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Willow pushes herself up from her spot and goes to the breakfast buffet, humming to herself. It’s eerie.
“Well, I think I’ve done my duty,” Drew says, scanning the room. For only two children, Stella and Jessica have made quite the mess. Tana opened presents too, but it was more Grant unwrapping them and showing them to her while Harley bounced her on her knee and cooed about how wonderfulThe Very Hungry Caterpillarwas.
Drew comes and sits next to me. He lifts his hand and hesitantly puts it on my knee. “Too much?” he whispers.
I look around. The people who know this is a lie greatly outnumber those who don’t.
But I’m not going to tell him to stop touching me.
“It’s fine,” I say with a smile.
For a moment, our eyes lock. It feels like his body is undulating closer, imperceptible to the human eye. Like he might kiss me.
“So, you two must be next, huh?” Willow’s razor sharp voice cuts through the moment.
I duck my head down, away from Drew. “What do you mean?”
She smiles sneakily. “You know…” Shimmying her shoulders, her somehow perfectly wavy hair swirls side to side. “Love, marriage, baby carriage.”
“Oh!” Drew gasps. “Well–”
“You know, we’re–” I look at him.
“Yeah, we’re–”
“Not in a rush,” I say at the exact moment he says, “No rush.”
His hand tightens on my knee. If I wasn’t in a rush a moment ago, I might be now.
“That’s such a diplomatic answer,” Willow says, popping a grape into her mouth. “What do you think, Mr. Solace?”
Shit.
“M-me?” Dad says, pointing to himself like bad actor in a play.
My father is a horrible liar which is why most of us knew Santa wasn’t real by our fifth birthdays.
“Yeah! You’ve got three of them all wifed up. Or nearly.” Willow nods toward Amy and Hunter who are standing near the tree, clearly exchanging some sort of sentimental gift. Why do I have to miss out on the beautiful moments to deal with a problem Drew created for me? “So, you must be excited Dana might be next. Your eldest, after all.”
Dad maniacally smiles at me, almost all gums.Jesus, Dad. This is rough.“I just want them to be happy.”
“Yeah, but tik tock, you know?”
I stare at Willow. “I’m only thirty.”
“Oh really? Thought you were older.” Another grape.
“Hey, Willow. Sometimes you say things and they’re…rude,” Drew intercedes, moving his hand from my leg to the couch behind me. Thank god.
Her big eyes widen even more. “I didn’t mean for that to be rude. Sorry. It was just…Forgive me, Dana. I just thought you were like thirty-five or something.”
I’m already thinking about my fast-approaching birthday. Not sure why Willow feels the need to make it worse. Other than the fact she’s just being a jerk.
“I’m going to–I need another–” Dad holds up his still half-full mimosa.
“Yeah, that’s a great idea,” I say, practically pushing him off the couch.
Willow swoops in just a little closer. “So, Drew. Did you ever decide on the kid thing?”
