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“His birthday is on Christmas?”
Penelope nodded.
“Then why does he hate it so much?”
She sighed as I watched her bobble on the screen, likely getting out of bed. “Let me see if Carter is back yet.”
Her tone was solemn, and it turned my stomach in tight knots.
I watched as the camera was aimed at her face, and she appeared to be walking down a hallway. She wiped at her tired eyes, yawning, and combing her fingers through her messy hair. Penelope lit up just noticeably as I heard a deep voice call from across the room, “Good morning, beautiful.”
She tried to hide her smile, but failed. The phone shifted again as Penny muttered, “It’s for you.” I came face-to-face with Carter as Penelope leaned back against the counter behind him, sipping from a coffee mug that I was sure was supposed to be his.
Carter cocked his head on screen, looking at me. “Hi, Mace?”
I cut to the chase. “Hi. What’s the deal with Dom and Christmas?”
Carter blinked a few times, gnawing on his lip lightly. He glanced toward Penelope behind him, and though I could only see half of her now, I noticed her shrug. He looked back at me. “Why do you ask?”
I told him the same thing I’d told Penelope. That we’d been hanging out, but he acted weird whenever I brought it up. I mentioned in a roundabout way that I may have upset him this morning with something I said (I ignored the way neither of my friends seemed surprised by that) and how I forgot it was Christmas Eve, and now I’m worried he may not be okay.
Carter nodded thoughtfully, and when I was finished, he asked, “But isn’t Dom heading to Arizona today to spend tomorrow with his family?”
I shook my head. “No, he said he changed his mind.”
“Goddamnit,” Carter muttered.
“Can someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?”
Carter shifted the phone into his other hand, and squeezed the tension out of his jaw. “It’s really not my place to say, Macie. It wouldn’t be right of me to tell you something he may not want to share.”
I tried to ignore the way that hurt.
“Okay,” I said. “Well, can you just tell me if you think he’s alright? Should I do something?”
If anything, Carter seemed almost annoyed, but not worried. It made me wonder what I was getting so worked up about, and if it was obvious to them too.
“Something happened a few years ago that really affected Dom. He lost someone he loved. It was on Christmas Day, and he’s been pretty shut down around this time of year ever since,” he finally said. “His parents and I have tried getting him to go see family, I’ve even tried getting him to come to Hawaii with me, and I’ve tried staying home with him, he won’t have any of it.” Carter huffed. “I got excited when he said he was going to visit his parents this year. Now I realize he may have been lying so that I wouldn’t try staying back with him.”
Carter shook his head, and Penelope appeared on the screen briefly to kiss his cheek. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said lightly. She looked at me. “I don’t think it would be a bad idea for you to stop by tomorrow. Maybe bring him food or something? But don’t push it. If he wants to be alone, leave him alone, and feel content knowing that you tried. That’s all you can do.” She looked at Carter again. “Both of you.”
I’d only half heard her. For some extremely selfish reasons, my mind was stuck on the ‘lost someone he loved’ part of the conversation. I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been a girlfriend. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t date anymore. Why he’s incapable of ripping himself open and laying himself bare enough for anyone else to love. Because he’s afraid of loving too.
“Love you.” Penelope’s voice faded away from where her phone remained in Carter’s hand.
“Love you, Penny!” I shouted back, but still only felt halfway present.
“I’m not sure what compels me to tell you this, and I’m not sure I even want to know, but it wasn’t a girlfriend that Dom lost. It wasn’t anything like that.” My selfish concern must’ve been written all over my fucking face. “It was a family member, but that’s all I’m going to say.”
I nodded. “I need you to give me his address.”
Carter bit his lip again. “I’m not so sure Pep was right about that. I think you should just text him and let him know you’re around. He’s hardly spoken to me during the entirety of the month of December every year since it happened. It’s not you, Mace. He just doesn’t want to be around anyone.”
I let his words soak in, but something about them didn’t fit correctly. “Wait, the entire month of December, every year, he shuts everyone out?”
Carter shrugged. “Pretty much, yeah.”
“Well, that doesn’t make sense. I thought you sicked him on me,” I said. Carter’s face twisted in amused confusion. “He literally won’t leave me alone, Carter.”
