“Are you sure you’re okay? If Benji is still around, we can-”
Immediately, I feel the need to squash my friend’s thinking that I’d give him another chance. I refuse to do that.
“I need to fess up to something.” I cut Ko off and feel four sets of eyes burning into my soul. Before I can even think about something rational—like just telling them that Benji is long gone—I’m concocting a tale about someone that I know they’ll approve of. “Collins… Collins and I can take the A-frame together—because we’ve been seeing each other for a little bit.”
Grace, Mav’s sister, covers her shocked expression with her glass of wine. Kodi’s eyes are the size of saucers while Darcy and Sinclair don’t look impressed or convinced.
“How long?” Darcy questions.
“A month or two,” I throw out, cataloging these details so that when I go to Collins and beg him to help me convince our friends we’re in a relationship, I can make sure he knows how this developed.
“And you’ve been hiding it this whole time?” Grace is the next to speak.
“We’ve been keeping it private, the whole Benji thing kind of threw a wrench into how I handle my relationships going forward.”
“I don’t buy it,” Sin, my best friend and the one who’d be able to call me on my bullshit, asserts. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and she’s shooting laser beams into my irises. “I’m going to call him over, surely he’ll want to fess up, considering we’ll find out in the mountains anyway.”
“No—” I fish for a good reason, “just let me talk to him before you out us to the whole group. You know how shy he is.”
“How did this happen?” Now it’s Kodi’s turn to see if I falter.
“As you know, he’s always been a support system for me, a safe place to go when things would get too difficult.”
“We could’ve been that for you, too, you know?” Sin sounds hurt, and I can’t blame her. Rather than going to my best friend when I was struggling, I ran to someone we met less than two years ago.
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“So after Benji, you were still hanging out?” Sin continues to prod for holes in my story.
“Yes, I was at his house all the time, not just to check on Precious while they were away for games. So much so that he was keeping my favorite snacks, tampons, and coffee creamerstocked.”Wait a minute… Nope. Not thinking about how thoughtful that is.“It just kind of naturally progressed. The more time we spent together and the more comfortable I got, the easier it was to see that there was potential for more. So we’re exploring that.”
“Why fess up now, then? Rather than just sneaking around in the mountains.” Darcy narrows her eyes at me, and I begin to sweat a little bit as she scrutinizes me.
“I’ve kept too much from you guys over the past year, and what better way to spend Christmas than cuddled up into a cute hockey player’s side?” I mean both of those statements wholeheartedly.
“Fine, but I won’t believe it until I see it.” Enid, who’s normally the passive one, says. Her eyes flitting back and forth between me and Collins. She briefly pauses, smiling softly at Conrad and Mace tossing a football back and forth.Ironic.
“Ladies, may I top you off?” Dominic bows as he opens the sliding glass door, holding a freshly opened bottle of white. Rather than responding, we all hold our glasses out for him as he pours. He lingers in front of Sin a moment longer than the rest of us before setting the bottle on the side table and joining the guys back in the grass.
“Okay, so roomie assignments. The Harts, the Reeds, the parents, the future Hoyers, plus Nik and Dom will take the big cabin. Grace and Jason can take the two-bedroom cabin with Sin. Then Collins and Harls get the A-frame. Does that work for everyone?” Kodi asks, seeking confirmation that everyone is comfortable with the arrangements. Of course, I’m comfortable with that; Collins and I have slept in the same vicinity before. Nothing crazy is going to happen if we sleep in the same bed for a week and a half.
“That works for me. Wait. Grace,” Sin lowers her voice, “are you guys loud?”
“Oh my God! Sin! You can’t just ask people that.” I screech.
“What! I’m just making sure I don’t need to bring my noise-canceling headphones for nighttime. The holidays make men ravenous.” Sin’s mischievous laugh bursts from her mouth.
“You may want to bring them,” Grace says straight-faced. In the next moment, we’re all doubled over, gasping for air from laughing so hard. All of the men have now turned their heads in our direction, causing us to straighten up, doing our best to act casual.
“Grace, you dirty dog. I knew you would fit in with us.” Sin hums.
“I am so ready for this trip and some uninterrupted time with everyone.” Kodi sighs contentedly.
“Cheers,” I say as I hold my wine glass into the air, waiting for everyone to clink theirs with mine.
“Where are you headed?” Sin asks me as she pours coffee into the biggest mug I’ve ever seen. She’s preparing to work her first twelve hours of the week, and the coffee will be needed.
“Collins’ place.” I smile at her.
