Page 148 of The Rebound
“Think you’re getting coal this year?”
“It’s our first Christmas home as a couple,” he says ignoring me. “Both sets of parents. I just keep thinking about all the questions they’re going to ask.”
“Oh yeah?” I raise a brow. “Like what?”
His mouth clamps shut.
“Like what, Luke?”
“Never mind.”
“Like when we’re getting engaged?”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Making you squirm?” I grin. “Always. And trust me, you just need to sit there and look pretty. Let me handle the questions.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because I know the answers,” I say airily, and turn back to the crowd before he can respond. “Did you talk to Beth?”
“She did most of the talking.” He grimaces. “I guess I’m not the only one who’s nervous.”
I smile, sympathetic. Once Beth finally plucked up the courage to reach out to Jess online, they quickly become firm friends before a weekend trip to New York established them as significantly more than that. Trying to be a little less impulsive after closing the café, Beth wasn’t ready to leave Ireland just yet, but Jess had insisted on bringing her over for the holidays this year, so she could spend Christmas in the city. Knowing Jess, I doubt there’s anything innocent behind her intentions. The little festive week away is clearly her ploy to convince Beth to move over, but seeing as she’s the first woman Jess has been serious about in a long,longtime, I’m curious to see it where it goes.
“They’re dangerous together,” I say with a sigh. “You need someone in a relationship to reign the other one in.”
“Like me?”
“Uh, no. I’m the reigner.”
“You?”
“Yes, me! I—”
“Abby!”
I turn at the shout to see Louise barge her way across the hall, striding through a family reunion being captured by a news crew.
“What are you doing all the way over here? We’ve been looking for you for ten minutes.” She hugs me while she chides me, the chill from outside still clinging to her coat.
“We couldn’t find you. Where’s Saoirse?”
“With her father.”
“You didn’t bring her with—”
“Of course I did,” she snaps. “They’re coming now. Hello, Luke.”
“Louise,” he greets, trying to hide his amusement. “Happy Christmas.”
She nods, her attention already back on me. “You look terrible.”
“Because I’ve been on a plane for— Oh my God!”
I push past her, aiming straight for the little bundle in the stroller pushed by Tomasz. She’s wearing an extremely fluffy hat, making it difficult to see her face, but Tomasz crouches down when I do, tipping it up.
Baby Saoirse is fast asleep, oblivious to the world.
