I feel a twinge of guilt, hating that I have to lie to my sister.“Just after New Year’s.”
“Oh,” Sophie says, in a tone that somehow manages to pack twenty questions into a single syllable.She studies him with the intensity of a scientist examining a new specimen.“You never said.”
Fortunately I’m spared from replying because Alexander greets her.“It’s nice to meet you, Sophie.”
“You, too,” she murmurs thoughtfully.“You’re pretty good-looking.Better than that ugly-ass loser Chase.”
“Sophie!”I reprimand her with a frown.“Language!”
“What?”She shoots back, a scowl on her face.“He is an ugly-ass loser.He’s been going everywhere with Amber.Did you know Amber had Uncle Frank pressuring Dad into making sure you come home this Christmas?He was pretty mean to Dad about it, and Dad was angry for days.He didn’t want to call you, but Uncle Frank then went to Gam-Gam, and Gam-Gam was all like ‘What if this is my last Christmas,’ and Dad cried over that, but I told him she always says that?—”
“Sophie, stop.”I put my hands on her shoulders.“Breathe.”
My sister takes a deep breath, and then launches right back into the story.“Anyway, Mom said you’re a big girl, and she was really happy that you weren’t with Chase because he’s kind of a dick?—”
“Sophie!”I scold her now.“Where did you learn to talk like this?!”
My sister shuts up, giving me a sullen look.“I’m not a baby.Everyone talks like this.”
“Not you.”I pinch her cheek.“And don’t worry about Amber and Chase.I’ll deal with them.”
My sister looks Alexander up and down and snickers.“You levelled up.This is your boss, right?I’ve seen his picture on your phone.You know, the screenshot of his photo from that Gala last year, and you said he looked really?—”
“Okay.”I clap my hand over her mouth, my face feeling hot.“That’s quite enough out of you, you little chatterbox.”
“How interesting,” Alexander murmurs, his eyes glinting.
Sophie pulls my hand away from her mouth, giving me a rueful look.“I thought he knew.What about the?—?”
“Sophie, shut up,” I groan.
She mimics zipping her mouth, and Alexander just smiles.“I have something for you, Sophie.”He holds out the shopping bag from the jewelry store, and my jaw drops.
“Wait, that’s why you went in there?!”I exclaim.
Alexander ignores me, focusing on Sophie.“A small greeting gift,” he says.
Sophie eagerly pulls out an elegant box, and my eyes widen in horror.Winter Wonderland Jewelers is notorious in Silverbell Hollow for being ridiculously overpriced, especially during the Christmas season.Their jewelry is all customized and flawless, but their prices are too much.
“Alexander,” I hiss.“You didn’t need to—” But my sister’s already opening the box, revealing a snowflake bracelet with small crystals and a delicate chain, perfectly sized for a teenager’s wrist.
Sophie’s eyes go round.“Whoa.”
“Alexander,” I say reproachfully, “that’s too much.”
He shrugs, completely unrepentant.“I’ve never had a younger sister before, so I thought I would take advantage of this opportunity to spoil yours.Do you like it, Sophie?I didn’t know what you would prefer.”
Sophie grins, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist.“Jewelry’s fine,” she says, admiring how it catches the light.“I also like baking supplies, mystery books, and vintage band t-shirts.Oh, and those fancy colored pens for bullet journaling.And chocolate-covered espresso beans, but Mom won’t let me have those.And?—”
I clamp my hand over her mouth again.I’m going to have to start carrying a roll of duct tape with me.“Don’t listen to her,” I tell Alexander, mortified by my sister’s blatant hint-dropping.
Sophie pulls my hand away, undeterred.“Also, I’ve been wanting to learn photography, and noise-canceling headphones would be great for when Olivia visits because she talks in her sleep?—”
“That’s enough!”I cut her off, my cheeks burning.“For god’s sake, Sophie.”
She just smirks up at me, then loops her arm through mine.“I’m kidding.Mostly.”She twists her wrist, watching the snowflake bracelet sparkle.“But this is pretty awesome.Thanks, Alexander.”
I sigh, exasperated, but can’t help smiling at the sight of my sister’s delight.When I glance up at Alexander, he’s watching us with a peculiar expression—softer than I’ve ever seen him, something almost wistful in his eyes.Our gazes meet, and I sigh.There’s no point in telling him to stop.It’s not like he’ll listen to me.
