His eyes narrow at me and Marion laughs lightly as I turn towards the stairs. Two can play at this game. If he wants to use a nickname I hate, then I’m going to use one he hates. And that’s how we’re going to spend the next two weeks.
EIGHT
SCARLETT
Christmas is my sister’s favorite holiday, which is why she wanted to get married two days before Christmas so it will all be one big holiday. Her requirement was getting married where they celebrated Christmas to the max.
All of that explains the reason why I’m wearing matching pajamas with my family and sitting in the dining room of an Inn, about to watchA Miracle on 34th Street.Sienna is sitting next to me on the couch, the wedding bible open in front of her. I already have everything taken care of and I’m going to meet with the vendors to make sure everything will go smoothly on the big day.
“Given the size of the grand ballroom, I think we could have invited more people,” Sienna says.
“I agree,” Mom says from her other side. “We’ll have to make some adjustments, otherwise the room is going to look mostly empty.”
“How could we have invited more people when this was all a mistake?” I ask.
Sienna and Mom look at me, smiling at me with their eyes. “Was it a mistake?” Sienna asks casually.
Simultaneously, they turn and look at where Connor is talking with Marion and another guest. They seem to think this ‘mistake’ was Connor’s doing. I’m not sure they’re wrong, but I’m also not sure they’re right. How would Connor have known my sister booked the event space in his family’s lodge?
“Not that we know what kind of man he is since we’ve never met him before,” Mom says pointedly.
I sigh, sliding deeper on the couch.
As soon as I’d walked into the room with our dinner earlier, they’d demanded to know everything about Connor and me. Their main question was why I hadn’t told them about Connor even though we’d dated for six months.
“Because I couldn’t figure out a way to introduce someone as my boyfriend,” I’d said. “It’s not like Luke, who came over for a group project in the ninth grade and never left.”
“What’s so hard about saying ‘This is Connor, my boyfriend’?” Sadie had asked. “I’ve done it lots of times.”
“I don’t know,” I’d said, shifting uncomfortably. I’d looked to dad for help because he’s the only one who understands me. My sisters take after our mother, both outgoing and fun. I take after dad--if given the option, I prefer to stay at home and not socialize.
“I thought we agreed we’re not going to talk about it until after the wedding?” Dad said.
Sienna paused in the middle of eating her salad. “But I need relationship tea. Is no one else offended that Scarlett didn’t tell us about her relationship?”
“Scarlett isn’t like you or your sister, Princess,” Dad said. “She needs time with these things.”
“She had almost two years,” Mom said. “This man clearly broke her heart and none of us knew a single thing. I find it very concerning.”
I understand why she thinks it’s concerning, but it really doesn’t need to be. I love my family and it’s not like I’m incapable of expressing emotions. I’m just a little more reserved in that department.
“When she’s ready, she’ll tell us about it,” Dad said. It seemed to draw an end to that topic.
I know dad is upset I didn’t tell anyone. But I don’t know how to explain the sheer awkwardness I feel when I think of bringing someone home and introducing them to the family. It’s not because my family is unpredictable or wild, or because I'm embarrassed of them. I find the whole idea of introducing someone to your family extremely cringe, for some reason. Like,hi family, this is the person I’m currently having sex with.
There’s a reason my parents put me in therapy, okay.
“I know you don’t want to hear it,” Sienna says now, “but he does keep looking over here.”
I didn’t have to look up from my ereader to know that. Connor’s gaze is heavy as it lands on me again and again, settling on me like a thousand butterflies.
“I wish I knew if I should encourage him or not,” Mom says.
“Ma,” I groan, lowering my ereader. “Just let it be.”
“Okay, okay.” Mom raises her hands in surrender. I know she’s not one to drop it this easily, but dad and Sadie bring over our hot chocolates and that keeps her from asking more.
I shift to the loveseat next to the couch with Sadie, letting dad sit next to mom. Other than dad, Sadie is the only one who won’t ask too many questions. We settle in and Sadie pulls a throw over us.
