Finally giving up when the clock says four a.m., I throw my covers back and slip out of bed. There’s always work to be done,international calls to make, marketing campaigns to reject or approve, and budgets to review.
However, after grabbing my coffee and opening my laptop at the kitchen island, I’m still distracted.
One quick glance just to make sure it really happened,I tell myself, my hand already reaching for the phone in the pocket of my plaid pajama pants.
Swiping up and putting my face in view of the camera, it opens with Zeke’s contact already on display. I’d forgotten it was the last thing I’d looked at before trying to go to sleep.
Those full lips stun me into silence every time. The picture is dark since we never turned any lights on, lest we give away our position in the basement, and Zeke’s eyes are slightly out of focus because instead of looking into the camera, he’s looking at me in the frame.
I don’t know how long I sit here dissecting everything I can from this image when my text notifications start going off nonstop.
My family are early risers, and with Lukas’s kids being little, the excitement of Santa is too much to keep them in bed past five, and currently, it’s close to seven back home.
I answer the texts with a FaceTime call, and a sigh of sadness ripples through me as my brother answers.
“Tal! Merry Christmas!” He spins the camera around so I can watch my nieces tear into the presents on the floor. “Girls, say Merry Christmas to Uncle Talon.”
“Merry Christmas, Uncle Talon!” the oldest two shout in unison. Their squeals of laughter wrap around me like the hug I’m so desperate for.
I miss them.
I wish I were there.
And then I remember Zeke and I are having lunch today, and that he, too, is alone. It instantly makes me feel better aboutbeing out here during the holidays because he shouldn’t be by himself.
Luke and I catch up quickly, but I don’t want to take Luke’s attention away from Annie and the girls for too long. After saying a quick hello to my sister-in-law before hanging up, I look at the clock, groaning when I realize it’s only ten after seven.
This is going to be the longest fucking day ever.
Finally,at ten, I decide it’s not too early and fire off a text to see if Zeke would be down for some Christmas barbecue. It’s one of only two places open for lunch. I’d have thought there would be more options, but I was wrong.
Me
Options aren’t terribly plentiful. How do you feel about BBQ?
To my relief,his answer comes immediately.
Zeke
Sounds great.
Me
11:30? I can pick you up.
Zeke
11:30 is good. I’ll meet you there.
Disappointment flares in my gut,but then I realize Zeke probably doesn’t want anyone to see him getting into my car in case they mention it to Derek.
My desire to rearrange that guy’s face grows a little more every day.
However, when rationality returns, I understand it’s better if Zeke meets me at the restaurant anyway, because how am I supposed to explain the Range Rover I’m driving on a restaurant employee’s paychecks?
Which reminds me. I need to discuss upping the wages of the restaurant employees with my parents.
Just to kill time, I grab a shower and spend far too long choosing what to wear.
