Page 14 of A Candy Cane Christmas
“Hey, big brother,” I greeted him, running a hand through my hair while staring at the chaos in front of me. This could either be an amazing or an amazingly stupid idea. The chances were fifty-fifty. Maybe seventy-thirty—in favor of this going over horribly.
“What’s wrong?” Gabe asked. I could almost feel his judgy stare, the raised eyebrow, and the way he was probably wringing his hands already.
“Why do you think there’s something wrong?”
“Uhm, because you’re calling me?”
“And I can’t call my brother?” I asked, even though I definitely knew what he meant. I just hated the fact that he was right. Granted, there was nothing wrong, but I wasn’t calling willy nilly either. I mean, he was going to be a dad soon, right? He’d probably read about a thousand parenting guides already. Which basically made him an expert. Or at least it made him more qualified than I was.
“You can, sure. But I’ve known you for your whole life. You never call. You send me ridiculous memes, maybe the occasional text message. But you don’t call. So out with it, you’re giving me stress hives.”
“Fine. I’m not in trouble and there’s nothing wrong, but I do need advice.”
Gabe laughed. “Now you’re scaring me.Youwant advice? From me?”
“Yes?”
“This should be good,” Gabe said with a chuckle. “Okay, tell me, how can I help you?”
Taking a deep breath, I braced for… whatever his reaction might be. “As a dad, on a scale from one to ten: how bad is it if someone surprises you and your kid with a date that involves paint and glitter?”
Silence.
Then: “I feel like I’m missing critical information. Who is ‘someone?’ Am I, as a dad, aware that there’s going to be a date and I just don’t know what it’s going to be? Or don’t I know about the date at all?”
“Uhm, someone, as in the person you’re interested in? And the second option.”
“Lucian, what the hell are you doing?”
That was probably a no on the surprise date.
“Trying to plan a cute first date?”
At least, I’dthoughtit was a cute idea thirty minutes ago when it’d come to mind.
It involved his daughter. It was a kid-friendly activity, I’d be able to share something I loved—aka painting and art—and it was Friday, so even if it was already five p.m. I probably wouldn’t fuck up Hazel’s bedtime too badly.
Hopefully.
Then again, last week we’d been out till eight.
“Lucian?”
Oh, right, I was still on the phone with my brother. “Yes?”
“Did you say first date?”
“Uh, yes?”
“With a dad?”
“Mhmm.” I nodded, casting a quick glance at my oven clock. Damn, if I wanted to do this, I needed to get going.
“I really don’t think… no. Have you thought this through?”
“The date?” I asked, my stomach dropping. Part of me already knew he wasn’t talking about the date anymore. I should’ve anticipated his being on the fence about my dating a single dad. And yeah, okay, maybe Theo wasn’t the type I usually went for, but seeing as my past relationships were nothing to write home about, this was a good thing.
“Luci.” That tone.
