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“What?” he asked, walking away to the kitchen.
“Hmmm… you’re different.”
I met him for a glass from the cabinet.
“What do you mean?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but there’s a quality to you that wasn’t there before I left.”
My brother is the best person I know. He took care of my deliveries at my job so I could still go on this trip and still have a job when I got back. That’s how amazing of a brother I have.
“You’re weird. You know that?” He laughs it off.
I rolled my eyes. I knew something was going on. He was deflecting. I lifted my brow at him, leaning back against the counter.
My brother may be happy go lucky now, but then that means I’m the yin to his yang. I’m the stubborn grumpy one of the family and can hold out until I get what I want. We’re twins that are opposites in a lot of ways. Obviously not identical, so more like two siblings born at the same time. And we have another brother. An older brother who is the embodiment of grumpy.
Maybe it’s just in our DNA? Huh.
Crossing my arms over my chest and tapping my foot, I gave my brother the ‘I’m waiting stare’ that made him cave every time.
And then it hit me. That woman. The Starlight Lodge. He called me and I told him to go for it.
Did he?
He sighed.
I mentally jumped for joy.
He did!
Nolan sat his glass of water on the counter and ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t know if I should tell you yet, with everything going on, but I have a girlfriend, Oriana.”
I crossed my arms, some protectiveness for my own heart happened that I didn’t quite understand. “Why wouldn’t you want to tell me that?”
“Come on, Noel, you were dumped in an epically bad way. I want to take care of you first.”
“That’s ridiculous, Nolan. I want to meet this magical woman.” I managed to get all the words out without them sounding squeaky or different in any way.
Okay, so technically, it stung. That’s my issue, though. I was looking forward to having my brother to myself, but now that’s impossible.
If anybody deserves love and happiness, it’s Nolan. I just wondered when I get mine.
Maybe some people just don’t.
* * *
After meetingOriana at Sip Happens bar for lunch and seeing her with Nolan, I can’t help but have a little private pity party because she is incredible. I can’t wait to see them grow together even though deep down inside I feel like crap. I don’t wish any ill will toward my brother and Oriana. Especially at Christmas.
I gaze at the shop again and realize I need to get in there. I don’t want to be late and get fired… again this year.
The next couple days are going to be slammed before Christmas. Who knew people stocked up on poinsettias for the holiday? My knowledge of plants is minimal. I was hired to do the delivery and that seemed like a safe option.
The frigid air whips about and snow packs below my feet as I wade my way across the parking lot.
Another massive bonus to being a Dirty Hoe, I get to work in a legitimate greenhouse, where it is still warm at Christmas, but I also get to see the snow right outside the windows. The best of both worlds. It’s like my own personal snow globe with me in a protective bubble inside.
“Welcome back, Noel! How was your trip?” Mari, my boss, greets me as I head to the delivery tray by the back door.
