Page 87 of A Break in Communications

“Oh—” Mom’s voice interrupted, pushing into the conversation, coming around the couch towards us. “Did you say Veronica and Kelcey?” she said, lighting up. “Is there something going on between them again? I’ve missed Kelcey being a part of the family. She’s so wonderful.”

Lucy exchanged a look with me, and I couldn’t fight a smile as I said, “Yeah, maybe. I think Veronica really misses Kelcey… I’ve been trying to persuade her to go get back together with her. Don’t you think they’re a great couple?”

Mom beamed so wide her face might have split down the middle. “Oh, they are just so… they both just glow when they’re together.”

“Veronica’s shy, though,” I said, shrugging. “You’ll have to ask her directly, maybe help me convince her to go for it.”

Mom nodded quickly. “Oh, god, I think you’re right. Anna deserves her happy ever after.”

“I’m Anna.”

“Veronica deserves her happy ever after. And they’d make such a wonderful family. I’ll go talk to Anna. Get along to the dining room, though, both of you, we’re having my world-famous cinnamon rolls.”

“I’m Anna…” I said again as she left, and Lucy laughed, shaking her head at me.

“You’re kind of evil with Vern, you know,” she said, that lightness in her voice saying she didn’t really mind me being evil. This woman was the ultimate enabler. Maybe that was why I loved her so much.

“Veronica deserves it. Well… shall we get some world-famous cinnamon rolls, darling?”

I slipped my hand into hers, and she bit her lip, absolutely glowing. I still couldn’t really work out how Lucy Masters worked… the coolest, most put-together person I’d ever known, effortlessly skilled at everything, flawless charisma and confidence, and I’d call herdarlingonce and she’d be off melting and squealing like I was a dream celebrity encounter.

But I loved it. I guess I had a big ego, wanted someone to treat me like a goddess. And I had the same reaction every time she turned to me in bed late at night and justlookedat me like I was the most precious thing she’d ever known, and I would get blushy and giggly as if we’d only just gotten together in a fit of teenage passion.

So, hey. I guess we were both just as bad.

“I’d hate to keep you from the reason you’re so attached to this family,” I said. “Cinnamon rolls it is.”

“Hm. Yes. Cinnamon rolls. That’s what I’m here for. Because I’ve been very subtle about how I feel about you.”

Subtle enough I’d missed it for a year and a half, even though nothing about it was subtle. But… whatever. We were here now. And I wasn’t planning on ever letting her go.

We had cinnamon rolls, laughing and talking together with the whole extended family—the fifty million chaotic, noisy ones I’d brought into the relationship and the single crabby old woman Lucy had brought in, although it was Lucy and Charlotte who stole the show, everyone tripping over themselves just as much as they had last year to talk to Lucy. This year, though, I hung onto her arm so proud it bordered on smug, knowing the woman charming enough to get everyone I knew wrapped around her finger was actually mygirlfriend,and—well, I hoped, one day, maybe my wife, too. I couldn’t imagine what anything else would look like.

Breakfast and pastries, and then we retreated to the living room with hot drinks and idle conversation by the fireplace before the kids showed up, all of them rushing to Lucy in giddy excitement, referring to her asAunt LucyorCousin Lucylike she already was my wife, and I didn’t want to correct any of them. Just watched, my heart full to bursting, as she charmed them all effortlessly, and went with us to go play in the snow, where I kept staring at her from afar, sitting on the swing bench at the edge of the yard watching Lucy play snow monster. I still thought she was too pretty to be a monster, though.

I didn’t notice Veronica sliding in next to me until the swing moved, and she snorted at the way I looked then. “Really fixated on your girlfriend, huh?”

“Hm.” I turned back to look over the lot at Lucy again. “Maybe if you weren’t so keen on leaving a trail of broken hearts, you could be just as fixated onyourgirlfriend. Or do you only really fall for someone when they say no?”

She glowered at me. “What are you smoking, anyway?”

“You seem pretty healthy for being sick and straight out of an orgy.”

“Oh. Right.” She faked a cough. “Yeah, it’s, uh…”

“Ready to admit yet that I was right?”

She hunched her shoulders, glowering over the yard at nothing. “Ugh—leave me alone.” She paused. “Did Kelce tell you?”

“Told Lucy, so, of course, I heard too.”

“Cute couple life.” She scowled. “It’s nothing like that, you know. I just wanted to bang her and she said no. My pride suffered a little, that’s all.”

“Who are you trying to convince right now?”

“I’m not in love with Kelcey.”

“Ididn’t jump straight toin love.That was all you.”

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