Page 42 of Wrapped Up In You
“Jonathan? Hello?”
My eyes flicked up to the man standing in my doorway. My coworker, Louis, was looking at me, eyebrows raised in question. I wondered how long he’d been trying to get my attention.
“Sorry. What’s up?”
He took that as an invitation to walk into my office and sit in one of the chairs in front of my desk. I frowned.
“Relax, Jon-o. You look like you ate a lemon.” Louis had a habit of giving everyone bad nicknames and inviting himself into your business. We’d worked together for years, and his work was impeccable, but his habit of poking around, trying to open me up, was annoying. I much preferred to keep my professional and personal lives separate.
“What did you need, Louis?”
“How was your trip out to the cabin?” He leaned back in the chair, crossing an ankle over his knee, making himself comfortable.
I raised a brow. “How did you know I went to the cabin?” As far as I could recall, I hadn’t told anyone where I was going. I’d marked myselfout of the officeon my calendar and walked out on the twenty-second.
He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal that he was in my personal business. “I just assumed with your divorce being finalized last week, you’d want to get away for a bit.”
“How did you know— You know what? That doesn’t matter. What can I help you with, Louis?”
“Oh, I just, uh, I just wanted to chat.”
“We don’tchat, Louis. If there’s nothing youneed, I have work to do.” I turned toward my computer, effectively dismissing him.
He stood in a huff, and I thought I heard him mutter “Dick” under his breath as he walked out, but I couldn’t be sure.
The fact was, he was right. I was being a dick, especially considering I’d had more sex in the last week than I’d had in at least a year. But what had started as a rough morning had turned into a truly shitty day when I got a text from my father around lunchtime. One that was almost immediately followed by a text from Hayden.
It would appear we were being summoned to dinner. Suzanne and my father were home from their trip and were inviting us to a belated Christmas dinner on the thirtieth, two days from now. I was sure this was Suzanne’s doing, as my father had never been sentimental about such things and would have likely preferred to let the holiday come and go without fanfare.
I opened the messages on my phone, rereading each one that had come through.
Dad
We are having Christmas dinner on Thursday. You are expected to be there. 6:30 sharp
As if I had ever been late for anything in my life.
I hadn’t responded to his text. No response was necessary. It was expected that I would be there, and any plans I might already have were to be canceled or rescheduled.
I flipped over to the other text I’d received. It had been three texts, actually, coming in rapid-fire, one after the next.
Hayden
Did you get a summons for dinner on Thursday?
I have to work, but I can probably get out of it.
What are we telling our parents about us?
This onedidrequire a response, but I hadn’t formulated one yet. This thing with Hayden was so new. My relationship with him felt sweet and tender and…fragile. Not because our connection was weak, but like all new living things, it needed nurture and care. I wanted more time for us to get our bearings, to find sturdy footing, before we exposed our relationship to the scrutiny of our family. Of my father.
But I didn’t want to hide him either. The stepbrother thing and the age gap didn’t bother me anymore. Those things didn’t matter. Against all odds, and despite our differences, he was my person. None of the rest mattered.
But that was easier said than done. I could say it didn’t matter what my father thought about any of this, but old habits died hard. I’d spent the whole of my life seeking his approval. I couldn’t just shut that off, no matter how much I wanted to.
Then there was Hayden. I knew he and his mom were close. I didn’t want to be the source of any sort of conflict between them. He already struggled with his relationship with his dad. I didn’t want him to be at odds with both of his parents.
As I was contemplating all of this, another text came through, startling me when my phone vibrated in my hand.
