Page 69 of The Jinglebell War
Avery’s smile is open and warm. “It’s good to see you again, Garrick.”
“You, too. This is my girlfriend, Blue.”
Avery’s smile falls as she shakes Blue’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Avery is my ex-girlfriend. The one I dated in eleventh grade who introduced me to paranormal romance. We lasted about amonth and my fondest memory is the love I found for romances involving vampires and werewolves. I have no idea why she’s here. Christmas has always been just for family and the rare significant other. “Are your parents here?”
“Nope.” Avery’s smile gets bigger, almost painfully so. “It’s just me. It was so nice of your parents to invite me.”
Does that mean she’s dating one of my siblings? Wouldn’t she have said they invited her, not my parents?
My mother walks over and stands next to me. “You and Avery used to be so close. Isn’t it great to see her again?”
“It’s good to see you again, Avery.” I turn to my mother. “Should we open presents? I’m sure we’ve kept Layla and Colton waiting long enough.”
“Oh, they’re fine,” Mom says with a strained laugh. “You should take some time to catch up with Avery. She’s living in Sugar Valley again and working on ski patrol for the winter.”
“I’m a nurse,” Avery says. “I’ll be working at Doctor Olivetree’s office in the summer.”
“Isn’t that wonderful?” Mom asks. “Blue, honey, why don’t you help me separate out the presents so these two can catch up?”
“Sure,” Blue says, but she doesn’t move. She looks up at me, the concern on her face obvious.
My parents are trying to set me up. While I’m here with a girlfriend.
I grip her hand tighter. “Blue should get to know Avery, too. You’ve got a house full of people who can help you, Mom.”
Mom huffs. “Everyone else is busy,” she says in a low voice. “I’m sure your girlfriend can handle a task as simple as sorting gifts.”
Blue squeezes my hand, letting me know she’s here for me. “I’m sure I can handle it, but I’d love to get to know Avery.”
Gratitude to have her on my side warms me and gives me the strength to stand my ground. “If no one else can sort the presents, Blue and Avery can do it. I’d like to talk to the two of you, Mom and Dad, alone.”
“Now, Garrick,” Dad says in his gruff, commanding voice. “There’s no need to be rude to our guest. Do as your mother asks.”
There was a time that voice would have sent me running. Instead of fighting back or acknowledging my hurt, I’d get the hell out of the house and look for trouble. It was the only thing that made me feel better. “I’m not the one being rude.” I smile at Avery. “It really is very good to see you again, but I need to speak to my parents.”
Avery glances at my parents, twisting her hands together nervously. “Of course. I’ll help Blue sort the presents.”
“Thank you.” I look down at Blue, and she gives me a small nod. She doesn’t argue or even look annoyed by this whole thing. She just has my back, no questions asked.
Finally, I let go of Blue’s hand. She gives Avery a kind smile and says something to her in a low voice that makes her laugh. Blue might say I’m the charmer, but she has her own ability to make everyone feel welcome and accepted.
I lead my parents out of the room, down the hall, and into my father’s office. Dad’s face is red and I can practically see smoke coming from his ears. “What the hell are you doing, Garrick? You can be reckless, but I’ve never known you to be rude.”
I am so angry there might be smoke coming out ofmyears, but I’m also hurt. I thought there might be a chance for me to have a relationship with my family again, but I was obviously wrong. “You don’t think it was rude to set me up with Avery when I’m here with a girlfriend? How do you think Blue is feeling right now?”
My mother has the decency to look ashamed. “We aren’t setting you up. We ran into Avery on the slopes today and invited her because it’s been so long since we’ve seen her.”
I stare her down. “You invited her to our family Christmas so she can sit around and watch all of us open presents? That makes no sense.”
“Don’t speak to your mother that way,” my father roars.
“After today, you won’t have to worry about me speaking any way to either of you,” I say calmly. It’s clear to me now that my parents are never going to change. They’re never going to see me as anything but a screw up. They’re never going to stop trying to manipulate me into doing what they think is best. “I’m done.”
My mother presses a hand to her chest. “You’re overreacting. We simply invited an old family friend to a family get together. That’s no reason to cut us out of your life.”
“It is when you’re trying to manipulate me to get me to do what you want. Have you even thought about whatIwant?”
