Page 50 of 12 Gays of Christmas

It’s scary how well he knows me. And a bit wonderful.

People continue to pour into the small house. Did they invite every person left on campus? Gil jokes with his teammates, but it seems halfhearted, like his mind is somewhere else. At one point, he leaves with Steph to help him with something. Was I wrong? Is Gil still crushing on Steph? The man is gorgeous.

“Not drinking?” Remi asks with a smirk that would look good smashed against a gingerbread house centerpiece.

“Pacing myself.”

He sips his drink, taunting me. “Good idea. Maybe you can make it out on your own two feet this time.”

“Why are you here?”

“I told you. I was—”

“Cut the bullshit, Remi. You’re Jewish. You don’t like jocks. Or parties.” I cross my arms and stare him down. Something is going on, and I don’t like it.

He shrugs, not bothered at all by my outburst. “Plenty of Jews go to Christmas parties. And I’m supporting my friends.”

“You don’t have any friends.”

His easygoing smile stays in place, but his eyes harden. “Maybe you do need a drink. You’re nicer after a few shots of tequila.”

I’m being unreasonably mean. Especially since Remi went to the game with me last weekend and helped me afterward. More than could be expected from an ex. And maybe that’s it. I still don’t know his angle. Is he into Gil, or does he have some other agenda? Remi shakes his head and starts to wander off. “Stop talking to my sister,” I say before he can get very far.

He turns back. “She wants you to be happy. And in a turn of events that’s a total mind-fuck, so do I. So, tell me, Colin? What are you afraid of?”

I glance away, worried he can see the answer in my eyes. That I’m making all the same mistakes over again. Falling for the jock who will break my heart. Getting involved with my roommate and ruining a friendship.

“It’s not the same, you know,” he says, touching my arm. “We were never going to work out. No matter how much I wanted it.” He keeps his gaze on something over my shoulder. He doesn’t show this side of him often. He hides his vulnerability too well.

“Remi—”

“Stop. It’s fine. No reason to get mushy on me.”

“Not getting mushy. I was going to say, Remi…if we’re dissecting our failed relationship, I need tequila.”

He glances around. Who is he looking for? “I’m not sure…Gil has about a hundred pounds on me. I don’t want him pissed at me.”

“Wimp,” I say, brushing past him. When you need alcohol, sometimes you just have to get it yourself. “Oh, and, Remi? I’m serious. Stop colluding with my sister. And get your own hot jock to drool over.”

“We’re drooling over jocks now?” Darcy asks from behind me.

“No.” Why does my voice sound like that? I try for a more even tone. “I mean, if you want. Just not…never mind.”

“Honey, either stake your claim or move along. Life is too short to be stuck in the middle lane.” Then Darcy leaves, and I get my drink before anyone can bitch about it.

When I return, I walk around wondering where Gil’s at. I turn and almost bump into Remi. Is he following me? Watching me?

The guy he came with joins us, slightly out of breath.

“Hey, Remi. I’ve been looking for you.” The guy seems too normal for Remi. His mouth is a little too big, but his eyes flash with excitement…that’s not quite it. More like he’s trying to capture everything that happens. He glances at me and then back at Remi expectantly.

Remi rolls his eyes and motions to his date. “Colin, this is Eduardo. Eduardo, this is Colin.” No bastardization of my name? Does Remi like this guy? His name sounds familiar. I glance over at him and notice he’s staring intently at me.

“Wait…”

“Hold on…”

Eduardo and I talk at the same time. “This is that guy?”

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