Page 34 of 12 Gays of Christmas

It all starts to make sense. Remi knows way too much about Colin and his routines. I just assumed he’d gathered the information for their feud. And there’s so much animosity between them. Or—my stomach churns as I watch Remi put hooks on the ornaments as he sorts them. He glances up and tilts his head.

“I thought you wanted to surprise Colin. Raise his spirits. Since he can’t go home for Christmas yet—which is a bunch of bull.” He mumbles the last part, which I ignore. I might come back around to it, but for now, I need different answers.

“Were you and Colin together? Not just roommates. Did you…?” My face heats up.

“None of your business.”

“Remi, come on.”

“He didn’t tell you. I’m not sure why, but I don’t want him mad at me.”

“You guys fight all the time.”

“It’s…not the same. And while we’re at it, I need you to get a clue or just stop what you’re doing.”

“I’m not doing anything except sorting decorations.”

Remi shakes his head. “It’s none of my business. Not my job. Not my responsibility.” I don’t think he’s even talking to me.

We work in silence. Well, Christmas cheer continues to assault us from our tinny-sounding cheap speakers, but we don’t talk. When we finish putting the ornaments on the tree, I’m shocked at how beautiful it looks. Remi is surprisingly good at this.

“What did you mean earlier?” The tinsel glitters in the light as we wrap it around the chalkboard. “About me needing to get a clue?”

“Tape.” I hand him a piece, and he fastens the last of it and steps back. “Looks good.”

“Remi—”

“Who’s this?” He taps number eight:Serious Guy with Gorgeous Eyes.

“No one…”

“We don’t have a lot of time. Colin will be home soon, and we still need to straighten up the mess. Who is this? I know these guys aren’t random.”

I shrug and stare at the boxes we found on the top of the coat closet. How did I not know they were there? Remi isn’t giving up on this. “A guy in my art class—these are both guys in my art class.” I point to number nine. “I wasn’t thinking when I did this. Colin was—” Nope. Not discussing that with Remi. “They went home for break.”

He folds his arms and scrunches his eyebrows. “So you need a stand-in?”

“I guess. Or I could just give up.” My face heats up again, but hopefully Remi can’t tell.

“Not my business.”

“I didn’t ask you to do anything. I can take care of this.”

“Fine. I’ll be your stand-in.”

“What? No. Not happening.” My mouth drops open, but I can’t seem to do anything but stare at him.

“I can help you cross both of these off.”

“You get that crossing things off isn’t the point. It’s to—never mind.”

But from the smirk on his face, I can tell he knows. How much has Colin told him? “I have a friend—”

“Shocking.”

“Do you want my help or not?”

“Not.”

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