Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“He’s doing Christmas Eve with his family,” he hedged. “And it’s still early, you know? No need to overwhelm him with our circus.”
“I see how it is. See if I tell you my news.”
One of the kids came up with a question for her, so he was saved further interrogation. And he’d already figured out her news—the buffet included the sour cabbage salad she only ever craved when pregnant, and she had a glass of horchata on the counter. She’d had gallons of that with her first pregnancy. Maybe this one was another girl. When she was free again, he’d tell her about Judy’s lavender nursery theme. And Russ would find it funny that their sisters were both in the midst of a baby boom.
Weird thinking about Russ and already anticipating their next conversation. A strange sort of loyalty had kept him from telling Maria that he and Russ were merely fake boyfriends. Except the accuracy of that statement was debatable. Somehow all Esteban’s plans to finish off their fake relationship kept getting…postponed.
Like, he hadn’t forgotten that he was supposed to be helping Russ get a breakup cat and then gently spreading the word that they were better off as friends, but he kept getting distracted. And confused. Because they were friends. Good friends. They’d shared several impromptu outings, in addition to the command fake-boyfriend appearances and any number of shared meals.
But friends didn’t hang out until past midnight, half-dressed and talking about anything and everything after sex that probably shouldn’t have happened. And yet he couldn’t bring himself to regret it in the slightest. Or the kissing after the joint shopping trip Saturday. Both of their couches were getting quite the workout. No sleepovers yet, but they’d talked every day since Friday, even during the flurry of pre-Christmas prep.
So, maybe they were more than friends. And he’d had friends-with-benefits before, but that didn’t seem to fit here either, and not knowing how to define the relationship was making him cranky.
Maintaining the holiday spirit for the sake of the family, he played with the kids, ate his favorite foods, and heard all the latest family gossip. Maria kept being cagey about the baby news. Through it all, he tried to avoid the urge to check his phone. Missing someone he’d seen hours earlier was crazy.
And yet, there he was, tucked in a corner by the Christmas tree, smiling at his phone like a lovesick teen simply because Russ had sent him a picture of Benny all dressed up for the Christmas Eve service and a note that the fudge had been a hit. Esteban replied with a picture of the buffet table and another of the tree which was loaded down with handmade ornaments from the kids.
Looks delicious. And pretty tree. Maybe I should do one next year, Russ quickly replied.
You should. Esteban tried to squelch the image of decorating with him, maybe picking out some special ornaments. That kind of sentimentality was definitely not in keeping with the friends thing. And a whole year from now? Who knew where they’d be? Russ would probably a real boyfriend by then. And wasn’t that a pleasant thought?
Fuck. As he was about to pocket his phone in self-disgust, another message came in. Heading home soon. Eat all the things and drive safe.
Just like that, Esteban’s pulse sped up at the thought of seeing Russ again and his insides got warm at Russ’s concern for him. He made his way back to the kitchen, helped himself to a plastic container with a lid, because Maria had a million of them, and started rifling through the leftovers.
“Leaving already?” Esteban’s dad came into the kitchen, expression stern but not unkind.
“I told Maria I’d leave before the rest of you head to mass. She was cool with that.” He tried not to sound defensive. Not everyone in his family considered mass as optional, but Esteban was closer with family members like his sister who didn’t want to lecture him. His relationship with Papi was much stronger these days, and Esteban was decades removed from being the headstrong teen who had clashed with him at every turn.
“I’m not criticizing. But apparently your poor Papi has to hear from everyone else that you have a new…friend.” He gave Esteban a cautious smile.
“I suppose I do.” Now Esteban felt bad that he hadn’t made more of an effort to sit with his dad, who was legit trying to be more supportive. “Actually, I was filling this for him. I thought he might like to taste some of the dishes. Including the turkey you helped with.” He kept his voice light.
“Bien. How about next time you bring him with you? You can stay longer then.” The vulnerability in his dad’s eyes actually reminded Esteban a little of Russ and made his chest clench. “Let Maria and Alicia stuff him full of tamales while they grill him. You and I, we will play a little chess maybe?”