“Work is busy, but it’s going good.”
“You’re being modest, babe.” Justin rubs my back. “Summer manages more properties than anyone else there. She’s killing it. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a few years, she’s running the entire office as the manager.”
I smile at Justin, leaning into his touch.
“Do you even want to run the office?” Caleb asks.
“Of course she does,” Justin answers for me. “Summer loves her job.”
I glance at Caleb. His brows lift as if he’s daring me to speak up and tell Justin how I really feel about my job. But I look away instead.
“And let’s not forget about everything Caleb has accomplished with his YouTube channel.” Patsy beams at him before turning to me. “Have you seen Caleb’s videos?”
“Uh…” I hesitate because this is the third time I’ve had to admit that I haven’t looked him up. “Not yet, but I’ve seen him ice climb in real life, and that was pretty impressive.”
“Is it really that impressive to climb ice?” Justin scoffs. “Don’t the guys holding the ropes on the ground do most of the work?”
“They are unbelayable,” Caleb mutters, drawing out my smile.
“Climbing is only part of what Caleb does,” Patsy says. “He does the most incredible tricks. I can’t even watch them because they’re so dangerous. Who would’ve thought all that jumping and flipping off my furniture as a child would help make Caleb famous?”
“So you are famous?” I smile at him. “The girl at the light parade wasn’t a one-time fluke?”
Patsy’s brows drop. “I thought you said you didn’t go to the light parade because you had to work?”
“I didn’t go.” Justin shakes his head. “Caleb and Summer went.”
Patsy glances at her husband, and I know what she’s thinking. She’s trying to figure out why Justin’s girlfriend is hanging out with Caleb so much. She doesn’t understand the complexity of my family dynamics and Justin.
“Caleb and I bumped into each other at the parade,” I explain. “I was with my family, and we invited him to sit with us.”
“Yeah, but that’s not the whole story.” Justin looks at me. “Tell them about our holiday arrangement.”
No, thanks, Justin. I’d rather not.
“What holiday arrangement?” Don asks.
“Caleb has agreed to impersonate me in front of Summer’s family so they don’t get irritated with how much I’m working the next few weeks.” He makes my family sound overbearing and difficult.
“Well…” Patsy glances at her husband, then at Caleb.
“Don’t look at me.” He lifts his hands in the air. “It was Justin’s idea.”
Don frowns. “It was your idea?”
“Great plan, right?” Justin puffs his chest out like he’s proud of the arrangement he’s made. “It worked when we were younger. Why not now?”
“I never liked it when you were younger, but I guess if you’re all okay with it.” The smile that Patsy is faking isn’t fooling anyone.
“It’s only a few family parties.” I lean forward, hoping to explain. “Justin’s been working so hard. I don’t want to be a burden on him or his schedule. So we figured this would be a good compromise so my family wouldn’t feel slighted. My mom has the tendency to keep score on stuff like this.”
“And so that Summer wouldn’t have to spend the holiday season alone.” Caleb’s blue eyes drill me, and although his statement is innocent and true, it feels loaded with all sorts of meaning, like the moment he told me on the ice that he would always be there to catch me.
I feel my cheeks flame under his stare. What is it about that statement and that look that warrants blushing? I don’t know, but I drop my eyes, hoping to stop the spread.
“It seems a bit complicated,” Don says. “Are you sure you all know what you’re doing?”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Justin reassures. “There’s nothing complicated about this.”
