Jake (9:22 a.m.):I have a gift for you too. Can I stop by to drop it off before you head to your uncle’s?
He’d been planning to give the gift to Rye the next time he saw him, which he’d assumed would be tomorrow or in a couple of days at most. But giving him the gift on Christmas Day would be much, much better.
Rye’s reply came almost immediately.
Rye (9:23 a.m.):Yes, that would be perfect
And Jake couldn’t help grinning again, even as he heard his sister giggling.
“You sound like a teenager, you know,” Jake said, leveling her a look. It was supposed to communicate his annoyance, but he was sure it must have fallen short, especially when she snorted another laugh.
“Youlooklike a teenager, staring at your phone with stars in your eyes,” Krista teased.
“I don’t have—” Jake cut himself off, knowing he’d lost this battle a long time ago. She was right. Just like always. Dammit. “I... can’t...” He shook his head. She knew, right? Even if a part of him felt something more than just friendship with Rye, it wasn’t something he could give in to and really let himself feel. Not... yet.
“I know,” Krista said softly. “And I’m sorry. It’s just... it’s been a while. Ifever, actually. I mean, even when you were with Steve, you didn’t—”
“That wasn’t really anything. Steve and I just went out twice, and it was obvious right away that we were better off as friends.”
“My point exactly. I’ve never seen you like this before. It’s different.”
That’s because Rye’s different, he thought, but he didn’t say anything. He just looked back down at his phone and over the last few messages again.
I have a gift for you.
Something tugged at his heart, and it was warm and felt good. He wanted to be annoyed at it—and at how he just knew his sister was probablygrinning madly at whatever the hell his expression looked like right then—but he really couldn’t.
Jake (9:25 a.m.):I can stop by in about fifteen minutes. Does that work?
Rye (9:26 a.m.):Yes!
Jake (9:26 a.m.):Great! See you then :)
Rye (9:27 a.m.):Okay!
Jake stuck his phone back in his pocket and braced himself as he glanced back up at his sister.
Yep, she had that annoyingly knowing grin on her face again and that I-told-you-so glint in her eyes.
“So, uh, I’m going to be heading over to Rye’s for just a bit,” he started, and he tried not to react when she pursed her lips in amusement. “He says he’s got a gift to give me, and I need to give him his too.” And then, preemptively, because he knew what was coming, he shook his head. “It’s nothing more than that, Kris. Really.”
“Oh, I believe you.”
“Good.”
“Uh-huh.”
Jake let out a short breath and ran a hand through his hair. “So... I’ll just go then? You’re okay to hold down the fort here? I shouldn’t be long.”
Krista just smiled at him again, all of the tease in her eyes gone. “Yeah,” she said. “Take your time. We’re fine here.”
“Tell Rye I said hi and merry Christmas!” Phil called out from his spot over on the living room floor, where he still lay sprawled out, reading.
Jake grimaced, wondering just how much Phil had overheard. “Will do, kiddo.” He smiled tightly at his sister, who laughed and gave him a reassuring nod.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “He’s totally, joyfully oblivious.” And she stepped up to him and gave him a small hug. “Go on. Drive safe. We’ll be here when you get back.”
“Yeah. Thank you, Kris.” He hugged her back, lingering in the embrace for an extra few seconds. Then he released her and headed off to his bedroom to grab Rye’s gift.
