“The earrings you got me are freaking amazing. Thank you so much,” Kate says, leaning into my shoulder.
“You’re welcome. I actually made them.”
“Seriously? Do you sell them? Because you should.”
“I do. I just haven’t had the time to make any recently because I started to manage the coffee shop.”
“Well, you have an eye for design. You should make it into a career.”
I smile and shake my head. “It’s just a hobby.”
A moment passes. “Can I ask you a question?” Kate asks wearily.
I turn my head to look at her. “Sure.”
“Is Autumn’s dad in the picture? There was no mention of him today.”
This isn’t a new question. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked this, I would be rich. But my stomach sinks anyway. It’s a topic I hate with every fiber of my being.
I give her a tight-lipped smile and tell her what I tell everyone. “I had a one-night stand my freshman year of college. I didn’t know who the guy was and couldn’t find him after I found out I was pregnant.”
Her eyebrows shoot to her forehead in shock. “Wow.” Her gaze moves to Autumn, and she smiles. “Well, she is not lacking any love, that’s for sure. She’s probably the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen. And she’s smart too.”
I laugh. “Too smart, that’s for sure. I’m extremely blessed. She keeps me on my toes and humbles me.”
I look out at the guys and catch Declan riding a small barrel to the left. Why does it make him even hotter knowing that he surfs?
“You like my brother.”
My head snaps to Kate. “Um. Of course, I do. We’re friends.”
She smirks. “Friends, my ass. No. You like him like him. I think he likes you, too.”
I shake my head. “No. Really. We’re just friends. Did uh… did he tell you how we met?”
Her brows furrow, and she shakes her head.
“We met online in September.” Her eyes widen in shock, but I continue. “It was on a dating app. But we realized we were better off as friends and kept in contact. We didn’t know who each other was because we didn’t do profile pictures that showed our faces. When he moved in next door, the only reason I recognized him was because of his tattoos… it’s been a little awkward ever since.”
“That’s… crazy.”
I nod my head and shrug my shoulders. “Anyways, we’ve been friends from the beginning. I actually have a date with someone just after New Year's.”
“Mmm,” she hums and looks towards the guys, where they’re heading in from their session.
Declan tosses his hair back as he gets out of the water, just like those models do in the cologne commercials. Only he’s not trying, and it makes him look like sex on a stick. I divert my gaze because I also notice how his bulging muscles are visible through his thick wetsuit, and it’s a little bit distracting. Especially since we’re just friends.
Everyone congregates to where Kate and I are sitting, and we finally head back to the house to finish out Christmas day.
While the guys get changed, the women gather around the Christmas tree and start back in on the mimosas. Autumn is playing with her new toys, and Home Alone is on in the background.
“This is probably the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” Kate says to us as we sip out of our champagne glasses. “Christmas with my parents was always stuffy, and Declan hasn’t been home in over a decade. It’s not the same when he isn’t there.”
He hasn’t been home in over a decade?
I want to ask questions, but the guys join us right then.
“So, Penny. Tell me about this date you have after the new year,” Kate says, and my hand freezes mid-drink.
