“Uh…” Summer’s eyes flick between the two of us.
Justin’s lips push downward. “I thought you’d be more excited. This is what you wanted, right?”
“Yes, of course.” She flips her smile into something full of animation. “I’m just surprised. That’s all.”
Justin turns to me, patting me on the back. “Looks like you’re off duty tonight. You can go do something you actually want to do.”
I lift my eyes and nod.
The problem is, hanging out with Summer is what I actually want to do. I was looking forward to meeting Vivian, decorating cookies, and I’m not even going to say what else I was looking forward to because it doesn’t matter now.
“Caleb, you can still come if you want to,” Summer offers—a pity invite that makes everything worse.
“Why would he come?” Justin’s hand goes to Summer’s back, rubbing her neck and shoulders.
Watching him touch her is a gut punch that sends shock waves to my heart, making the whole thing ache—a miserable ache that’s only going to get worse when they walk out the door together. Because I’m not going with them. I refuse to be the third wheel, watching all night with a front-row seat as Justin touches her.
“I’m good.” I stand from my stool and start gathering our plates. “I’ve wanted to go night skiing ever since I got here. Conditions are perfect for that.”
“I’m good.” I stand from my stool and start gathering our plates. “I’ve wanted to go night skiing ever since I got here. Conditions are perfect for that.”
“Are you sure?” Summer asks as she puts her coat on.
“Yeah, you guys go have fun.”
She glances at me with an apology, as if she remembers ten minutes ago when I was making up any excuse under the sun to be with her.
I’m such a freaking idiot.
The massive sting in my heart is added proof of my idiocy.
“Alright, we’ll see you later.” Justin smirks at me as he holds the door for Summer. “Don’t wait up.”
I’ve never wanted to punch my brother in the face as much as I do right now and he hasn’t even done anything wrong.
SUMMER
* * *
“DidI surprise you by coming tonight?” Justin squeezes my hand in the car. I study our interlocked fingers, noting the differences between his hand and Caleb’s. Justin’s skin is smooth, almost baby-like, while Caleb’s palm is calloused from…I actually don’t know what the callouses are from. Maybe from climbing or—
“Sum Sum?”
“Sorry.” I turn my gaze to Justin, remembering his question in the first place. “Yes, I was very surprised. Don’t you have work to do?”
“There’s always work, but I’m sick of it, and I thought my baby could use a little time with me instead of my clone.”
I give a forced laugh because Caleb is nothing like Justin’s clone.
I hated leaving him alone at the condo. He seemed so excited about coming. That’s dumb. He probably wasn’t excited, just being polite. We’re decorating Christmas cookies, not sitting front row at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas concert.
But I’m going to forget about Caleb.
Justin is finally taking a night off work, and we’re going to enjoy it.
“I wish you could’ve taken work off last night when we went to Noel Night with my family. You would’ve loved it.” I twist in my seat as my excitement takes over. “Bob Irvine spilled some gasoline on the snow right before he lit the bonfire, and then—”
Justin’s phone rings, interrupting my story. He glances at the dash. “Sorry, babe. I have to take this. Hello?”
