Gavin’s blue eyes glimmer down at me. “You mean you didn’t?”
“It was difficult to resist, I’ll admit.”
His smile is wide and easy as he pushes himself up from the sofa. “I’m going to see if he needs help carrying the tea.”
When I watch Gavin walk away, I get the strangest impression that we could actually be friends if we let ourselves. Too bad I’ll only be here a few more weeks. With how much time we’ve spent together the last few days, I already feel like I’ve been here for weeks. Once my family arrives, the time is going to fly.
Ifmy family arrives? No. I can’t subject myself to weeks of this with only Gavin for company, nor a Christmas without the people I love most in the world.
A knock sounds on the door, jarring me from my melancholy thoughts. I look from it to the kitchen, but no one seems to have heard. The knock sounds again, so I go to answer it. Surely the men will be out shortly anyway. I swing the door open to find a man standing on the other side. His coat is dark and every bit of him is covered by winter wear, except for a bit of red hair peeking out from his beanie. His eyes are sharp and his chin strong. He can’t be much older than me.
“You aren’t Douglas,” he says.
“No, sorry. He’s inside, if you’ll give me a minute.”
“Ah, the American.” The man nods like he understands. “Callie Winter.”
Goodness, news travels fast around here. I would be extremely weirded out if it wasn’t for the fact that every single person I’ve met so far has known who I was before I’ve known them. Every. Single. One.
Well, except for the hotel concierge. I had to introduce myself to him.
“How is your back?” he asks, a shade of concern falling over his features.
Ah. I see now. “The doctor.”
“Guilty.”
“The only thing you’re guilty of, Rory, is letting all my warm air out,” Douglas says from somewhere behind me. “Are you staying? Because I’ll need another cup.”
I step aside. Rory stomps the snow from his boots a few times before coming into the house and closing the door. “I won’t stay now that I know you have company, but I wanted to pop in since I was passing by.”
“On your way to see this one, no doubt,” Douglas says, looking at Gavin.
“Actually, Rhona called me. But I’m always glad for a visit with the two of you.” He looks at Gavin for a long moment, then to me again. “How are you faring, Callie?”
“I’m well, thank you. Gavin made me ice my back that entire day, and I really haven’t felt much of a twinge since.”
“Good man.”
Gavin sits on the sofa and lifts his tea. He sips at it, eyebrows raised. Something passes between the men, a silent conversation they both seem to understand, though it flies entirely over my head.
“I should be on my way,” Rory says. “Glad to see all is well here.”
“Of course all is well here. Why wouldn’t all be well?” Douglas asks.
No one states the obvious snowstorm. I watch Gavin and Rory exchange another look, clearly full of meaning, before Rory gives me a wide smile. “Are you coming to our ugly jumper party tomorrow?”
“That’s still on?” Gavin says.
“You’re in the group chat, Gav.” Rory lifts one eyebrow slightly.
“I’ll be there,” Douglas says, then sips his tea.
I know a jumper is a sweater, and I’ve been to plenty of uglyChristmas sweater parties before. But all my hideous sweaters are back in California. “I don’t have anything to wear. I’m afraid I didn’t travel prepared.”
Rory nods at Gavin. “He’s got an extra.”
These men are on a knowing the contents of their closets level of friendship?
