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“Ugh. I’ll ask Orlando if he knows anything about plumbing. Or my dad might be able to come fix it.” She couldn’t quite picture Orlando getting under a sink with a toolbox. Even if the sink wasn’t what needed fixing right now, the basic premise remained. She was pretty sure her dad would be able to help, but now that she’d had the thought, she was curious if Orlando could.
If he could, that would be pretty hot.
On the other hand, if he said he could and actually couldn’t…
Well, she’d ask him.
“What do you want to do tonight?” Brooke asked teasingly, as if there was any question. “Other than your nine o’clock phone call.”
“Oh, you know, maybe we could go to Black Light, see if we can find you someone to scene with for reliable sex…”
Brooke scowled and stabbed her fork in Juliet’s direction.
“You know you’d be pissed if I actually took you up on that.”
“But you’re not going to take me up on it.”
“I’m not going to take you up on it. We’re not doing anything else until we finish Queen Charlotte, and you know it.”
Shonda Rhimes ruled their house ever since they’d started watching, even if they were a little later than the rest of the world, there was no doubt about that. Besides, they needed to finish before Brooke had to leave for the holiday. She was not going to be able to wait till Brooke got back and they wanted to watch it together.
* * *
Orlando
Traveling on Christmas Eve was one of Orlando’s least favorite things, but more than worth it when it meant he got to see Juliet. She was already at his mom and Lawrence’s, after having spent the past few days with her mom and stepdad. They’d had to be a little sneakier about their phone calls while she was there, switching from video to voice only, but they’d still talked every night.
And now he was finally going to see her in person… but not be able to touch her right away because they were having Christmas Eve dinner with the family, after the church service. Afterwards though, they were absolutely going to the same place, and he didn’t care if it was his place or hers.
Of course, he’d already missed the service so he was headed in just to eat. His mom had reassured him that they didn’t expect him to come straight from the plane, and he’d reassured her that he didn’t mind at all. Because being tortured by not being able to touch Juliet was better than knowing he was so close and not seeing her at all.
At least this way they’d be in the same space.
Unsurprisingly, the spaces in front of his mom and Lawrence’s house were packed with cars when he was dropped off. Anticipation welled up inside him, along with just a touch of trepidation. Not just because their families didn’t know, but because he’d been able to tell that his being late to come home had affected Juliet. He was pretty sure she was still going to be happy to see him, but it had brought up some of his concerns about whether or not they were doing the right thing.
He didn’t want to hurt her again and yet he still wasn’t sure that this would end in any other way… sooner or later.
“Orlando!” His mom’s cry of joy as soon as he walked through the front door was enough to push away all his doubts. He was glad to be here, regardless.
Though, as he hugged his mom, his gaze automatically lifted to look down the hall, as if a beacon was calling for him, and he already knew what he was going to see. Juliet at the end of the hall, wearing a festive red sweater with a hip-hugging black skirt, black tights, and boots, and her hair spilling over her shoulders.
She looked like his Christmas dream come true.
Unfortunately, it was far too early to unwrap his present because he couldn’t unwrap her in front of other people. At least, none of the people here. He didn’t think that would go well at all.
So, he stifled his need to stride down the hall and pull her into his arms for a kiss. It felt like the air crackled between them as their gazes met, but he forced himself to look away after a smile.
Dammit.
Pretending was harder than he’d expected it to be.
But he was a good boy.
He did the rounds. Hugged his mom. Hugged Lawrence. Said hello to the grandmas and the aunties and the uncles and his cousins. Eventually he made his way to Juliet, exchanging nothing more than a crisp nod, which was how they interacted normally.
It was fucking torture to watch her walk away a moment later. She moved down the hall, hips swishing with every step, every movement calling to him like she was a siren, trying to dash him on familial rocks. Talk about a dangerous situation.
Which just made him want her more. Because he was a bit fucked in the head that way.
