Page 68 of Yours, Unexpectedly

“Ah… that fucker. I don’t understand why you still look so sad, though. I’m surprised but if y’all want to date, or whatever…” I look at her expectantly, but she just shakes her head. “It’s okay with me, you know. I think you could do way better, but who am I to judge?”

She chuckles but there’s no humor in it. “He apparently thinks he can do way better… He told me it was a mistake and it can’t happen again.”

I jump back up, ready to go full tire slasher on him. I don’t care that he’s my brother, he’s hurt my best friend! “What the fuck?! How dare he! Has he met you? You’d be the best thing to ever happen to him! I feel like we should have a bat somewhere around here—” I start to look around for one. “Let’s go do some damage to his car!”

Riz finally jumps in, grabbing my arm and yanking me back down. “Calm down, Beyonce. We aren’t busting anyone’s windows tonight.”

Just then, Luci’s phone chimes. We all turn toward it in time to see “Gabe *heart emoji*” flash across her screen.

“Look at that, but then we need to talk about why you didn’t tell me. My boyfriend is Gabe’s best friend for fuck’s sake. Why, of all people, would I be mad about you guys talking?”

Luci’s hand is halfway to her phone before both she and Riz pause.

“Did you just say boyfriend?” Riz asks at the same time Luci squeals, “Wait! Anders is your boyfriend?”

I wave them off. “That’s old news. What did my asshole brother say?”

But apparently we aren’t moving on yet because Riz smirks and says, “So… does the carpet match the drapes?”

“Oh my God, Riz! You can’t just ask someone that!” Luci guffaws.

“First of all, don’t Mean Girls me! I can ask whatever I want. Second of all, don’t we deserve to know?! We’ve kept their secret rendezvous a”—she waves her hands in front of her face—“secret!”

“You can ask whatever you want, but I refuse to answer that. I will tell you that his dick is not cheetah print, though, and it is magical,” I sigh.

“We were worried that it was cheetah print?” Riz asks.

“Forget that! What did Gabe say?” I redirect us back to the matter at hand.

Luci grabs her phone, opening the text. “‘We need to talk’ with a period at the end.”

“A period? What does that mean?” Riz asks.

“Everyone knows periods mean people are angry. What on earth could he possibly be angry about?” I ask.

Luci types a few words out and then wilts before me, tossing her phone to the other side of the couch.

“What did you say?” Riz whispers.

“I told him that I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk. If he thinks last night was a mistake…” She shrugs her shoulders, but one lone tear falls, giving away her true feelings. “I won’t be someone else’s mistake,” she finishes firmly.

“You are not a mistake,” I say, sitting down next to her on the couch, Riz coming over to the other side to sandwich her in. “You are one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. We love you and will support you no matter what. If you want to try things with Gabe, we support you. If you need me to go find that bat…”

“I get it. You support me,” she huffs, pulling her hands into the sleeves of her sweatshirt and then using it to wipe the tears from beneath her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. You just had so much going on with Anders, and truly, until last night we were just talking. Flirting, yes, but also I thought we really understood each other. Now, I’m not so sure.”

Luci’s head falls to my shoulder and I give her time to process anything else she wants to say. We sit in silence and I start to think about the ways that Luci and Gabe make sense. They are both sunshine in human form. Always optimistic and ready for a good time. I know Luci’s sunshine is a byproduct of her childhood—one where she was forced to be the sunshine to her younger siblings. I guess in a way, Gabe would understand that, being the oldest as well. And, though I’m jumping way ahead, it would be awesome for Luci to be my sister.

I’m snapped out of that line of thought when Luci begins to sniffle. “Can we talk about something else? I really do want to hear about your weekend with Anders.”

So, in the midst of Luci’s hurting, I fill my best friends in on what a dream my weekend was—how perfectly Anders seems to know me, in a way I didn’t realize was missing. I tell them about the gala, how icky Anders’ dad was, how loved I felt at Bemelman’s, and afterward when we went back to the hotel. I don’t flat out say that I’m falling for him, but they can tell. They listen intently—Luci, with soft smiles and encouraging nods, and Riz, with inappropriate gestures and vulgar questions.

We talk until we fall into comfortable silence, happy to be back together again.

At some point, I get a text from “Best Big Brother” which I’m assuming is Gabe. It just says, “We need to talk.” because that’s apparently the only thing my idiot of a brother knows how to say anymore. I flip my phone over, deciding to save that problem for tomorrow.

I didn’t know Christmas could be like this. I mean, I assumed there was a reason most movies portrayed it a certain way—frantic unwrapping, bubbling laughter, silly traditions, and mouthwatering food, and… love—but I didn’t think I’d ever experience that.

It’s so… wholesome.

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