“And you have that voucher we gave you for your birthday,” Evie says, her eyes brightening. “If you end up having to pay a bit, I assume you’d be staying with Spencer, so you wouldn’t have to worry about accommodation.”
“That’s another thing, though,” I say. “Staying with Spencer.”
“He showed me pictures of his flat one day at the diner, and there are two bedrooms,” Stella says.
“And Spencer is a gentleman,” Louisa points out. “He wouldn’t pressure you to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“But maybe youwouldbe ready if you were officially dating,” Evie says, waggling her eyebrows. When I smack her arm, she holds up her hands in defense. “Just saying!”
My friends giggle, and I laugh along with them. It feels good, like a release of the tension that’s been mounting inside me.
There’s a light tapping sound on the door a second before it opens and Jordy peeks her head in. I expect her to ask what’s going on or tell us we should get back to the party. Instead, she says, “I’d like to say I’m sorry for eavesdropping, but I’m really not. Can I come in?”
My laugh turns to one of disbelief as I motion for her to join us. This kid. I’m going to miss hersomuch.
“Okay, I’m going to get straight to the point here,” she says, pausing by the side of my bed. “Everything your friends have said is right. But I’m going to ask you what you asked me when I told you about moving to Calgary: if no one else was a factor, if you weren’t worried it was too soon, if you weren’t afraid of disappointing your friends by being away for Christmas, what would you do? Would you want to go to London with Spencer? Don’t think about it, just answer. Yes or no.”
“Yes,” I say immediately.
My friends clap and squeal as they hug me awkwardly from our seated positions. I make strange hiccupy sounds as I half laugh, half cry.
“There’s just one problem.” My voice is muffled against someone’s shoulder. We’re basically a big pile of limbs as we crowd together in a squishy group hug, and I don’t even know who’s shoulder I’m speaking into. “What if Spencer has changed his mind and doesn’t want me to go with him?”
We begin the process of disentangling ourselves, and from somewhere to my left, Jordy says, “There’s only one way to find out.”
*****
I intend to pull Spencer aside for a private moment when we finally leave my room, but the guys draw us into conversation and dessert, and someone suggests we get started on opening presents.
Fergus offers to hand out gifts while we all crowd into the living room. My three-seater couch ends up with four people crammed onto it, plus Spencer perched on the arm of the couch, while Wesley takes the chair with Evie in his lap. Jordy and I throw cushions on the floor and sit near the tree.
It doesn’t take long for Jordy to realize almost all of the gifts are for her. It’s hilarious to watch as her eyes get bigger and bigger and her cheeks turn so red they rival Stella’s Christmas sweater. While I was making the arrangements last night, each of my friends asked about gifts, and I suggested they focus on picking up something small for Jordy, and we could exchange our gifts over the Christmas holidays.
“Why not just shine a spotlight directly on me?” Jordy mutters. “This is…too much. I didn’t get anything for anyone.”
“No one expected you to,” I tell her. “None of us want to make you feel uncomfortable by showering you with gifts, but I thought you deserved to be spoiled a bit before your big, fresh start.”
“Every single one of us here knows what it’s like to start over in some way,” Evie says. I hadn’t thought of that before, but she’s right. “Hollie said you bought some new clothes, but we thought you could use a few more things. Stuff you might not buy for yourself.”
My friends all add their encouragement and soon Jordy is tearing into the packages, oohing and ahhing over the variety of goodies inside, which include things like makeup, nail polish, hair products, face masks and scrubs, and gift cards. Despite the smile on her face, I see the way she blinks rapidly to hold back tears, which makes me fight to hold back my own.
After she opens the last gift, Fergus says, “Check your email when you get a chance. My knowledge of things enjoyed by seventeen-year-old girls is limited, but I know what it’s like to be welcomed with open arms by this lot.” He waves a hand around to indicate the room at large. “I thought you might appreciate being able to come back to Bellevue for a visit, so I got you a flight voucher. Hope that’s okay.”
This seems to be the thing that finally breaks the dam for Jordy. Tears spill down her cheeks, despite the brilliant smile on her face. She dives forward to hug me, then leaps to her feet and works her way around the room, hugging each of my friends in turn.Herfriends now too, I realize with a sharp, bittersweet tug in my chest.
“A flight voucher,” Stella says, appearing by my side. “Clever Fergus. Have you thought more about using yours, Hols?”
“Are you thinking of traveling over the holidays?” Spencer asks from my other side. I jump and turn to face him. Last I checked, he was still sitting on the arm of the couch, talking to Jordy.
“Yes, actually,” I say before I can lose my nerve. “Hey, will you come help me with something in the kitchen?” He nods and heads in that direction while I whirl back to face Stella. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I hiss.
She gives a languid shrug, looking far too pleased with herself. “Maybe. I was worried your brain might have been busy trying to overrule your heart while we were delayed with opening presents. I thought I’d give you a little nudge just in case.”
“You are simultaneously the worst and the best, and I love you.” I kiss her cheek and hurry after Spencer. He’s waiting for me in the kitchen, appearing perplexed that I didn’t follow immediately.
“Where were you thinking about traveling?” he asks.
“Well, that’s up to you.”
