Then he smiles, and my stupid heart rattles in my chest as if it can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing.
6
Damon
“Hi, Trixie, Polly,” I say, already bracing myself. My twin sisters glare at me from the screen. Ellis lifts his head from where he’s seated next to me on the bed against the headboard, giving me a curious look. I ignore his stare and tell my sisters, “Please don’t be angry.”
“You promised you’d be home. It’s barely noon… maybe you can still get a flight? Tonight is Christmas Eve, Damon!” Trixie asks.
“No, sorry… flights are all still booked. Heather said the soonest she can get us out of here is on the twenty-seventh.”
Her eyebrows furrow, and her twin does the same freakishly identical expression. Anybody else wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. “Seriously, Damon. You suck for this. We even made the banana bread you’re so obsessed with, just like we do every year.”
“Aww.” I cock my head to the side. My sisters’ banana bread is incredible, and it’s one of the things I look forward to every timeI go home. It’s tradition at this point. “It’s okay. The bakery here should have banana bread.” Maybe. I wouldn’t know. “I’m sure it won’t be as good, but I’ll eat that so that I can pretend I’m home with everyone. I’ll even watchLove, Actuallylike we always do.”
“Ugh. We hate you.” It’s Polly speaking this time. “You need to come home as soon as you get a flight. If you’re not here by New Year’s, we’re disowning you.”
I put a hand to my chest. “I promise to be there by New Year’s.”
The girls hand the phone to my parents, who predictably do not mince their words either. The entire time we’re speaking, Ellis watches. Honestly, Ellis has been surprisingly behaved since we got to the Hilton last night. I expected him to be extra annoying today since he seems to be mostly recovered, but no—he’s actually been… pleasant? I’d say it’s nice, but I can’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop.
I’m not used to us getting along.
“Love you,” Mom and Dad say in unison.
“Love you, too.”
Mom blows me a kiss and I end the call. Without thinking, I look over at Ellis, who still hasn’t taken his eyes off me. Our gazes collide, and unlike any normal person, he doesn’t take that as his cue to look away. Ellis is uncaring that I’ve caught him staring so brazenly.
I’m the one who shifts in my seat instead.
“Your tradition is banana bread,” he states. “And watching holiday romance movies.”
His tone’s dry, and I couldn’t read into it even if I tried. Still, my hackles rise. “I know it’s silly, but—”
“Never said it was silly.”
I snap my mouth shut. Ellis hops off the bed in a too-swift motion that makes him take a moment, as if he got dizzy just from that. He puts his arms out as if to balance himself and blinks slowly.
“Are you sure you’re all better now?” I ask.
“Yes!”
He’s lying. I fucking know he is, judging from the way there’s still a slight sway to his steps. Always so stubborn though, Ellis puts his coat on and grabs his shoes, then turns to give me a wide grin. He gives me a mock salute.
“What… what is going on right now?” I ask.
“Leave everything to me, Dee.”
“Leavewhatto you?”
“I’ve got this! I’ll be back soon!”
“Ellis, what’s going on?” When he ignores me and makes his way toward the door, I raise my voice. “Ellis! Are you going outside? You just got better. At least cover up more! Wear something over your head! A scarf!”
“I didn’t bring any of that shit!”
The door slams behind him, and I sit here, utterly lost.
