You doing okay? Need to get out of the house?
Asch
Yeah, I’m fine. Do YOU need to get out of the house?
Blaze
Yes, but I got called down for brunch.
Make sure you’re packed for our flight tomorrow.
Asch
Already packed and ready to go. Trust me.
I feel bad, but I need to get out of NewVa.
He needs to get away from his mom, he means. I know he’s a mama’s boy, and he loves her, but from what I’ve gleaned, she’s a lot to deal with.
I lock the tablet up in my safe, then, grudgingly, head out of my bedroom.
The house is in the traditional New Valence style, with ornate molding and patterned wallpaper to lend an air of old money. I think the house itself is over one hundred and fifty years old, although a lot of work has been done to keep it livable and up to modern standards. It’s still draftier than any modern home would be, though.
I head down the grand staircase and to the dining room.
I freeze in the doorway.
There are three people sitting at the large table. My father, my mother—and Ezio. What the fuck is he doing here? Nobody said he was going to be here.
Christmas is afamilyevent, and Ezio has never been family.
Mom is dressed up for the holiday. Her long, blonde hair ispulled back into a half ponytail, the rest of it perfectly styled to fall around her face in soft waves. She has her usual large, dangling earrings, silver to match the modest, dark navy dress she’s wearing.
By contrast, my father looks downright casual, wearing a simple button down shirt and slacks. Ezio took his cue from my father, wearing a more casual outfit.
I wish I’d dressed up more.
“Finally,” my father says. “You’ve kept us waiting.”
“Sorry.” I hesitate, because the open seat is the one next to Ezio. “I was on a call.”
Ezio shakes his head. “A call? On Christmas morning?”
I bite the bullet and sit down, although I scoot my chair as far away from Ezio as I can manage without drawing suspicion. “Yes. What about you? What brings you here? I thought you were still in Harmony.”
“Ezio mentioned he didn’t have Christmas plans, so I invited him,” Mom says. “It’s too sad to be alone on Christmas.”
Ezio smiles at her. “And thank you for the invitation. I truly appreciate it.”
My father grunts, and I’m not sure if he approves of this turn of events or if he’s also annoyed by the intrusion.
I grab a bread roll from the basket in the center. My plate already has fried eggs on it, and I scowl when I notice they’re sitting on top of bacon.
My dad must have done that on purpose.
I slide the eggs off the bacon and push it to the side, and I ignore the way my mother sighs.
“Ezio was telling us how things are going with the frat house,” my father says. He turns towards Mom. “They still haven’t caught the arsonist, if you can believe that.”
