landslides and other emotional first

 "Well, it could have been COVID," Charles told his daughter Poppy when she came over to see about him. In his case, it was an awful case of Strep throat. Still, he didn't want to take his chances. "It was the right thing to do, wasn't it?"

He knew Poppy didn't have an answer for him. After all, she'd been rather quiet since getting the engagement ring. He thought she would be happy.

Naturally, she insisted that she was, but he did wonder if she was having second thoughts about Alfie. No way did he want to influence her. This had to be Poppy's decision. In return, it felt she thought the same about Lynsey.

She brought his favorite soup, white bean and ham. They had supper together. The dish went well with the cornbread she made while she was here. Really, she did like spoiling him.

"If you..you do have feelings for her, you shouldn't have let her go," Poppy said mid-way through the meal.

Charles looked at her as if maybe he didn't hear her correctly.

"You were happy when she was here," Poppy looked up at him as if she did want the best for him.

"Oh, but she's a young mother, and she-" He couldn't finish the sentence without getting teary-eyed. "She will work it out."

"But..but she needed you," Poppy told him.

"Oh, but I'm old. Youth is not on my side." He reminded her. "Her son has a father and I want him to know him." Of course, he might have been thinking of himself and how he wished he'd been more of a part of Poppy's life when she was growing up.

"That might be true, but Erro was happiest with you." Poppy smiled. "And I think Lynsey was too."

Charles felt his throat ache with emotion. Oh, he hoped it wasn't COVID after all.

Kind of like closure

 

How many times had she swore she wouldn't go back. Never. Not ever.

But the timing was all wrong. Charles go COVID and really Lynsey wanted to stay, but Charles insisted she needed to go back. At least, to get away from the sickness. 

Honestly, it felt as if her world was turned upside down, having to go back to Casey's. She'd wanted to find her own place, but nothing seemed to be available these days. They told her to check back in March. Oh, that felt harsh. She really knew it wasn't going to work, but Casey helped her with her stuff and the baby and here they were.

Now she was the one not talking. She knew if they started discussions it was would soon lead to arguing, and then what? Would she be out on the streets?

"Well...say anything," Casey finally said once she'd settled in the basement. No way could she just GO BACK like Charles managed to say.

"I hate you just as much as I love you." She swelled a frown wondering what that exactly meant. Was it equal? A balance of some kind. "We should be alone." It was very clear to her. "You like being alone." She sniffed back tears. "I've learned to be alone." Except there was Erro and she wasn't exactly alone unless he decided to take him away from her. But it hadn't happened yet. 

Of course, all he could do was hug her, but she didn't know if that was enough anymore.

No way would she ever go back to her parents. She'd certainly ask nothing of them. After all, they'd never seen the baby. They had their real daughters to worry about.

Of course, her adopted sister called from time to time but it was nothing personal, really. She mainly called to talk about herself and her own problems. It was just the usual script. Maybe that was all her parents ever needed. 

But there was Casey's parents too. Evidently, Chance had talked to them. They showed up on the weekends now. His mother would do most of the cooking for the week even if Casey insisted he could do it. Lynsey guessed it was her way of keeping busy. Casey's dad wanted to spend time with the grandbaby. 

"What are you doing in the basement?" His mother asked. "It's too cold down there." She hadn't liked it when she was staying here.

"It's not that cold," Only Lynsey couldn't look at her. "I'm used to the cold." She knew she wouldn't be moving back upstairs anytime soon.

fact or fiction

 Lindy was doing her best to keep in hiding these days. She didn't want to see anyone. Especially, after the New Year's Eve moment. It was still a mystery she couldn't get out of her mind, but then again she might have made too much out of it.

A stranger made out with her in the hallway outside her apartment. Seriously, it took her by surprise because she couldn't remember the last time she kissed anyone. But he seemed to know her quite well and she wasn't drunk. She was never drunk.

"Have we..." she was practically mute wondering when they'd been together. She didn't know him. 

"No, we just hung out before." Supposedly, they'd shared a joint of some kind last year.

Still, it meant nothing to her. She had to wonder if she had a personality she didn't know about. Naturally, she found herself apologizing when she was certain it should have been Chad, but she knew she would keep on top of it. Whatever that might mean..she'd stay to herself and hope she never met him again.

But work was so troubling. She hated it. It seemed they wanted to send her to so many places and she didn't know the way. It was true, she had no sense of direction.

Lindy found herself waiting for the kettle to boil then forgetting to make tea. She almost caught the kitchen stove on fire once so she only ate cold-cut sandwiches now. 

How was she like this? Had she always been this way? And one got used to this kind of life, just one more jolt after another. 

And then Jay showed up with a friend. "How have you been?" He wanted to know. "You haven't called."

"Was I supposed to?" She didn't know. His mother was only a friend of her father's. He really didn't owe her anything.

"Well, this is my friend Slater and you live in his building. I just wondered if you'd want to come and eat with us at his place. It would be just the four of us." He explained that Slater lived with his pregnant girlfriend.

She gave him a nod. Of course, she was hungry. Starving in fact. And of course, she finished her plate of enchiladas before anyone else.

They looked at her as if something must be wrong.

"Oh, I just really love Mexican food," she smiled hoping no one would ask any more of her. It was hard to be normal when you didn't really know what normal was anymore.

Let's keep it simple

 "So, it can't be love?" Cade asked as he slammed his locker shut. Naturally, Mercer looked at him a little dazed and confused.

"Right?" Cade went on to nudge Mercer toward the door they took to go home. The rush had left.

"What?" Mercer squint.

"You know, Lily?" Cade gave him a dead stare. "Is that why you fainted?"

Mercer shrugged. Honestly, he wanted to be closed-lip about it. Naturally, he was thankful no one called an ambulance. He knew his parents would be peeved. Besides, he wasn't that epileptic. He didn't think. But then again, he didn't play that many video games and it wasn't like he was around so many lights. All the time. Of course, nothing like that had ever happened before. And he didn't want it to be a thing. Not a thing he had to worry about.

"I'm fine."

Cade nodded. 

"You aren't going to out with her, again, are you?" Cade wanted to know as they huddled together in the cold. It was icy out, but the sunshine was in abundance yet the wind practically howled. They made it down to the library. 

It was there the YA librarian had Hot Chocolate Bombs waiting. Of course, you made your own drink. Really, not many knew of it, and Mercer was glad they didn't because he was going back for seconds.

"Well, she acts like I don't exist so I don't think anything is going to happen." He sighed. Yes, this depressed the hell out of him. He needed a challenge and yet no way was he going to make an effort. Maybe he could play hard to get without even trying.

At the moment, all was well with some good graphic novels and sipping on hot chocolate.

"I sure hope you're OK," Cade looked at him.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Mercer gave him a dead stare back as if he was just trying to be nice when he didn't have to be.

"I just keep thinking we should have called an ambulance that night," he looked a little sad.

"It's nice that you're worried about me, but what if I'd gone all the way there and it was nothing. Just a little weird from the cold."

"But..but it could have been COVID or what if you've got some strange epilepsy?" Cade thought out loud.

"Shut up!" Mercer snapped ready to punch Cade. "People will think I'm.." he sighed. He didn't want anyone thinking he was crazy.

Something to savor

 "So he just moved in...just like that?" Val looked a Lizzy who was all so bubbly about being with Sunny. Of course, Val knew. Matty told her. His two dads weren't exactly pleased about the matter, but since Sunny was older they just hoped for the best.

"Um," Lizzy wasn't saying much either. She wouldn't even tell her who the mystery guy was. It was strange meeting up at the Down Town bakery, but it was good to see the bakery was busy with all sorts of goods. Even sourdough sandwiches.

"When do we get to meet him?" Val asked as she sipped hot mint tea. She still felt a little out of it. Her throat just hadn't been the same after Strep, but she knew she was OK.

"When it warms up, for starters," she smiled as she cradled the cup of her hot tea. It was frigid out these days. Possibly, too cold for snow.

"Right." Val nodded. She doubted Lizzy would ever invite her and Matty over. 

"Maybe, it's just a winter thing," Val bit into a chip.

"What do you mean?"

"You and this guy," Val said as she looked at Lizzy ever so seriously. "You know, it's like closure, ending a relationship with someone, the inbetweener."

Lizzy winced as if she didn't like Val's conversation.

Val then smiled, "But then again, maybe it was Keir who was the inbetweener."

Lizzy only cleared her throat and went back to her sandwich. Val pushed in some sourdough bread into the white bean soup and took a bite.

Really, she did want Sunny to be happy. Honestly, Val knew she really knew nothing of relationships. But after all, Lizzy was always questioning her. She thought it was time to give Lizzy a boomerang of karma.

Oh, it's a cold January

 "It's been hard, you know." Brick explained while Matty was trying his best to stock the snack aisle. Brick was supposed to be busy with the popcorn selection.

"What are we talking about?" Matty wanted to know. He hoped this wasn't about sex. He cringed the thought.

"You know, Lily being back and all," Brick shrugged. He was practically on the floor moving bags of popcorn in place.

"Well, don't make it more than it is," Matty assured him that Lily was only a Freshman and with other Freshmen now. "You just got to let it go."

"I know," Brick sighed. "I get it. I want that...it's just.."

"What?" Matty looked over his shoulder with his back to Brick.

"It's just I know she's at school. I find myself looking for her, and she's not even there." They both checked dates on the snacks and tossed some in a box that they would place in the breakroom. They wouldn't be for free but at least a discount price. "You don't think she's skipping?"

"Seriously," Matty winced. It was hardly above zero out. "Where would she go?"

"I dunno." Brick sounded sad about it.

"I think she's hiding from you. Have you ever thought, she doesn't want to see you? She doesn't want to know what you are doing," Matty said.

"Huh? I dunno. Not really," Brick said he couldn't imagine she was trying to do him a favor.

"Look, you have your circle of friends, let her find her circle," Matty told him. Brick only gave him a nod as he reached for the top shelf and Matty did the same on his side.

"So what's up with you and Val," Matty sensed Brick's smirk already.

"Fine. She was sick, but she's OK now. She's back in school." Matty shrugged.

"I swear, it's like you two aren't dating at all," Brick said and Matty only smiled.

I wonder what it's like to be my friends

 

"Alison, is that really you?" Slater had to think for a second when he approached her at the grocery store. Yes, it looked as if she was with someone new. It was such a relief. Maybe they could be friends.

She looked at him as if he should mind his own business, but of course, he wouldn't. "Did you guys have a good holiday or two?" He said he'd spent most of it at home. "That's the best way, you know."

"Yes, of course..." she cleared her throat and said she was on her way to see Vanna.

"That's sweet of you," he waved at who she was with and told him who he was, "I'm kind of like a big brother to Vanna."

"Vanna?" The guy kept grinning like a doe in the headlights. Slater chuckled. Oh, he'd just play cupid after all. 

"I'm glad you've got Alison in town. They keep her pretty busy in Lincoln." Slater licked his dry lip and went on about Alison and how hard she worked. Pretty soon, Slater learned that Keir worked for his dad. Keir was practically an accountant. Slater had a feeling Alison wasn't aware of this. 

"Well, I don't want to keep you two," Slater nodded as if his work was done, and he better get back to his real job at the grocery store. "You, tell Vanna hello." Of course, he'd seen her a couple of hours ago at the register but she'd gone home.

It was funny the people he'd see sometimes at the grocery store. Still, it was peculiar how small the world was.

He'd met the girl that Jay spent Christmas with. She shopped here and she also lived in their apartment complex. He hadn't told Jay. Maybe he should but maybe he shouldn't.

He knew Misty was trying to keep him out of trouble, but this kind of trouble was the best kind. After all, Slater enjoyed visiting with people at the grocery store.

I wonder if I'm being real

 

Alison knew she was probably lying to herself more than to Vanna. Of course, Vanna remembered her going on about her so-called date for New Year's which didn't exactly happen. She guessed it should have. It could have, but she really didn't want to see that guy she'd gone to the University with. She really never liked him. 

But she was happy her little sister had found someone. Vanna wasn't alone. Of course, Alison was finding at thirty-something she wasn't sure she could be with anyone. She'd been alone that long. Really, it didn't bother her much, but then she began to worry during the pandemic. Maybe something was wrong with her?

Still, co-workers encouraged her. This was the best time to be alone. What would she do if her partner got COVID? She winced thinking she'd stayed home far too long.

She'd gotten in the car and drove all the way to Vanna's just to remember she was empty-handed. Why had she come? Before she knew it she was at the grocery store, but she'd forgotten Slater worked there.

Suddenly, she felt as if she was always taking the wrong turn. She didn't want him to think she was here to see him. 

That was when she ran into a rather tall but thin guy in a suit. She butted her head right into his chest. She practically knocked him over.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she found herself looking up at him. As it was she was practically a sumo wrestler next to him.

He smiled back and said it was OK.

"I don't even know what my little sister likes anymore," she found herself saying, yet she was sure he must have thought she was a bit crazy.

"I'm sure she'll be happy with anything," he nodded. "Shampoo and soap are good." He looked down at her basket that she was carrying that was empty.

"Right." She couldn't stop grinning because he had such a nice smile. It was genuine. It was as if he really knew what people liked.

He pointed to the isle where those things were.

"Oh, I'm..I'm Alison by the way," she told him. It was like her lucky day. She knew she should still be wearing a mask, but she wasn't.

"Keir," he then said.

"Keir." She thought the name fit him. "I never met anyone with that name."

"I don't really know that many Alisons, either," he nodded. Before she knew it they were looking at coffee.

As the month goes on

Rachel was beginning to think she'd outstayed her welcome at Ivy's. After all, she knew Dan would never trust her. And of course, the COVID cases emerged and made her stay home. Hopefully, they could get by with Jory's income. After all, she was pregnant and possibly going stir-crazy. She put her turkey sandwich together adding a little pesto. She was video chatting with Bom. At least, there was stay-at-home mom Bom who only went in part-time now.

"I think he's doing OK," Rachel said about Jory. "I don't know, sometimes."

"Well, guys get set in their ways," Bom gave her a shrug. "You can only do so much." She said her husband Brian was the quiet type. Always had been. She was happy that he helped with the kids. "That took forever to happen." She laughed now, but Rachel could see it wasn't always funny.

"Maybe you should let him cook more," Bom suggested.

"Oh, he's so tired," Rachel shook her head, no. "The holidays are never nice to a postman." This she knew. He'd worked so much over time. Then the snow hit and she really wanted him to stay home, but he wouldn't. The least she could do was to have some good homemade cookies waiting for him and of course hot lunches to keep him warm through the day. Driving that mail truck didn't exactly keep the cold out. 

A part of her wanted to keep working. She didn't want him to get hurt. Yes, she did want to make a home with him. She knew he deserved it.

Just then she got a ding from Amazon that a package had arrived. So she had to put her sandwich away and get on her slippers and trot down to the room of mailboxes. 

There she found the package along with a post office package that was addressed to Jory. It was from California with his last name.

It wasn't until now that Rachel realized there was the family who raised him. And they were sending him a gift. 

"But I don't want it," Jory couldn't help but be angry. He thought they wouldn't find him and they finally did.

"Well, I do. I want to know what's in it," Rachel was like a little kid when it came to anything in the mail, especially a package.

Jory sighed. He'd just soon see it in the trash, but it was too late. Rachel was already opening it. Of course, the gifts were meant for him. Expensive boots and a nice scarf, but there were gift cards too to use as money anywhere. In fact, there were over a thousand dollars at Rachel's fingertips.

"Give me that!" Jory ordered. 

"One for me and one for you." She smiled a bit sheepish. "I mean the baby. You have to remember the baby. We have to tell them about the baby."

"Why?" He was ever so solemn. 

"Because, everybody wants to be grandparents," Rachel said. "You can't keep it from them. Especially..especially, if they can help."

"Help?" He winced hard. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't you gone to the grocery store?" She squinted hard. Didn't he remember how enraged he was when he found out the tacos for two at Chipolte was over thirty bucks? He swore he'd never go back.

"We're doing OK." He was straight-lipped. At least she hadn't whined about not having enough clothes. She wore his shirts for the most part and jogging pants these days.

"These people love you," she said almost with a whimper. "Why can't you let them love us?"

January thoughts

 "Just what did you put in the tea?" Chevy choked on the mint. Simon said it was just lemoned tea.

"Oh, it's mint tea," Simon told him he'd used a teabag of Lemon Lift and mint tea. "You said your throat hurt."

Of course, it hadn't stopped Chevy from going in to work. He did have his late-night weekend show. And many were out due to COVID so he kept busy with lots of programming and other matters to keep shows on the air.

"It's just a little dry, that's all." It didn't really hurt..until now, even his ears ached. Of course, the holidays were now a blur and maybe he'd been around too many of Simon's friends. He was beginning to think Simon had friends, everywhere. Simon really didn't need to be here, but he was. He'd made sure the master bedroom was in good shape. So was the furnace and all the bathrooms. Chevy even had his own bathroom.

Even so, he felt he was keeping Simon from something. He thought of all the fun he would be having with Declan right now, but Simon was here with him as if he needed to keep an eye on him. Simon stayed in the room down the hall. 

He was so close and yet Chevy felt untouchable. It truly was crazy these days. But it wasn't just that. He really wasn't the touchy-feely kind of guy, and he had a feeling Simon definitely was. They were such opposites and here they were together. Well, sort of. 

He winced. No, they weren't together. Chevy easily stayed away from him. He just didn't know what to expect. Chevy knew it would be horrible. It would be so clumsy. He was not a romantic guy. In fact, he'd never been kissed. And this was no time to be thinking about kissing with a COVID surge.

"Are you sure you're OK?" When Simon touched him, it was only his hand on Chevy's forehead. He got out a thermometer gun and took his temp then. He looked at the temp.

"What is it?" Chevy asked.

"You got a temp. It's a little high," Simon said.

"How high?" It sounded so dreadful.

"Look, I have this. I..I think we should use it," Simon told him.

Chevy looked up at him as if he didn't understand. Simon kind of smiled, but he looked a little sad with the take-home COVID test.

Chevy swelled a frown as Simon got the kit ready to use. He winced. Did he really want to do this? Why couldn't they just kiss and get it over with? But instead, Simon was ready. It was like a big cue tip. Chevy cringed. It only burned for a moment or two. Chevy's eyes filled with tears.

It wasn't long until Simon had the results. It was true. Chevy had COVID.

that's how it is

 Lily wasn't sure she knew what she was doing.

1. she didn't want to be a problem for Brick.

2. she didn't want to be her grandmother's problem, either.

3. somehow, she needed to find her place this new school semester, even if she thought it should be remote learning.

On the  upside, she'd found Kevin and Angie, old friends. Of course, they'd both grown so much. Although, they were only just Freshmen (like herself) in high school. It felt like she hadn't spent enough time with them growing up. Of course, she didn't want to depend on them too much. But it was good to catch up.

And there was the new apartment, well..a new place for her and her grandmother. It was on the first floor and it had taken some doing, but it seemed everyone in the family was glad she was with Gram and all things might be better this year.

But who would she meet on the way home? It was as if Rafe was waiting for her. Of course, he hadn't said a thing to her at school.

"What are you doing here?" She looked at him wide-eyed, unsure what to expect. He hadn't said a whole lot when he found Mercer on New Year's Eve. She'd only followed. His house was close to the park. Although, she thought they should have called an ambulance. But it seemed Rafe knew Mercer better than she did. Everything had turned out fine.

"Well, you know where I live. I wanted to know where you lived," he shrugged.

She thought he was being his usual arrogant self, perhaps. It was hard to tell, but he followed her in as if he was a part of her life now. Although, he wasn't the run-of-the-mill puppy. He was practically as tall as Brick and yet possibly not exactly prince charming.

"So what do you want?" She'd let him in this far. Exactly, to the apartment door. Of course, she was not afraid.

"I need to talk to you," he told her. "Alone."

"Well, my grandmother's here." Maybe they could do it tomorrow.

"No, I mean, I can't at school," he sighed. So she let him in. Naturally, there were a sea of boxes.

Before she knew it, he was helping his grandmother, who was oh so flirty with him. It was as if she was glad Lily brought him home. At this rate, she knew he'd forget why he was even here. Especially, after all the box situations were taken care of, her Gram made supper.

Lily kept thinking this was too much. What was her grandmother doing? Naturally, Rafe was charming and full of smiles. He said the Salisbury steak was delicious. And what had she done to make the mashed potatoes so amazing?

Was he ever going home? Of course, he helped clean up and got the dishes in the dishwasher.

"What were you going to tell me, anyway?" Lily winced while they were in the little kitchen while her grandmother settled on one of her favorite game shows.

"Look, one of us is gay and it's not me," he said out of the blue. What was he implying? She squinted back and shook her head. He thought she was a lesbian?

"What are you talking about?" She wanted to know.

"Stay away from Mercer," Rafe said.

"Mercer?"

"My brother likes him. I don't want him to get hurt." He looked at her as if it was really a simple solution.

Lily hugged herself.

"Does Mercer know?"

"No. I don't think so."

"I see," Lily sighed wondering where this was going. "Well, he's my friend-" she started.

"Don't say a word to him about it," Rafe was protective of Cade. She was certain of it.

"Okay." She sucked in a breath.

Rafe smiled and gave her a wave. "Then..then I'll see you around."

Lily nodded. She was pretty sure he didn't really like her. But maybe that was OK. She liked the fact that he was looking out for his brother.

Don't get me started

 

"She didn't even make that pie," Bishop told his sister Emily. 

"What?" Emily was in her third bite of the Cranberry Apple Crumb Pie. She didn't know what he was going on about. He was a drama king as of late while Emily had busted her butt during the holidays. She was still at the preschool. She'd baked a turkey and a ham and even delivered a whole meal to her parents who promised to stay home where they were living. 

Sure her back still hurt, including her neck. But she went on. She hadn't collapsed yet. 

"Her brother's boyfriend made the pie," Bishop said about Dimi and the pie. He hugged himself hard as if she was not worthy.

"Oh, give me a break," Emily snapped. "Weren't you the one who went running when you found out Dimi might have a date?"

"Well, she didn't." He puffed a frown as if this had to be the worst Christmas ever.

"And you should be happy," Emily's eyes lit as she looked at her brother. "You need to be happy. Because if..if you're happy she'll be happy."

Emily had done as much coaching as she could. She'd told him to look deeply into Dimi's eyes. "Just keep searching," she'd said. "It's bound to happen." After all, he'd kissed her. At least once. She didn't think he'd missed her mouth. But some things were better left unknowing.

"Just don't give her a..bad time." Emily went back to her pie. She loved this pie.

"Oh," Mick nodded when Dimi finally mentioned her adventures with Bishop. "So..just..just what kind of kiss was it?"

She winced and made a face as if she didn't like it, but Mick only laughed at her.

"I think you better kiss him, again," Mick smirked.

"No. I can't." Dimi was acting like a little girl, he told her. She only sighed.

"I think you did like it. You were just surprised." Mick gave her another nod before he cracked another walnut and gave her half of it. She took a bite as if she would not talk about Bishop's weirdness, but she couldn't ignore it. After all, she finally had Mick all by his lonesome. 

"It's just, you know..he..he..kept staring into my eyes." She looked at Mick blankly. "No one..not anyone had ever done that before."

"They might have, you probably had your eyes closed." He bit into the walnut and then finished it off to crack another hard shell.

"Well," She pushed her hair from the back forward as if she was thinking of putting up her hair but let it drop back down. "I just don't know what to do." She would be working with him again on Monday.

Mick only smiled.

"You'll figure it out. You know you care about him. And you know, he likes you too." He gave his sister another walnut.

 

Keir thought he might make himself sick over Lizzy. He didn't want to worry about her, but maybe he'd gotten it all wrong. He needed someone to talk to and there was only Liam.

"I..didn't ever want to lie to you, but she still has pictures of you," Keir told him when he came over for supper. Liam made pasta noodles the day before and was now baking lasagna on a cold winter's night. "And then..then the things she let slip." Keir shook his head. "Maybe she never loved me. Maybe she only wanted to see me because..because you're my best friend."

He paced about while Liam was busy. "She hates that you and Emily are getting married. She...she said she wanted me to be in the wedding." Keir hugged himself hard and was still distraught. "I-I wanted to talk about being with her from the get-go, but she always made me feel it was none of your business..and yet, I think she wanted you to know."

"You don't need to give her any more of your time." Liam sounded as if he was cured of any ailments Lizzy might have given him. "Just stop thinking it's your fault. She probably doesn't like herself and I don't know if I can tell you what you'd want to hear. She always thought I was boring. And I probably am," Liam sighed. "I think you made the right decision." He nodded. "I'm glad you broke up with her. It'll just take some time, but don't give up on meeting someone."

That's when Liam told him about the old woman he knew from the grocery store. She was in a walker everywhere she went and the last time he saw her she was with her new boyfriend. "She looked so happy. I've never seen her look that good. It could happen to you." He smiled. 

Keir looked at him as if he had no idea how something like that could happen for him. Would he have to wait until he was sixty-five or so for something like that?

"Stop playing video games," Liam told him. "You may have already met someone and you just don't know."

Keir rolled his eyes at that. 

"Or get on an app," Liam shrugged. "Everybody's doing it these days."

it's just history

 Jay let Hope stay with Ivy for Christmas even if it was his weekend. He wanted Hope to be there for all the big happenings. Besides, he hadn't done a whole lot for Christmas and yet he'd promised his Mom he'd invite her high school boyfriend's daughter over. She just so happened to work for the same company as he did.

Not that he knew Lindy, but since she didn't have any place to go...

"You mean, it was a blind date Christmas?" Misty had asked later, thinking this girl might be scared. How could she even want to do such a thing? Jay shrugged even now. Evidenty, Lindy didn't think that way.

So it was just dinner, baked chicken with the fixings. Enough for two. She brought no-bake oatmeal cookies and fudge. It was kind of nice and he wasn't really trying to impress her. Besides, they'd talked about home. They'd gone to the same school. Even knew some of the same people. For all he knew, she might have been a long-lost sister. 

He told Misty this. Of course, there was nothing romantic. After all, he drove a forklift and she got sent from one warehouse to another to help out. They hardly knew each other. But she lived alone. He lived alone.

"How long did she stay?" Misty wanted to know.

"I don't know," honestly Misty gave him a fret about it. "Long enough to do the dishes."

"You made her do the dishes?" She made it sound as if it was his fault that she hadn't called.

"No." Jay swelled a frown and a wince. Seriously, this talk with Misty was getting him peeved. "I washed the dishes."

Of course, there was the thought that Lindy was actually family. Family his mother would not speak of. 

And then it finally hit him just why Lindy was so important. Of course, he wouldn't dare tell Misty nor even Slater. Lindy must have been Lenny/Daniel's sister. After all, the only man his mother had ever spoken of was that high school boyfriend of so long ago.

here and back again

 

Koda thought maybe it was the call from Vanna's mom that put her off during Christmas. But he wasn't so sure of that. He was beginning to think maybe she did have a social disorder after all.

She was not amused when they went to Simon's which so happened to actually not be at his place, but his friend's house. There was plenty of food, drinks, and games.

"How do you know this Simon anyway?" She was testy after their little New Year's party.

"Downtown diner," He thought he'd explained they'd worked together for a very short time. Simon worked there once a week as a dishwasher. "I don't know him that well, but he's a nice guy."

"We were the only ones not gay there." It was as if he didn't know.

"Oh," Koda hadn't thought of it as that way. "They weren't hitting on you, were they?" He joked or tried to. But she would have nothing of it. It was as if he better be on his best behavior or else.

He went to make something she would eat, broccoli cheese soup. She did like her cheese.

"Maybe we should have gone to Jay's," he said later when they sat down to eat.

"Jay? Why would we?" She swelled a frown.

"I don't know, weren't you worried about him?" Koda asked. She didn't answer but went to her soup as if she needed more comfort and less talk.

Sometimes, he found it hard to believe they were together. She always surprised him. It was as if she wanted him when he least expected it. But there were those times they were close, and he just went with it. Still, it was hard to know the signals. Like sometimes, she would hug him from the backside while he was brushing his teeth. And then one thing lead to another. Yet, it wasn't always like this. Koda did his best not to worry. 

Of course, it was a whole new ball game when the Amazon package came. Her father sent her the Ninja airfryer grill oven. And it was Christmas all over again.

A New Year's Eve kind of story

 Mercer was pretty certain Lily was out of his league. He remembered the disaster with Vanna (the last time he went out with Brick and Izzy).

"Well, then..don't go," Cade had said he should just stay in with him and play his new gaming system. "Forget them."

But he couldn't. It was like a part-time job being Brick's friend sometimes. After all, they went way back and he was always around to listen to Brick's problems. So he knew of Lily. He'd just never met her. 

So off he went to New Year's Eve, not expecting much. Oh, he got a laugh or two about him and his saxophone. Although, Lily was very serious and she didn't seem to want to be around Brick and Izzy.

"Can you think of any place to go?" She asked and Mercer felt dizzy.

"Like what?"

"I dunno," she shrugged. "I..I hear the old town park is lit up. It's not that far from here." She didn't think it was cold. Not that cold.

Mercer nodded. They escaped without question. Brick had a few other guests over so no one stopped them. Of course, Mercer imagined Lily lighting up a cigarette, perhaps. But she didn't. Just her steamy breath under the street light. 

"I'm moving back," she then said. He only nodded as if he might end up being her servant and slave. She only smiled at him and grabbed his hand. "I think I remember the way."

Naturally, he thought he might melt. And she was right, the park was lit like a Christmas theme park. How come he hadn't noticed before? Oh, she gave him a ride of a walk, all right, through the late December air. They were in the midst of the tunnel of lights. 

Although, Mercer couldn't help but squint. All the nightlife made his eyes hurt and he keeled over like a stunned baby bear.

When he woke up he was on somebody's sofa. Cade was staring at him as if Mercer might have been a science project that went bad. Mercer didn't know how he got here.

"Oh it was Rafe," Cade shrugged that his brother was out at the park when it happen. Naturally, he looked over his shoulder. There was Lily drinking hot chocolate with Rafe.