“Adult time.” Jackson sat down on the floor and looked like he’d gone through six hours of cross fit.
“Seph’s here. He doesn’t classify as an adult yet.” Maxwell had immediately gone to Victoria, which he would’ve done anyway.
I groaned, partly because the first bit of mince pie had caused my stomach to protest that I was trying to force yet more food into it, but also because we’d never moved on from me being a kid.
“At what point will you see me as an adult, Maxwell?”
He sat down next to me and pulled Victoria onto his knee. “When you’ve had a long term relationship with a woman. Not a girl like your ex. She didn’t count.”
“She wasn’t a human, let alone a woman.” Payton’s muttering was actually quite loud.
“This was the girl you were with at university?” Maven had curled up in front of the fire, a mug of hot chocolate in her hands that I suspected was probably spiked with some of Mum’s Irish cream.
“Yep.” I really didn’t want to talk about her.
Christmas day hadn’t been a fun time on a couple of occasions. Cassie had come back with me for Christmas in our third year of university, only because her parents were away in Australia for the holiday and she had nowhere else to be. We hadn’t been getting on, and had only kind of gotten back together as the semester ended. I’d hoped she would’ve gone to her friend’s house instead, as I was pretty sure we were going to fall out. While we hadn’t been seeing each other – on the proverbial break – I’d made what I knew were probably poor choices and that at some point she was going to find out.
She did.
On Christmas morning.
While she was going through my phone when I was in the shower.
Luckily, it was a year when Max and Jackson had been in New York with Ava, and Claire had escaped for some Winter sun, probably worrying that Killian was going to turn up for kisses under the mistletoe, so it was just me, Callum and Payton there to witness the very dramatic fall out.
With a few declarations of undying love and a promise of a weekend away somewhere romantic, and we managed to get through Christmas dinner without anyone’s balls being boiled – mine by my mother for disrupting what was her favourite day.
“You’ll meet someone who’s right for you one day.” Payton patted my back. “When they’ve developed that computer program.”
“Thanks.” I was used to this and I knew it was in jest. I’d had enough serious conversations with my twin about being the only one who was single and the pressure I felt from that.
She’d reminded me of how she and Owen had met. She’d been completely anti-relationship, not interested in being with anyone. When they’d met, she’d kept him at arm’s length, in the friend-zone, until he’d managed to wangle himself into more than her bed.
When I’d talked to Owen, giving him the usual ‘don’t you dare hurt my sister’ shit, I’d also asked him why her? Payton was not the easiest of my siblings and I kind of worried at the time that she might just chew him up and spit him out. He’d responded simply,when you know, you know.
Now they were having a baby together.
“I’m thoroughly on the stay single forever team,” Maven stared at her mug.
Definitely spiked.
“Single doesn’t mean celibate, though, does it?” Imogen elbowed her hard.
Immy was the cousin I knew least well. She’d spent more time at the family home in New York when her brother and sisters were over in England, and had been the only one go to school in the States too. I’d never really known why and had just assumed it had something to do with her health. She was the youngest and the only one of the Greens to want to go into law, having just sat the New York Bar exam last year. She’d have been ideal as a new partner for us at Callaghan Green, but she was too inexperienced.
“At this moment in time, I never want to see another penis in my life, unless I’m changing Teddy’s diaper.” Maven tipped her head back and closed her eyes. “And I need to say thanks. I was dreading today, but you guys have got me through it in one piece.”
“It’s been a good day.” Mum came through the door now wearing what looked like Christmas pyjamas, fortunately cartoon ones rather than the ones that we knew Dad had snuck into her stocking. “I don’t think I’ll need to eat for the next twelve hours.” Her gaze landed on Max. “Next time might be your wedding breakfast. Nervous yet?”
He laughed. “My only worry is that one of these clowns might give some speech that’s not been planned and Vic will see the error of her ways.”
Victoria patted her belly and smiled. “Bit too late for that.” She looked at Maven. “And there will come a day when you do want to see a penis again. Promise you.”
Maven shook her head. “I think I’m done. We were supposed to announce our engagement to his family today.”
Crap. I wasn’t great at the whole this-is-how-it-ended stories. I tended to want to go and put my fist in someone’s face.
“Lucky escape then,” Payton said, picking one of the cold pigs-in-blankets that Dad had just put on the coffee table. “Just think what it would’ve been like if you’d found out he was a twat after you’d announced you were engaged.”
