Page 32 of Sexted By Santa
“You don’t need to explain, dear.” She patted my hand. “You needed time.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
Her eyes were searching. “You’ve retreated and hidden, particularly over the holidays. I know I’ve pushed you this year.”
“Henry, it’s okay. You were right. I needed to get over myself.”
She nodded. “Then I’m afraid I’m going to have to push you just a little bit more.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hugh has asked to come to the dinner party.”
My gut clenched. “I see.”
“He’s like family. I once promised him unconditional love, just as I did you. Do you remember?”
“Of course.”
Hugh was a long-time friend. We’d met in college, and Aunt Henry had taken him under her wing. Hugh had always been flirtatious, and I’d suspected he wanted more than friendship, but I’d never felt a spark between us.
Nothing romantic had ever happened—until shortly after my breakup with Fynn.
I’d been lower than ever, and Hugh’s attention had been a port in the storm. Even drunk and sad, I’d done my best to be upfront with him. “This doesn’t mean anything, okay? We’re just friends. That won’t change, right?”
“Just friends,” he’d agreed. “Nothing has to change.”
Two weeks later, I found out he was dating my ex-husband. I didn’t know if he got with Fynn because he truly wanted to move on—or as a way to punish me for not wanting more than one night with him. Either way, I’d been avoiding them both ever since.
I picked up my mimosa and gulped it. Now I knew why Aunt Henry had been nervous to talk to me.
“Is he bringing Fynn?” I asked, sounding surprisingly calm given that my heart was racing with anxiety.
“I imagine so,” she said. “I have mixed feelings about all of this, Christian. I considered telling him no, or at least asking him to leave Fynn at home.”
“But you wouldn’t do that,” I said.
She smiled tremulously. “I don’t take my promises of unconditional love lightly. Hugh doesn’t have any other family. I don’t want to turn him away, but your happiness is important too. If you can’t handle seeing him there, I’ll ask him to give you more time. I don’t want you retreating again.”
Seeing Hugh and Fynn was the last thing I wanted to do. But one look at my aunt’s worried face, and I knew I couldn’t bail. Not this time.
“I can handle it.”
She brightened almost immediately, relief apparent. “Are you certain? Because I have missed having us all together. I know it will be difficult seeing Fynn with Hugh, but I’ll tell them to give you space.”
“It’s fine, Henry. I’m over Fynn.”
She blinked. “Are you?”
Henry sounded so surprised I felt a prickle of uneasiness. “It’s been three years.”
“But you’ve not really dated, darling.” She tapped her lips. “It’s unfortunate. A date might be a nice buffer. Perhaps I could find someone to set you up with? Garrett, at the foundation, has a gay nephew. He’s quite charming.”
“Not a chance.”
Henry looked disheartened. “Ah, well. It was worth a try, I suppose. I just hate seeing you unhappy.”
I bristled. “I’m not unhappy. I’m just a man who can handle his own love life.”
