Page 27 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends
Ryan’s laughter dies down as his phone starts ringing. He checks the caller ID and immediately frowns, but he answers anyway. “Hello?”
Everyone goes silent as we look at Ryan, watching his frown deepen and his eyes narrow. “Just…no. I can’t do this right now. We’ll talk later,” Ryan grits out before hanging up the phone and abruptly standing up, making the table shake. He sucks in a sharp breath, not looking at any of us in the eye. “I have to go. See you tomorrow.”
My eyes grow wide as I watch him leave the room without another word, my heart sinking. I look at Max and Josh, who look equally as unsettled as me. “What was that about?”
“No clue,” Josh says as he lowers his eyes to the table, concern radiating from him.
What if it’s still upsetting him tomorrow? What if none of us can help?
I abandon my spiked eggnog on the table, not feeling in the mood to drink or work right now. I just want to make Ryan feel better, but I doubt bothering him right now is the best move. Maybe I can cheer him up in a small way.
My eyes trail to the window that looks out at the city, my mind working to conjure up an idea. Any idea. As my gaze latches onto red and green Christmas lights in the distance, an idea finally breaks through the cloudy haze filling my head.
Maybe we need some real holiday cheer in this office. Some that doesn’t come in a bottle. Maybe it’s time that we actually feel some Christmas spirit.
Chapter thirteen
Chapter Thirteen: Ryan
“Holy shit.”
I thought I’d drag myself into work and bury the pain from last night in emails and task lists.
Instead, it’s like Christmas threw up all over my desk.
“What is all this?” I ask as I touch the snowman bobblehead near my computer monitor, making its head bounce around. There are even tiny string lights adorning the edge of my monitor.
Emma steps up to my side with a shy look on her face. “I know it’s kind of silly, but your desk was the only one without any Christmas decorations. I figured a little holiday spirit could cheer you up after… last night.”
Oh, right. When I stormed out after my mom ruined my night. Given her track record, I shouldn’t be surprised.
My bitterness fades a little as Emma smiles at me with hope in those big, beautiful eyes of hers. Damn it. How can I be pissed off when she’s looking at me like that? When she obviously arrived early this morning to drape garland along the outside of my desk and set up a mini Christmas tree with ornaments?
“Thanks, beautiful,” I murmur before I can stop myself. The word slips out like a truth I’ve been sitting on for too long.
Even when I’m upset, I don’t ever want her to think that I’m not approachable. For her.
Relief washes over her face as she moves to me without hesitation, burying herself in my arms as I hug her tightly. She thinks about me more than my own family.
But if I’m honest, if Ethan and Andrew were here right now, the only family that matters to me would be right here in this office.
“Are you okay, man? You worried us last night,” Max asks me as he pulls up his rolling chair and takes a seat.
Josh does the same, his brow furrowing with concern as he waits for an answer.
I release Emma with a faint sigh, my hand gliding down her arm so that I can briefly squeeze hers. Holding her in my arms a littlelonger would make me feel even better, but I should be striving for less contact between us.
Even if that sounds like hell.
“My mom called me,” I admit as my eyes shift to each of them, disappointment settling on my shoulders like sacks of bricks. I’ve carried this weight for too damn long, and I wish that I could get it the hell off me before it crushes me. “You guys know that my relationship with my parents is…strained.”
“I’ve barely heard you talk about them,” Emma says, remaining by my side.
I shake my head as my gaze sinks to the floor. The thought of talking about them makes my throat want to close up. “Well, what happened last night is pretty indicative of what my childhood was like. I don’t know why, but I was going to make an effort this year and see if they wanted to do something for Christmas with me. As a family.”
Josh frowns and rubs the back of his neck. He probably understands more than the others about my issue with my parents. He has a shitty family too.
“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I guess having you back home inspired me to try and fix things,” I say as I glance at Emma. “But my mom called to tell me that they’ve already made plans for Christmas. Without me. They don’t want to spend the holidays with their own son.”
