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Dom sprawled across our couch with a beer in his hand, watching as Penelope and I made a piss-poor attempt at stringing lights around the tree, while Carter unpacked all of the ornaments.
“Are you just here to eat our food and drink our beer?” I asked.
His laugh raked across my bones and I bit back a shiver at the sound. “This is my payment for helping Carter clean up the mess you two idiots made.”
“Penny is a doctor, and I mold the minds of our future generations, asshole. We’re idiots? Tell me again about the plethora of skills required to sell houses.”
Penelope cut in before Dom could provide a response. “I’m like, five years out from being a doctor, but Macie is right, her studentsloveher.”
“Not anymore,” I found myself murmuring. I winced as the sound of Dom’s laugh caressed me again.I didn't mean to say that outloud.
Penelope’s face twisted. “What do you mean?”
I shook my head absently. “Sorry, I was being dramatic. I just don’t like teaching seventh grade math as much as I enjoyed eighth grade science.” I shrugged. “It’s harder to connect with the students. Science was easier to make fun for them. Y’know, field trips and dissections, that kind of stuff.”
“You’re truly morbid if you enjoy making children dissect dead animals,” Dom chimed.
I rolled my eyes. I squished myself between the tree and the window we set it up against as I looped the lights around it and passed them to Penelope on the other side. Carter finally joined us with a box of ornaments in hand and began hanging them around the top of the tree.
Dom and Carter engaged in their own conversation about surfing or something equally as boring, when Penny inched closer to me. “Are you not loving teaching anymore?” she whispered. I could’ve sworn I heard Dom stumbled on his words as he pretended not to listen.
“No, I am. I already talked to them about moving back to science next school year. There wasn’t an opening this year for a science teacher so I had to take what I could get. But as soon as something else opens up things will get better.”
Penelope didn’t seem convinced, but she nodded as she stepped away.
“Are you going to see your folks in Phoenix for Christmas, D?” Carter asked.
Dom sat up slowly from the couch and stretched his arms over his head. I made a point not to stare at the way his muscles flexed beneath his white t-shirt. “Yeah I’m going to head over there for the weekend of Christmas but I’m not staying more than a few days.” He yawned. “What day do you head to Oahu?”
“Tuesday,” Carter said.
“We’ll be there through New Years Day,” Penelope added.
Dom turned to me. “And are you going to visit your parents for Christmas too?”
“Hanukkah,” I corrected. “And no. My family isn’t super sentimental about the holidays.”
Dom’s eyes narrowed as he stood up from the couch. “Wait, so you’re telling me we’re bedecking this entire apartment in Christmas decor for you two to enjoy for what? Three days? Meanwhile, Macie here doesn’t even celebrate?”
“I mean, the lights will probably help curb the seasonal depression,” I countered.
“Pep made an impulse decision to buy a tree and drag it down the street. I’m just seeing things through,” Carter said nonchalantly.
Penny shot him a scowl, lifting her hand to flip him off. Carter’s laugh was rich and deep as he picked up an ornament that looked like mistletoe and held it over his head. His arm wrapped around her waist as he tugged her into his chest and planted a kiss against her lips.
Dom watched them with mock disgust, but I could see the happiness brewing within his eyes. I knew the same emotion shined in mine, too. Dom, Penelope, and Carter all grew up together, and while I sometimes felt left out when they spoke about their shared childhood, I mostly just wish I had been there so I could’ve slapped both Carter and Penelope upside the head and told them to get their shit together a decade ago.
Penelope attempted to give off a cool and unbothered demeanor, but in reality she’s themost dramatic person I’ve ever met. Her poor boyfriend practically begged on his hands and knees for like,fifteenyears for her to love him and she still couldn’t take a hint. After knowing Carter for a total of about thirty seconds it was clear, even to me, that he was a goner and had been for some time. Yet, they tip-toed around each other like lovesick idiots. I almost felt bad for the fact that Dom had to endure that for so many years.
When Carter, Penelope, and I all taught at the same middle school last Spring, I put my stellar manipulation abilities into play and essentially forced them together. From making them help me set up school dances and pairing them up to volunteer together, to persuading Penelope to attend an academic conference in Malibu and then convincing Carter to join us. Not to mention the fact that I rented a one-bedroom rental house instead of two, so they had no choice but to share a bed. I still never admitted to doing that on purpose. They think I read the ad wrong.
I did more in a month for their relationship than Dom had in fifteen years. Though, when I shared that observation aloud the last time the four of us had dinner together, it turned into an all-out yelling match between Dom and I that nearly got us kicked out of TomTom.
I was pulled from my thoughts as I watched Carter’s tongue dart past my best friend’s lips. There was no doubt Dom caught it too as we gagged in unison. Carter, mouth still pressed against Penelope, stuck his arm out at the two of us and flipped us the bird too.
Chapter 3
“Dude,Ithinkyourtree is busted,” I said as Penelope answered my FaceTime.
