Page 116 of Time to Shine

“Merry Christmas, dipshit,” he said before she crashed into him, wrapping him in a tight hug. He’d missed her a lot.

“Ugh, it’s like hugging a statue,” she complained. “You’re too ripped.”

“Yep. Your hair looks rad.” He flicked her short, white-blond bob. She used to have long, dark blond curls like him.

“Aw, thanks.” She stepped back and turned her attention to the man standing behind him. “So this is the famous Landon Stackhouse. Jesus, you’re tall. How do you guys even kiss?” She slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide. “Shit. Sorry, Casey.”

Casey glanced sheepishly at Landon. “So, um. Okay. The thing is—”

“It’s okay,” Landon said, though his wide eyes and his pink cheeks suggested it probably wasn’t. He stuck out his hand, “Hi, I’m Landon.”

Brooke shook his hand, still looking like she wanted to die. “Hi. As you can see, my brother and I have the same lack of filter. But for real, I am so psyched to meet you because Casey has never brought anyone home ever. Well, this place isn’t home, but you know what I mean. It’s just awesome that he likes you so much. And that you sound so great. So, welcome to the family!”

“Oh my fucking god,” Casey groaned. “Welcome to the family?”

Brooke cringed. “Too soon?”

“Yeah, it’s too fucking soon. We’re not engaged.” Landon coughed. Casey turned to face him. “I’m not helping, am I?”

Landon shook his head.

Casey took a breath. He couldn’t believe he was fucking this weekend up already. They hadn’t stepped inside the house yet. “Sorry. Let’s, um. Let’s get our bags and shit. Brooke, help us carry gifts inside.”

They opened the back of the Jeep, which was packed with (badly) wrapped presents.

“Oooh,” Brooke said. “Is that big one for me?”

“No, it’s for Landon’s mom because she’s nice.”

“She is nice! Landon, your parents are adorable. I love them.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

“And I heard there’s going to be seafood chowder for dinner, so now I super love them.”

Landon smiled. “It’s kind of a tradition in our family, for Christmas Eve.”

“That’s awesome. We do different stuff every year. Dad loves to show off in the kitchen.”

Casey noticed Landon gazing around at their surroundings. There was a thick blanket of snow on the ground and covering the boughs of the endless evergreen trees that surrounded the house on all sides, except for a clearing that framed a spectacular view of a frozen lake. And then, behind all of that, were the majestic, jagged, and snow-covered mountains that Casey always thought looked like they’d been Photoshopped into the background. They were too incredible to be real.

“Wow,” Landon said.

“Ideal Christmas setting, right?”

“It doesn’t look real.”

“Right?” See? Landon got it.

When Brooke headed back to the house carrying a bag of gifts, Casey tugged on Landon’s arm. “Hey. Sorry about telling Brooke about us. And not telling you I told Brooke about us. That was shitty of me.”

“Thanks. But I guess it’s okay. I mean, I’ve been thinking maybe we should tell our families.”

Casey lit up. “Yeah?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s not a good idea, since...y’know.”

Casey didn’t know. “I think we should tell them, but if you need to talk to your parents first, that’s cool.”

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