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No. I will definitely stay here, thank you very much.
“You’ll be happy to know I got a job at Fitness Express,” Hunter says, thankfully changing the subject away from family and Christmas.
“Really?” I clap my hands together, excitement brimming within me. Fitness Express is the local gym the bros go to when they’re not in class or training. It’s a small place with a couple treadmills, but mostly barbells and weight lifting machines. They also sell pretty delicious protein smoothies.
“I start at the beginning of the semester.”
“That’s great, Hunter!”
“And,” Hunter adds with a sly grin, “I may be able to use the money from the apartment to go back to school, depending on what grad school says about my undergrad grades.” Hunter rubs the back of his head. “My grades sucked, so I don’t know if they’ll let me, but I’m hoping I can get my education degree. Maybe I’ll be able to get a gym teacher job eventually, possibly coach football.”
My head bobs up and down. I’m so excited he got a job. I was worried he would go back to being depressed if he had nothing to do. I was even worried he might regret his decision to stay with me in Colorado. Well, it’s not like I gave him an ultimatum. He made his choice, but still, a girl worries from time to time. And sure, he may hate his job and he may always wonder about his decision down the road, but things are looking up for now.
“Baby steps,” I say, hoping I sound supportive. “Focus on one thing at a time.” I wave a finger in front of him.
He snatches it and kisses the tip, sucking it into his mouth playfully. “That’s what Dr. Forrester says,” he says lowly, yet I can see in his gaze he’s not thinking about therapy at all. My face flushes under his fiery gaze and I just realize, with Seth already home with his family, it will be just us two until New Year’s—plenty of time for us to catch up.
“All right!”
I turn and see Lucas striding briskly toward us, followed by Alex, who looks mopey that he has to return to his parents. He’s been dragging his feet all morning, and though I hate seeing him look so depressed, I still find myself smiling at how much he genuinely cares for me.
“We’re all set to go,” Lucas says while waving his ticket in front of me.
Alex sighs and doesn’t say anything.
“You going to be okay?” I ask Alex, watching him straighten.
“Yeah,” he says, yet his tone sounds so mopey.
I close the distance between us and press a chaste kiss against his cheek. “It won’t be that long. We’ll be coming for New Year’s.”
“Oh, another fancy Goode party,” Lucas says sarcastically. “How wonderful.”
Alex nudges Lucas’s shoulder. “They’re not that bad.”
Lucas makes a face. “They’re pretty bad. I think I’d rather stand in the freezing cold and watch the ball drop.”
Alex rolls his eyes. “Whatever.” He forces a smile my way and wraps his arms around me tightly. “I will see you soon. Don’t forget to write.”
“Do you want letters or a text message?” I ask, giggling when he scowls at me.
“Both.”
I pull him closer and whisper in his ear, “Is everything okay between you and Seth?”
Alex flushes and shrugs. I guess that’s all the information I’m getting.
“And you,” I say while wrapping my arms around Lucas. “You’ll be good. You have a meeting, don’t you?”
Lucas coughs and wrinkles his nose. “Yep,” he says. There’s so much left unsaid in that one word. I’m tempted to ask, but Lucas quickly grabs his bag, presses a kiss on the top of my head, and turns on his heel. “See you guys for New Year’s!” he calls, making me think he’s headed toward trouble.
“Goodbye, my love!” Alex shouts while blowing me kisses, making me giggle.
I watch them leave, wondering what trouble awaits us, but knowing we can get through it together. Hunter grasps my hand and I lean into his touch, happy to know I’ll be spending Christmas with him, and excited for New Year’s with the bros.
