Page 96 of Holiday Hostilities

The longer we—I—put off not talking to Jake about this, the worse it might look when he finds out.

Because it really is a question ofwhen. I’m not going anywhere, and I will gladly do this thing, whatever it is, with Olivia for as long as she’ll have me.

After Christmas,I promise myself. I’ll talk to Olivia first, and then we can talk to Jake accordingly, and I’m sure it’ll all be fine because he will understand that I have nothing but the best intentions and I will treat his sister like a freaking queen.

“I will, Mom.” I nod, appreciating her concern for me, but also for Jake and Olivia. “Thanks.”

Nonna yawns loudly, and we take that as our cue to head upstairs.

It’s only when we get to the top of the stairs that I realize I’ve been so distracted tonight, I’ve forgotten a very important detail…

“Where are you guys gonna sleep?!”

“Hmm?” Mom says. “I put my bags in the room full of your hockey stuff, and Nonna’s in the other room, just like usual.”

“But Olivia?—”

“Is in your room, no?” Mom asks innocently, though her eyes are shrewd.

“Well, yes,” I stammer. “But I’ve been staying in one of the guest rooms.”

She snorts. “Do you think I was born yesterday?”

“No, really. It’s not like that,” I tell my mother firmly. “Olivia’s staying in my room because I thought she’d be more comfortable. We’re not staying in there together.”

“Oh, come on, Aaron.” Mom tuts. “We’re not that old and fuddy-duddy that you have to pretend for us. We’re under no impression that you two don’t share a room.”

“Indeed.” Nonna folds her arms. “Don’t even try to fool us, my boy. I saw that scene on your doorstep earlier and it was like something out of a movie. The racy kind. You can’t fool us into thinking that you’ve been sleeping in separate rooms after we witnessedthat.”

I scrub a hand over my eyes. This isnota conversation I expected or wanted to have with my mother and grandmother, ever. Let alone now, when I’m tired and it’s late. I just want to go to bed, but instead, I’m standing in the hallway, locked in a stalemate.

“It’s true, Mom,” I insist, trying to think of how to solve this. “Look. What if I book you guys into that nice hotel a couple blocks away? That way, you have lots of space, and you won’t have to sleep in rooms filled with my hockey stuff or a bunch of crochet animals.”

“But I always sleep in the room with all your hockey memorabilia,” Mom says with a wicked gleam in her eye. She’s enjoying this way too much.

“Family does not sleep in hotels, Aaron. I won’t hear of it,” Nonna scolds with a slightly terrifying wink. “So, off you go.Scamper on back to that beautiful girl of yours, and we will see you both in the morning for a nice Christmas Eve breakfast.”

Oh, dear Lord in heaven.

Part of me wants to argue, but deep down, I know it’s a lost cause. My mother is more stubborn than an ox, and Nonna is going to be mortally offended if I offer to pay for a hotel again.

Clearly, the easiest thing to do is give them the guest rooms, and I’ll crash on the couch for the remainder of their stay.

Merry Christmas to me.

“Okay,” I say as I idly wonder if there are any clean blankets and pillows in the linen closet.

“Good. It’s settled then.” Mom bids Nonna and me goodnight as she steps into her room with a knowing little smirk.

“And don’t worry about keeping the noise down,” Nonna says as she gives me a big smacking kiss on the cheek. “Your mother brought her earplugs and I plan on taking a sleeping pill.”

With that, she steps into her room, giving me another one of those terrifying winks as she goes.

I doubt I will ever be able to scrub my brain clean of that particular image.

Once they’re safely out of sight, I head to the linen closet in search of a spare comforter and pillow.

I’m rummaging around when the master bedroom door pops open and Olivia peeks out. “You look like a man who needs a place to stay tonight. Which is very Christmas-story-esque, actually.”

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