Sarah waved him away with a smile, eyes landing on their tree. Their one tree. “You didn’t get one?” she asked Ed, looking a mix of disappointed, and if Ed didn’t know better, a touch excited.
He shook his head. “No. But—” He ran a hand through his hair as his gaze landed on the two trees already in the back of the van. “Why have you got two?”
Sarah shot him a knowing smile. “One for me, one for you.”
He couldn’t even pretend to be annoyed with her or that he wasn’t secretly pleased. “How did you know?”
She took the three steps towards him and slid an arm around his waist, hugging him tight. “Because I’m your sister, and I love you.” Her grip on him tightened. “You love Christmas, and I can’t imagine you in that bungalow without a tree on Christmas day. Especially if it’s the last one we’ll have you this close.”
Since his mum was getting on in years, he and his sisters had taken over hosting their family get together on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
This year was Ed’s turn.
“Thank you.” He whispered, voice rough, and kissed the top of her head where it rested against his shoulder.
“My pleasure.” She slipped out from under his arm, and Ed was almost certain he caught her wiping her eyes. “Come on, get it in the van, my toes are going numb.”
BACK IN HIS car on the way home, Ed felt Oliver’s gaze on him more than once. When he chanced a glance over, he caught him watching. “What?” he asked, concentrating on the road again.
“He did give me his number. The guy at the tree farm,” he added, as though Ed didn’t know exactly who he was on about.
“Okay.” What else was he supposed to say?
Another long moment passed.
“Why did you want to know?” His voice was soft, a curiosity to his tone that made Ed’s skin prickle.
“I—” He blew out a breath.
I was jealous.
Did he want to admit that though?
The traffic lights turned red as he got there, giving him no chance of avoiding the question.
Always go with the truth. If he’d learned one thing from his breakup with Tom, it was that. However uncomfortable it might be, the truth was always better in the long run. “I know I’ve got no right to be, but I was jealous. That’s why I asked.” Sucking up his embarrassment, he glanced at Oliver to find him looking down at his hands, lips curved into a smug smile.
Ed’s stomach fluttered, pulse ticking up. He bit his lip, then added, “I was hoping it was just the receipt for the tree.”
A laugh burst out of Oliver and he looked up just as the lights changed. Their eyes met, and it would be the easiest thing to lean in a little and kiss him.
The blast of a horn had them both jumping, and Ed quickly put the car in gear and pulled away from the lights, heat rushing to his cheeks and the swoop of disappointment forcing a soft sigh out of him.
They shouldn’t.
Starting something now would lead nowhere good.
Other parts of him begged to differ.
“I’m not going to call him,” Oliver said, matter of fact. “He’s not my type.”
Ed couldn’t help a little smug smile of his own. “Oh?” He so wanted to ask, “Who is your type?” but managed to swallow the words down. Oliver’s grin said he knew exactly what Ed was thinking.
Aiden pulled up in front of Ed’s house, and they got out to help with the trees.
“What’s got you all smiley?” Sarah narrowed her eyes at him and spoke far too loudly, everyone having heard her.
Including Oliver.
