nothing. She’s still posting on social media, so I know she’s okay. Maybe she’s just wrapped up in Richard and Shelly?”
“Hmm, possibly. I mean, Shelly is giving her their first grandchild. I’m sure your mom is excited about that.”
I nodded because yeah, she probably was. I wasn’t even sure I wanted kids to be honest. They certainly weren’t on my radar at the moment, and I just didn’t know if they ever would be. Maybe that was selfish of me, but it was my life, and I didn’t have to have kids in order to have a happy and fulfilling one.
“Where’d you go? You started scowling.”
I focused on Chris and shook my head. “Just thinking about kids and how they’re not on my radar.”
Chris cringed and shook his head. Yeah, him either.
“Okay so are we ready? My pie smelled so good last night I had to fight myself to not eat it,” I said as I slid off the bed and stood up.
“There’s probably a million things I’m forgetting, but I think so?”
“It’ll all be good. You know you could have gone to your parents’ for Christmas. I wouldn’t have minded.” I probably would have just crashed at Hudson’s if he had.
“Naw, I just saw them right before Thanksgiving. Besides, I’m saving my vacation this year. I want to go to the beach next summer, and that is so much better than spending the holidays listening to Aunt Mary complain about there not being enough booze in the eggnog.”
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, which was exactly what I needed.
“You’re right. That’s…why don’t they just dump a whole bottle in it?”
Chris shrugged as he smiled at me. “You sure you’re doing okay? I know you’re an adult and all, but this is your first Christmas without your family.”
I shook my head while thinking. “Actually, I can’t remember the last time we actually had a holiday meal together with all of us there. Richard and Shelly certainly, but since I was single, I was usually expected to pick up the slack. I think I’ve worked every holiday for the last five years or so.”
And that was part of the issue. I’d given everything I had to my family. And for what? To be told that I needed to give more.
“Well, now you’re here, and we’re going to go have Christmas with that hunky boyfriend of yours and his frustrating cousin.”
That grabbed my attention. “What’s the deal with you two, anyway? Ford’s nice.”
“Ford’s nice? Really? He’s an asshole. I called him once. One time because my spare tire was flat and I didn’t know it and I had run over a nail or a screw. Anyway, he went on and on about airheaded guys who didn’t know how to change tires or something. I don’t know.”
Chris huffed and left the room. I couldn’t help it—I chuckled because that really did sound like Ford. But he was nice. Chris was just overly sensitive, and I knew why, but it was obvious that Ford didn’t. But then again, he shouldn’t need to.
“Is your bag packed?” Chris called out. I looked right and picked up my bag.
“Yep. You planning on having a wild party while I’m away for the weekend?” I snorted at my own question because that was so not Chris. Not even a little.
“Yeah, sure am. I’m having this hot orgy, so if you don’t want us to use your bed, make sure you lock your door.”
I thought about it for all of two seconds and then decided that he was joking. Right?
“You’re not serious, right?” I asked as I set my bag down beside the couch.
“Of course not. The clinic is open tomorrow and Saturday. I imagine we’ll be crazy busy with everyone coming in after the holidays with whatever ailment.”
Oh, how very true. I wasn’t sure how he did it. I mean, I didn’t mind working with people, and I was certainly a people person. But Chris dealt with sick people and people who were cranky, and then there was the blood and other bodily fluids. I cringed. Nope. Not for me.
“Okay, so we’re going in separate vehicles, yeah?” I asked just to make sure.
“That was the plan. When are they expecting us?”
I shrugged. “Whenever, I guess. They were streaming a movie marathon, and we were going to eat too much food.” I stared at Chris as he piled more and more presents into a box. “What are you doing?”
“I thought that was obvious. Aren’t we doing a gift exchange there?”
“Yes,