“Malcolm Geer.” Malcolm reaches over me to shake Nick’s hand.
“Nick Harlon,” he returns. “Kate’s date.”
My arms go limp at Malcolm’s waist, whipping my eyes up to his. Dread swims in my gut at Nick’s response. The excitement I felt from seeing my best friend quickly fizzles as I see the smile on his face shift into a scowl. He nods at Nick, refusing to meet my eyes.Crap.
His shock is no surprise. I’ve blindsided him. I was going to tell him as soon as I saw him. I was going to spill the truth that I’m so tired of feeling lonely and desperate for love that instead of attending this party with him, like I’ve done for every party for the last two years, I brought a stranger.
But stupid Nick beat me to the punch.
“Nice to meet you,” Malcolm says through gritted teeth before reaching into my trunk to collect the rest of the containers.
“I’d be careful with those. They’re dairy free.” Nick chuckles as he walks toward the house. Malcolm draws in a quick breath as he puts the containers under one arm and shuts my rickety trunk with the other.
“He’s a catch,” Malcolm grumbles as we round the side of my car.
“We’re still getting to know each other.” I bite my nail, nervous jitters jolting their way across my arms and legs.
“So…a date.” It’s not a question as Malcolm clenches his jaw. The edge in his tone lingers in the air as we shuffle our way through the lawn.
“I just… I dunno. I figured I’d try to find an actual date this year.” I choke on the worddate, the humid air doing its darndest to suffocate me.
“Is it because we lost at Jingle Shots last year?” he jokes, and I feel relieved at his effort. I know he’s upset with me for not telling him about Nick, but the man never dwells on piddly nonsense. And he seems to never get mad at me. I love him for it. I hate when people are mad at me. Especially him.
“Last year was rigged, and everyone knows it. We should’ve won!” I yell toward the people in the house. Not that anyone will hear me over the sporadic caroling and clinking of drinks happening, but I stomp my foot in protest anyway, driving my point home.
“Why, then?” He stays by my side as he asks, walking in step with me, his long legs forcing themselves to take smaller strides, always matching mine. He does that, no matter where we go. He’s always keeping his steps in tune with mine—probably because he knows I can’t keep up with his nine-foot-long legs.
“Why what?” I trail off, taking in the splendor of holiday cheer before me.
Laughter and chatter mixed with Christmas tunes flow from the open door of the house as Nick lets himself inside. I roll my eyes as he points back at me and Malcolm as we make our way slowly to the house. A few aunties’ and uncles’ heads poke out in the door frame, looking at Nick, then at me, followed by whispers, gasps, and shaking of heads. Nick has for sure told them he’s my date, and now I have to answer to my entire family.Why did I do this to myself?
“Why the date?” His voice is a timid whisper as he halts at the bottom of the porch steps, just a few feet to go before we reach the mini North Pole that awaits us. I stop next to him.
The question of the century:Why did I bring a date?
This is the perfect scenario to lie. Right here, right now. Just do it, Kate. Lie to your best friend. Tell him you just felt like bringing a date. Don’t tell him that you’re sad and alone and feeling so desperate to find someone that you started online dating a month ago. Don’t tell him you hit rock bottom and threw all your standards out the window by bringing Nick. All just to avoid telling your family at “Christmas” that yes, you are still single, and no, you don’t foresee grandbabies in the future.Again. Not that I want tons of babies. I don’t even know what Iwant a year from now. But the reality that I am as single as my Aunt Edna, after vowing her life to celibacy at the age of fifty, is enough to make me want to curl up and die.
“I don’t know.” I shrug and kick at the fake snow on the steps in front of me. “I’m just…tired of being alone.” I guess the truth is happening.
Malcolm grabs my elbow. “You’re not alone.” His eyes go a shade darker, if that’s even possible with how crystal blue they are. “You have me.”
Something in his voice weighs on me. Is he…hurt?I expected him to be disappointed that I kept this dating thing a secret, but this feels different.
“I— You— Yes, I do. But…” Words are hard. “You know what I mean,” I whisper.
His throat bobs as he watches me, eyes twinkling under the Christmas lights. But it’s not a happy twinkle. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do. A part of me feels like I’m abandoning him in this weird and cruel world to go find my happily ever after. I want him to find his too.
“We could—”
“If you kids don’t hurry it up, I’ll die before this party is over!” Lola’s voice booms from the doorway, cutting me off.
“Sorry, Lola.” Malcolm beams at my grandma. She blows him a kiss before pointing her finger at me, an unspokenhurry upif I ever did see one.
“We’re coming.” I can’t help but roll my eyes at her. She doesn’t like that. She waves me off as she shuffles away, mumbling curse words under her breath.
I turn back to face Malcolm. “Look, I—” But he’s already walking up the steps.
“Come on. I don’t wanna be on the naughty list,” he calls over his shoulder before stepping into the house.
