Small towns are such gossips. I’m pretty sure Sean gets his information from one of the girls he works with, because she’s friendly with Sarah. Not that it’s a secret or anything.
What is surprising is that no one saw Reed and I kissing at the Christmas tree farm. No one from around here anyway. Sean would’ve had the answers to his questions if that were the case.
Either way, I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I take another drink and then fill Sean and Vic in on my visits to the dairy farm, probably in way more detail than either of them wanted.
When I finish my drink, Vic is only too happy to snatch up my empty glass and head to the bar for refills. I laugh as I watch him hurry away. “Too much?”
Sean snorts. “I think that’s more than he ever wanted to know about a cow’s internal organs.” He takes a quick glance back at the bar, then leans over the table, voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m thinking about getting Vic a ring for Christmas.”
It takes a second for the meaning to register. My eyebrows shoot up. “Fuck, really?” I’m obviously way too loud because Sean glares and shushes me.
“Yes,” he hisses. “Please act like we’re talking about boring shit. Vic’s way too clever as it is.”
I try and school my features, but my smile won’t go away. I’m so fucking happy for him. For both of them. “That’s amazing. And congratulations.”
“He hasn’t said yes yet.”
“He will, though.” There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Vic’s as crazy about Sean as he is about Vic.
Sean bites his lip, uncharacteristically nervous. “You don’t think it’s too soon?”
I shake my head. “Nope. You love each other.”
“We do.” He grins, and warmth fills me at how he positively glows with happiness.
“Then it’s definitely not too soon.”
After a beat he says, “Are you going to get Reed one?”
“No!” Is he crazy?
“I don’t mean a ring, you idiot. A Christmas present.”
Oh. Right. “Er...” To be fair, I haven’t even given it a thought. I mean I know Christmas is in twelve days, so it’s not like I didn’t know it was coming, but the idea of getting Reed something never occurred to me. “Should I?”
“I don’t know, Jer. How close have the two of you got since he moved in?” He’s not teasing me this time. This is Sean asking me a serious question. One I think I can answer honestly, without breaking Reed’s trust. “I’m not sure if we’re that close.” And that stings a little. I’d like to say we were getting there, but I have no idea if a Christmas present from me would send him running.
I don’t have time to dwell on it, though, because Vic’s heading back with drinks and he’s not alone.
“Look who I found.” He sets the drinks on the table, and I think I manage to thank him, but all my attention is on Reed, standing next to him. He smiles when he sees me.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” I smile back, fully aware of Sean watching us, but I don’t care because Reed is a sight to behold. Hair a tousled mess, and skin flushed from the cold, his bright pink cheeks make his blue eyes standout more than ever, and I can’t look away.
Vic clears his throat, startling us both, and Reed’s flush deepens as he hurries to sit down. “How’s work going?”
Reed relaxes bit by bit as he fills Sean and Vic in on his new job and the people he works with. I’ve heard most of this before, and while I’m still listening to him, because he gets animated when he gets going and I love watching him like that, my mind wanders a little to mine and Sean’s earlier conversation.
Should I be getting Reed a Christmas present? Are we in that sort of relationship? Are we even in a relationship at all? And if I did get him one, what the hell would it be?
When Sean kicks me under the table, I tune back in to realise there’s a pause in the conversation and everyone’s looking my way. “What?”
Reed’s looking at me with what I think is a mix of nerves and... excitement? I look to Sean for help, and he doesn’t miss a beat.
“I was just asking if you and Reed wanted to come for a few drinks on Christmas Eve. If you’re not working, that is.”
I have absolutely no idea how to answer that and I want to kick Sean for putting us both on the spot. I glance at him, but he looks oblivious. And maybe he is. As far as he’s concerned, both Reed and I are his friends, so why wouldn’t he invite us both round. It just sounds so coupley and... and it’s possible I’m overthinking this.
