“Vince?” Ryan asks. “Glad to have you. Please. Make yourself at home.”
Introductions blur after that. Ryan’s parents. An aunt who flew in from New York. A cousin whose name I immediately lose. I shake hands with everyone, and I can feel curiosity burning off them, like they’re all wondering who I am to Fletcher and why I’m here. It makes my skin burn even hotter. I hate that I’m already sweating.
Georgie barrels into Fletcher like a missile, hugging him from the side. “Hey, Dad.”
He laughs. “Hey, kiddo. Merry Christmas.”
He holds a couple of packages up for her. “Since you’re staying here, figured I’d give these to you now.”
I perk up. “Oh, I got something for you too.”
Georgie’s eyes widen. “You did?”
“I ran out of time to wrap it, but here.” I pull a small box out of my vest pocket.
She squeals when she sees what it is.
“A guitar tuner?”
“Not just a tuner. There are some custom picks in the box too. They’re from a company I love that supports indie artists.”
She hugs me tight. “Thanks!”
Georgie starts to unwrap her father’s gifts, but he stops her. “Ah, no. You know the rule.”
“Dad.”
“Nope. You can open them on Christmas morning.”
She sighs, then gestures to the boys beside her.
“These are my brothers. Tegan and Tanner.”
“Tanner is the one with braces,” Fletcher whispers, since the boys are otherwise identical.
The two teenagers wave. Tegan is spinning a football in his hand. “You look like you play.”
I sway a little. “Used to.”
“Yeah? Wanna play before it gets dark?”
It surprises me how much I want to say yes, but there’s no way I can—not even standing in one spot. The quick motions and eye-hand coordination are just not in my grasp tonight. Maybe not ever again.
I swallow hard. “Thanks, but I’m going to sit this one out.”
I feel Fletcher’s attention flick to me—checking, always checking.
The boys shrug it off easily. “That’s cool,” Tanner says easily. “We’ll play cards later. You can join us then.”
“Do you know Spades?” Tegan asks.
I scoff playfully. “Do I know Spades—of course I do.”
They both grin.
Something in my chest loosens as they walk away, all smiles.
Fletcher’s eyes soften.
