Page 23 of Merrily You

“So,” I said when Holiday had put her dress back on and had braided her hair. “We’re doing this?”

She snorted and kissed me once. “Yeah, Danny. We’re doing this. Officially.”

I’d needed to hear it confirmed.

“Good,” I said, kissing her again, letting myself melt into her mouth and enjoy the decadence of kissing her. God, she was good at kissing.

“I’m yours, Danny,” she said, smiling at me. My heart stopped for a second.

“I’m yours too. Always have been.”

We kissed one more time before she handed me my coat and pushed me out of her room, leaving me to do the walk of shame on my own.

The party was still going on, but things were winding down as people made their way back home to wait for Santa to come down the chimney or chimney equivalent if they didn’t have one. More than a few parents were going to be up late tonight assembling gifts to leave under the tree. I did my best not to make eye contact with anyone, but it would have been the height of rudeness not to say goodbye to Holiday’s parents, so I sought them out where they were hiding in the kitchen and whispering about something.

“Holiday is upstairs,” I said with as much dignity as I could manage while my entire face was on fire.

They shared a look and just smiled at me.

“We’re so happy it’s you,” Simone said, holding her arms out and I had no choice but to let myself be hugged by the woman who had been like a second mother to me. It should have been awkward, but it wasn’t. I embraced her dad, Derek, as well, feeling too many emotions to name.

“Merry Christmas,” I said. Insufficient, but I didn’t know what else to say.

“Merry Christmas, Daniella,” Simone said, winking at me.

My parents were still upand bustling around when I got back, and immediately noticed my wet hair.

“We didn’t think we were going to see you tonight,” Mom said, nudging Dad. “We assumed you’d stay with Holiday.”

I rolled my eyes. “And get a massive guilt trip? No.”

Mom’s eyes narrowed. “You be nice to me or I’m going to tell Santa not to bring your presents.”

All of her children might be grown, but my mom still acted like Santa was a real person and would withhold gifts if she snitched on us. Normally it was cute, but tonight I was over it.

“I’m tired,” I said. “Can we not?”

“I wonder what she’s tired from?” Raquel said, coming into the living room with a smirk on her face.

“Don’t you have a husband to get home to?” I asked. Raquel had married a respiratory therapist who unfortunately had to work today but would be getting off right about now.

“Oh, I couldn’t leave without seeing my baby sister’s walk of shame,” she said, laughing as if this was the best thing to happen to her all year. Insufferable. Maybe I should have stayed with Holiday. Then I could have snuck in early in the morning and pretended I was here the whole time.

“Like you haven’t had one before?” I asked. When it came to walks of shame, my sister had had many more than me. Once I’d even sat down and ranked them from least to most embarrassing. This must be revenge for that.

“Children,” Mom said, her voice sharp. “Not on Christmas Eve, please.”

Raquel rolled her eyes and then hugged and kissed my parents goodbye and said she’d be here tomorrow with Kevin for the family celebration.

“Byeeeee, Danny,” she said, laughing as she walked out the door.

I glared after her until the door shut.

I miss you.Come back.The message from Holiday came about twenty minutes after I’d gotten home. I was already in bed, scrolling social media and trying to get to sleep. It was impossible though, because every time I closed my eyes, I thought of her.

Hey, I miss you too. I didn’t want to leave you.I wished we were together right now.

Instead of answering my message, she video chatted me. I answered, smiling as her sleepy face filled the screen, illuminated by the glow of her phone. She was in bed too, which was unusual. Holiday was more of a night owl than I was.