“Like DeDe is going to let anyone get a word in edgewise.” I darted my eyes around the room, hoping Drew would drop it. Dadwouldlet me take anytime off that I wanted, but I couldn’t go. Seeing Santa at Macy’s was one of those things I’d longed for as a kid but knew better than to ask for because Mom never had the time. Seeing my mother sad always broke my heart, and the memory of it still did.
Bruce and DeDe had a version of my mother that I hadn’t when I was their ages. One with a solid income, an adoring husband, and time. I knew my mother well enough to know if I went with them today, she’d let the guilt over what I’d missed out on take away from the joy she should have. Instead of reveling at what she could do for her kids now, she’d lament over how she couldn’t do them with me.
I didn’t want to see her eyes well up when they met mine, the both of us remembering when Christmas wasn’t the month-long celebration she had with my sister and brother. If I was honest, I did get a twinge of jealousy for how my siblings never had to worry about Mom like no child at their ages should have to or overhear her arguing with our landlord about our rent being late.
They all meant well, but falling all over me as an adult for what I went through as a kid only made it worse.
I always felt I had to be “on,” around my family, or else I’d be met with a chorus of “what’s wrong” or “are you okay?” Even though it was out of love, it was exhausting at times.
“Your father doesn’t want you to burn out on your break from school, and neither do we.” He raised a brow. “Promise me you’ll take it easy. At least cut the hours after Christmas before you go back.”
“I’m fine, Drew. I like working there, and I’m not getting burned out, I swear.”
I kept my head down as I walked back to my room. If I looked him in the eye, he’d see right through me.
After setting my coffee cup on my nightstand, my buzzing phone skidded across the surface.
Anthony:Four pages for you to look at today.
My lips lifted in a tired smile, the familiar stirring in my belly whenever I saw Anthony’s name pop up on my phone screen. We were only friends, but your heart doesn’t leap like that after a text fromonlya friend.
Victoria:Four? Did you stay up the whole night?
Anthony:Can’t help it when inspiration strikes, you know that.
Victoria:Very true.
Anthony:What are you doing up so early?
Victoria:Helping my brother find Alfred the elf.
Anthony:Your brother is named after Bruce Wayne and you guys named the elf Alfred? Is there a bat symbol painted on the side of the house?
Victoria:No, but I’m sure Drew thought of it.
Anthony:Drew sounds awesome. If you have time, I’ll show you in the break room today.
Victoria:What about lunch at the diner across the street? Change of scenery maybe and so none of the guys are into our conversation. Four pages sounds like a lot to discuss.
The three texting dots popped up then disappeared. We’d gone to the comic book store together on Halloween, but we were both headed there anyway. Lunch together at a diner was a simple, silly thing but somehow felt a lot more intimate than sitting at my desk or in the break room.
Anthony:Sure, that works. See you later.
I was too old to have a crush, but the more time we spent together, the more it felt like something much bigger than that.
Anthony and I were magnets, the pull between us getting stronger the closer we became. I was powerless and stuck, and yet there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
5
Anthony
“I can’t believehow far you’ve come with this in less than a month!”
Victoria beamed at me from across the booth at the diner. My stomach turned over from not knowing what to do with all that pride and awe radiating from her. The only thing I could manage was a shrug before taking a sip of my iced tea.
“Okay,” a sigh fell from her gorgeous lips before she shook her head. I thought if I willed away my attraction to Victoria, it would fade over time, not double whenever I was within a few feet of her. I could’ve gone back to keeping my distance like I did when I first worked here, and I should have.
But if I cut her off now, I’d lose the only real friend I had.
