AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Walking under the row of icicle lights, I step onto the porch and pause in front of the door. A fresh evergreen wreath with red berries hangs on a hook. My hand hovers over the knob as I inhale the earthy pine scent and let it relax me. “It’s Christmas. Mom won’t nag me. Not today,” I mumble. I nod as if to reassure myself, then twist the knob and step inside.
Three things hit me at once. Deep, booming laughter, mouthwatering baked cheese, and the clanging of pans.
I toe off my shoes in the foyer, set my purse and bags down, and tiptoe toward the kitchen. Peering around the corner, I spy my dad and Peyton seated at the breakfast bar. Tears roll down Dad’s cheeks as he presses a loose fist to his mouth. Peyton clamps down on her lips, her cheeks and neck blotchy, as she tries not to laugh.
Across from them, in the heart of the kitchen, are Mom and Micah. My dear, sweet, occasional pain in the ass brother is decked out in Mom’sI love to rub meatapron. Mom is at his side, coaching him as he sautés carrots in one pan and stirs gravy in another. Sweat beads his forehead and temple. His tongue peeking out between his lips as he shifts his weight left then right.
To most, this sight would be endearing. A son helping his mother cook Christmas dinner. Lovable as the moment is, Dad’s tumultuous laughter when I walked in the house now makes sense. Because Micah in the kitchen is equal parts frightening and hilarious. I love my brother, but his ability to cook is null. Mom refuses to give up on him, though. Has him over or goes to his house once a week and shows him something new. Before Peyton, Micah burned water. Now, he successfully cooks five full meals without supervision. This is the first holiday meal he has cooked, and I am proud of him.
“Look at you,” I say as I enter the kitchen. “Keep this up and you’ll be cooking all the holiday meals.”
He shoots me with wide eyes and a slight shake of his head. “Ha ha. Best not push your luck.”
Stepping around Micah, I hug Mom and kiss her cheek. Dad and Peyton slide off their stools and pull me in for hugs next. Since Micah is too focused on not burning dinner, I wrap my arms around him and squeeze until he taps my arm.
“You’re doing great, big brother,” I whisper so only he hears. “Proud of you.”
He sets the spoon on the rest, spins around, and hugs me properly. “Thanks, Shell.” He kisses my crown then releases me. “Means a lot.”
The stove timer buzzes and he goes back to work. I fill a glass with sparkling cranberry-apple cider—a Reed family tradition—then join Dad and Peyton. Micah and Mom put the final touches on dinner while we all catch up. Mom declares dinner is ready and we all file into a line with plates in hand.
I pile my plate high with herb and citrus roasted duck, potato gratin, baked macaroni and cheese, sautéed carrots, cranberry-orange relish, balsamic Brussel sprouts, and a homemade roll. The next ten minutes pass in silence as we savor the meal.
“Starlight, this is the best yet.” Peyton beams at Micah. “You might have to cook some of this again. Soon.”
My brother glows from her compliment. And as if they were alone, he takes her elbow, tugs her closer, and kisses her. Not a sweet peck on the cheek. Nope, this is my brother we are talking about. He kisses his wife as if his parents and sister are nowhere in sight. When the kiss breaks, Peyton’s cheeks pink.
I doubt her flush is darker than mine.
Public displays of affection don’t bother or embarrass me. I adore seeing people so happy and in love. It reminds me true love exists. The heat on my cheeks comes more from picturing myself in a similar situation. Caring for someone—Devlyn, perhaps—so deeply, I can’t not kiss them. Regardless of who is around.
The last month plays like a movie in my head.
The night I took Devlyn’s face in my hands and kissed him. What it felt like when he kissed me back. The splendor in that first kiss. How perfect the moment was. All the romance novels I’d read finally made sense. The rapid pulse and shortness of breath. It all made sense because I felt them too.
Until Devlyn pulled away. Until I saw the fear on his face. The dread. The regret. I now know why, I understand it, but it still hurts.
Fast forward two weeks later. The text. His appearance at my front door in the middle of the night. Hours of apologies and shared history and heartache spilled between us. In less than twenty-four hours, Devlyn and I had become somewhat inseparable. And over the last three weeks, our need to be with each other has magnified.
Now, we just need the balls to share our relationship with everyone else. We aren’t intentionally hiding our relationship, are we? Maybe. I don’t know.
A sharp sting on my shin snaps my eyes across the table. Micah winces, his silent apology for kicking my leg. “You okay?” he mouths.
I nod, subtly.
“Liar,” he mouths before taking a bite.
Great.
It isn’t a lie. I just haven’t figured out how to tell him the truth. I have a boyfriend.
God, I feel his brotherly wrath and see his macho chest slaps already. Someone preemptively saves me from my brother.
We decide to save dessert for after gifts.
For the last five years, my parents have told us no gifts. Micah and I refuse to give them nothing. So, we coordinate. We both buy them a card and gift certificate for their favorite restaurant. The first year, they smiled and accepted the gift. Since then, they invite us out for dinner and take us to the restaurant. The first time they did this, Micah and I argued with them and tried to pay our part of the bill. We were unsuccessful. Now, we pick somewhere everyone likes and add more to the gift price, so we are still paying for ourselves.
Mom and Dad graciously thank us for the cards and gift certificates. Micah surprises Peyton with a photo album full of pictures of their first year and a half together. Since falling for Peyton, my brother has become such a romantic. He isn’t all goo-goo eyes and flowers every week, but he is more affectionate than I have ever seen him. Hand-holding, whispering in her ear, subtle touches on her cheek, neck or shoulder. And the occasional flower delivery from Petal and Vine.
