hounding me with questions about my love life?”

“Does that mean you have a love life now?” She waggles her brows.

“Gabriela!”

She points an accusatory finger at me. “It’s not my fault you walked right into that one.”

“And now I’m the one walking away.” I get up and use the restroom, hoping it ends the conversation before my sister is able to pry any more information from me.

I might not have everything with Luke figured out, but that’s a discussion I need to have with him first. One that we will no longer be able to avoid come tomorrow because I’ll be heading to California for my next job. A job which had once made me excited, now makes me feel heavy, and there is nothing I can do about it.

25

LUKE

After brunch, Aiden heads back to our apartment to get ready for tonight’s New Year’s Eve party. I spend the next couple of hours helping him pack a few moving boxes while asking him questions about yesterday.

“Enough about me,” he says, and I sigh. “What about you and Catalina?” Aiden drops the packing tape on his bed.

“What about us?”

“Come on, man. I know she was here last night.”

My cheeks flush. “Then you know all there is to it.”

“Have you talked to her yet?”

“About what?”

“That you want to do long-distance?”

“Um, no.”

He stares at me with a gaping mouth.

“What?” I ask with a hint of agitation.

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