“Nah,” Cassie said. “Hostess first.”
Erin smiled at her and reached for a present. The one from Cassie was on top of her pile, wrapping paper puffy at the corners. That was the one she grabbed. Cassie was suddenly very interested in the arm of the love seat next to her. As Erin opened the present, Cassie glanced at her, glanced away. It was only hot chocolate, but she still had to stop herself from telling Erin she had the receipt if she didn’t like it.
“Oh my gosh,” Erin said, and Cassie looked at her. “This is my favorite kind. And so many flavors!”
Cassie smiled tentatively, and Erin beamed at her.
“You did good,” she said.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I’m definitely stealing some of it this break,” Parker chimed in.
Erin chuckled. “We’ll see.”
“My turn,” Parker said, tearing into the envelope in her hands.
Erin and Cassie weren’t really paying attention, though, still smiling at each other. Christmas definitely wasn’t so bad.
“A gift card to Art Apart?” Parker said. “Babe, you’re too great! I’ve been wanting pens from there for ages!”
“I am too great,” Cassie agreed. “Especially because it was definitely my turn to open a present.”
“Oops?” Parker said, looking not at all sorry.
Cassie chuckled and reached for her present. The tag read Cassie in what looked like a failed attempt at fancy cursive.
Cassie must’ve made a face, because Erin said, “I know. I can’t help my terrible handwriting.”
“She’s a doctor, what do you expect?” Parker said.
Normally when Cassie got a gift, she ripped the wrapping paper. She loved presents, wanted to know what they were as quickly as possible. But this time, she went slowly. She broke the seal of the tape and unfolded the paper instead of ripping it. Erin was watching, but Cassie couldn’t look at her.
It wasn’t like Erin was going to give her anything inappropriate. Especially not in front of Parker. There was no reason for Cassie to be nervous, but she was.
Inside the wrapping paper was a box with a lid. She opened it to find a necklace, delicate silver chain and a trinket hanging down. It was a rocket ship. She bit her lip, tamped what wanted to be a huge grin into a small smile.
“It’s great,” she said, aware that her voice was strained.
“Let me see,” Parker said.
“I saw it and thought of Parker calling you an astronaut, and—well, I just thought you’d like it.”
Cassie finally looked at her. Color was rising on Erin’s cheeks.
“I do,” Cassie said. “I love it.”
“Let me see it!” Parker repeated her demand.
Cassie passed her the box. Parker’s eyes got wide when she saw what it was, but she smiled.
“Ooh, it’s pretty!”
As soon as Parker passed it back to her, Cassie put the necklace on.
Erin stammered. “I mean—you don’t have to—”
“Shut up, Erin,” Cassie laughed. “I want to.”
Parker gave her a look, and Cassie ducked her head, fiddling with the necklace.
“Mom, your turn again,” Parker said.
Erin got scrub caps with little bi flags on them and a book. Parker got a book, too, and gave Cassie a gift card to an online mechanic shop. It was everything Cassie could do not to get on her computer immediately to look at their huge selection of tools.
Erin offered to get them second Danishes—a third, for Parker—and they agreed wholeheartedly.
When Erin was out of the room, Parker cleared her throat. She didn’t meet Cassie’s eyes because she was looking at the necklace instead. Cassie swallowed.
“What?” she said.
“I’m sorry if it’s weird,” Parker said quickly. “The necklace. I know you haven’t worn one since Seth’s, like…”
That was—not what Cassie was expecting. She blinked.
“I can honestly say Seth didn’t even cross my mind, babe.”
It was the truth. Cassie had absolutely no thoughts about Seth and the star necklace she used to wear. Parker looked like she didn’t believe her. Cassie shrugged.
“It’s a cool necklace,” she said, tugging at the charm.
* * *
“What up, losers?” Acacia’s voice came over the speakers before her video kicked in.
“That’s it, Kaysh,” Cassie said. “I’m returning your Christmas present.”
Acacia’s face appeared on their screen. “Don’t lie—you haven’t even bought my present yet. You’re waiting for the sales.”
“How would you know?”
“Because you’ve been doing it for the past decade,” Acacia said. “Anyway. Parker, how are you, babe?”
“Good,” Parker said with a grin. “How’s your Christmas so far? Emerson get you anything good?”
“Fuck yeah. He gave me money to cover the class to get my motorcycle license.”
Cassie wolf whistled. “You’ll look hot in leather, Kaysh.”
“Just promise me you’ll wear a helmet,” Parker said.
Acacia rolled her eyes. “Duh, Parker. I don’t have a death wish.”
“Good, because I won’t hesitate to pull the plug if I have to,” Cassie said.
“Thanks, boo.”
“Anytime,” Cassie blew a kiss to the computer screen.
“So what’d you guys get?” Acacia asked.
They rehashed their morning and present hauls. When Cassie mentioned the necklace, Acacia gave her a look that Parker noticed, but thankfully misinterpreted.
“I know,” she said. “I thought it was weird because the last necklace she wore was from Seth, but she claims it’s not weird.”
“It’s not weird; it’s cute,” Cassie said. She held the necklace up to the webcam. “See?”
“It is cute,” Acacia said. “Does this mean you accept that you’re going to be an astronaut?”
“I accept that I may be working on rocket ships that in reality look nothing like this necklace.”
“Boring,” Parker said.
“You’re exceptionally uncool, you know that?” Acacia said.
“I do, thank you.”
They managed to take up well over an hour chatting with Acacia, though it’d been less than a week since they were all together. Emerson and Mama Webb popped their heads in, too. By the end of the call, Cassie’s cheeks hurt from smiling. It was the best Christmas she’d ever had.
Ten
ERIN
Erin sat in her home office, but she wasn’t working. The mystery she was currently reading was open on her desk. It’d be more comfortable to read in the living room, but that was too accessible. She’d hidden in her office since she woke up, almost an hour earlier.
It was 8:37 A.M. when she finally heard someone come downstairs. Cassie, probably. Parker hadn’t gotten up before ten for all of break.
Yesterday, listening to Parker and Cassie video chat with Acacia, Erin had made a decision. Well, she recommitted herself to a decision she’d already made.
Nothing could happen between her and Cassie.