I smile back at him. “I will in one sec.”
That answer is good enough for him, and he runs off again.
Aunt Carma leans forward, staring me down. I think she’s staring me down, but it’s hard to tell with her giant black sunglasses. “Summer, honey. He’s way too young for you. I’ll find you somebody more your age.” She sits up straight, swiveling her head around.
Anna laughs. “Is she talking about Peter?”
“I think so.” Erin presses her lips together, trying to suppress her laugh.
“Young man!” Carma snaps at one of Bob Irvine’s grandchildren working on the ranch. He looks maybe eighteen. “Do you want a girl that’s sweet with a little spice?”
His brows drop. “I’m just transferring firewood.”
“Pfft!” Aunt Carma folds her arms, repositioning herself in her seat.
Miles screams as Peter and Jack push him into the first Christmas tree, leaning against the barn. A domino effect ensues as one tree knocks into the next until the last tree tips, landing on the hood of my dad’s parked twelve-passenger van. The car alarm starts, and the boys all burst into tears.
“My van!” My dad jumps to his feet, headed toward the precious van that he only keeps for occasions when the entire family gets together.
All my sisters scatter as they try to round up their kids. I’m left sitting at the table with my Aunt Carma.
“You know who’s a good kisser?” she says to me, completely unfazed by the chaos around her. “Bob Irvine. I’ll set you up with him. Don’t worry. Carma will take care of everything.”
I smile as I glance around at my crazy family.
This is what the holidays and Christmas are about.
I’m not worried about being alone. I’m worried that I won’t have anyone to share this with.
three
CALEB
There’san open parking space on the street across from Justin’s condo. It’s probably a little tight for my Bronco, but being an exceptional parallel parker is something I’d list on my resume´—if I had one—so I swing my arm over the bench seat, glancing behind me as I back in.
“Still got it,” I say when I’ve angled my car into the perfect spot.
The door slams, and I stay pressed against the Bronco until traffic passes and it’s safe to cross.
Calling before you show up out of the blue is a good idea. Unfortunately, I didn’t call first. But Justin is my twin brother. He has to let me stay at his place. That’s just what you do when another human looks identical to you. Besides that, my parents are remodeling their house and turning my old bedroom into a storage closet, so he’s my only option, unless I want to spend a fortune on a hotel with outrageous holiday pricing, which I do not.
My footprints on his driveway are the first tracks in the fresh snow, telling me Justin either hasn’t left for work yet or never came home last night. I mentally flip through our text conversations, trying to remember whether or not he has a girlfriend. That feels like information I should know off the top of my head, but I’m coming up blank.
I knock on the cream-colored front door, shifting my gaze behind me to the view of the Telluride ski resort and San Juan mountains. Fresh powder calls my name. Even after my seventeen-hour flight from Thailand, I still want to hit the slopes. I’m thinking snowboarding today. Maybe skiing tomorrow.
The door swings open. Justin’s eyes go wide.
“Surprise.” I lift my hands.
“What the—?” He drags me into a hug. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I didn’t know I was going to be.” I pull back, keeping my hands on his shoulders. “Look at you. I’m afraid I’m going to wrinkle your fancy shirt.” I flip his tie into his face, but he swats it away.
“I’m headed to work.” He opens the door wider, letting me in. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice place.” I glance around his mountain condo decorated in neutrals and dark wood with a stone fireplace. All he’s missing is a deer head hanging above the mantel. But Justin would never display a stuffed animal carcass. He’s too soft for something like that. “How long have you lived here?”
“About ten months.” He stands close to the door with his hands on his hips, giving me the feeling that he’s just biding his time until he can politely leave for work. “Actually, that’s how I met my girlfriend. Her company does the property management for the entire complex.”
