“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be here, would I?”
“How does she not seem interested?”
“She’s tired a lot. Whenever I try anything, she’s got a fucking headache. She’s been distant.”
“Maybe she genuinely has a headache.” I chuckle and knock his arm. “She lives with you, after all.”
He glares at me, and I wipe away my grin. “If she’s tired, maybe she’s working too hard. Tell her to take some days off.”
“She won’t do that with the Christmas in July Festival. It’s our busiest month yet. You know what she’s like. She puts her heart and soul into everything. It’s just lately she hasn’t been giving me the same attention.”
In the corner of my eye, a shadow appears at the back door, blocking out the sun. I lift my head and see Glory wrapped in a towel, standing in my doorway. Jumping from the chair, I wave my arms as if I’m being attacked by a scourge of mosquitos.
“What are you doing?” Gray says with a wrinkle deepening between his brow.
Her eyes widen before she darts back outside. I drop back in the chair, holding my thumping chest.
“You all right, man?” Gray furrows his brow as he scans the room.
I pant out the words. “There was a bee. Did you see it?”
Now he looks even more confused. “Since when have you been scared of bees?”
“It was a big one.” I grab the beer from the table and gulp it down. Anything to calm the pulse in my neck. “Sorry, man. You were saying about Cam.”
“Right. I put my hand on her stomach today and she went all weird. She knows I love every bit of her. It just felt wrong how she tensed up when I had my hands on her. Like she has the ick.”
I squeeze his shoulder. “I think you need to have this conversion with her, man. Tell her how you feel.” And do it now so I can take care of your sister. I wince at that last thought. I’m the worst friend ever.
He runs a hand over his face with a long sigh. “I know. I’m just scared of the outcome.”
“You have nothing to worry about. I’ve never known two people who belong together more than the two of you.” Other than me and Glory, but this can never be a long-term thing.
GLORY
“Thanks for helping today, Glory,” Gray says as I round the corner of the counter.
“It’s fine. I need the extra cash.”
“Oh?”
“I’m saving up to move to LA.” A smile spreads across my face each time I think of moving. To be at the centre of the moviemaking business and also be close to a certain someone feels like all my Christmas wishes come true.
“Still? I thought—” Gray bites his lip as though he’s stopping himself from saying more.
“What?”
He clears his throat and lifts the spout to the brand new urn, filling a pot with water.
“Nothing. If you need to talk to anyone, I’m here. And Cam. You can confide in her if it’s something you can’t talk to me about.”
My eyebrows pull inwards. “Why are you being all weird?”
The aroma of sweet tea drifts around me, a delicious scent of summer and home. I’ll miss this when I’m gone.
“I’m not being weird. Just want you to know that whatever happens, me and Cam are here for you.”
“I know.” I pull my apron from the hanger and loop it around my waist. The words ‘The Glory of Christmas’ on my apron sparkle under the counter spotlights. I’ve never lived anywhere but here, and I can’t imagine moving away, but if I want to work my way up to an art director, LA is the place to be.
