Page 50 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends
I part my lips to defend myself further, but my shoulders sink as my spirit deflates. Honestly, I don’t have the energy to defend myself, and I just want this conversation to end.
“I’m going to get some champagne,” I mutter before heading back to the kitchen. Maybe this will take the edge off because I’m sick with stress at this point.
Between my parents needing to know every future move that I’m going to make and the guys and I having to keep last night a secret from my overprotective brothers, I’m about to crack under the pressure, and we haven’t even made it through opening presents. Christmas isn’t what I expected it to be, but I guess I can say that about the entire month of December.
I wasn’t supposed to get attached to my brothers’ best friends. I wasn’t supposed towantthem the way that I do, and I certainly wasn’t supposed to act on my desires.
But here I am, stuck in the guilty aftermath of my actions. I don’t regret last night, but I hate how something I loved so much could ruin my relationship with my brothers.
Why do things have to be so painfully complicated?
With my drink in my hand, I head back into the living room and take my seat as Josh hands out more presents. Our eyes meet every so often, but I don’t allow my gaze to linger. I can’t get lost in any of their eyes today.
I can’t lose control again.
Even if that’s what would take away the pain that I feel. Just for a few moments at least until the consequences catch up to us.
Then all hell would break loose.
Chapter twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-Three: Max
“It’s official. SyncUp has a new enrollment record!”
Scattered applause echoes throughout the office as Josh, Ryan, Emma, and I gather together one last time for Emma’s last day with us. It’s not an official workday because there’s no more work to be done, but we wanted her to come by one last time to tie up some loose ends.
And to say goodbye.
“I can’t believe the update is performing so well,” Emma says as she takes off all the Christmas decorations on her desk, leaving it empty and bare like it was before she arrived. “I mean, I knew it was a great update, but still.”
“A part of you is always concerned that it won’t do well,” Josh replies as he nods in understanding. “There was a sliver of me that was worried, but we worked too hard for it to be a flop.”
Ryan doesn’t say anything as he helps Emma roll up a strand of Christmas lights and tuck them away into a cardboard box. He hasn’t said much since Christmas, even in our text group chat.
Honestly, I don’t even blame him. We have a lot to celebrate because of the success of the update, but the holidays are over, and Emma doesn’t work for us anymore. Things are going to change, and I don’t know if it’ll be for the better or not.
We haven’t even talked about what happened a few nights ago. I can feel the tension in the air when we’re around each other. It’s on everyone’s mind, but no one has gotten the courage to say something first.
I don’t even really know what we would say. It’s not like our situation is a common one that has clear solutions.
“I’m proud of the work that we did,” I say as I perch on the edge of my desk, my eyes lingering on Emma as she tucks her hair behind her ears. She’s so beautiful that it’s devastating.
It destroys me that I can’t just go up to her and kiss her or even hold her hand without fearing for my health and safety. Her brotherswillreact that if they find out.
“Me too. We’re a hell of a good team,” Josh agrees, his tone becoming bittersweet. “I wish we could stay a team.”
Emma pauses for a moment before looking up at all of us. “So do I. I know I’ve said it before, but I can’t thank you guys enough for this opportunity. It’s the best project that I’ve ever worked on.”
“It came and went too fast, but it was my favorite project too,” I tell her as I give her a warm look. “We’re going to miss having you around the office. It’ll be lonelier without you.”
Ryan grows stiff as he drops a Christmas tree figurine into the box of decorations, his frown deepening. He still doesn’t speak.
Emma presses her teeth into her bottom lip and nods, looking as mournful as the rest of us. We should be happy and pumping our damn fists, but this is the end of something that we don’t want to say goodbye to.
The question is, how far does this goodbye extend?
“You could always come by and see us,” Josh points out. “You shouldn’t be a stranger.”
