Page 71 of Deck the Hauls

“You guys could keep it quiet? When Rohan started dating guys he kept it under wraps, and then gradually got more comfortable. Now he goes to the gym wearing a t-shirt that says, I can’t think straight in rainbow letters.”

I laughed, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. “I think it’s probably better if we stick to friends.”

Entering into a clandestine long-distance relationship with Dana would add so much complexity to our lives. Better to end things before anyone got hurt.

Before I knew it, we were on the George Washington Bridge heading over the Hudson River. I gripped the steering wheel as we crossed Manhattan and down FDR Drive, the East River stretching out to our left. I generally avoided driving in Manhattan at all costs and I remembered why as a yellow taxi swerved in front of me, forcing me to brake suddenly.

There was markedly less snow in New York—perhaps the storm hadn’t been as bad here, or the whole urban-heat-island effect had already melted a lot of it. We hurtled over Brooklyn Bridge and through Downtown Brooklyn to Fort Greene. Not long after, I pulled up in front of a red-bricked apartment building.

“Thank you so much!” Mihira leaned across the middle of the truck and gave me a hug. She glanced behind us. Dana was still slumped in the backseat, sleeping. “And please thank Dana again for me when she wakes up. Coffee soon?”

“That sounds great! Happy Thanksgiving!”

Mihira slammed the car door and I plugged my parents’ address into my phone and put on Mariah Carey’s Christmas album. Surely since Dana had slept through Mihira and I talking for the last two hours, she’d sleep through that as well.

As I parked outside my parents’ house I couldn’t contain my grin. The display looked terrific this year.

I turned around and gazed at Dana. She was still slumped against the door, eyes closed and her chest rising and falling slowly. It would be so tempting to invite her up to my room after dinner, to⁠—

I bit my lip.

Just friends, remember?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DANA

I stared at the house in front of me. “Wow. You weren’t exaggerating when you said your family loves decorating.” I stretched my arms out, hoping to cast off the heavy exhaustion I’d woken with.

Emily stepped over to me. “Sorry, I know it’s probably a lot for someone who doesn’t like Christmas.”

Both the front yard and the three-story brown brick house were covered in decorations. One side of the lawn was dominated by light-up reindeer grazing on grass, rows of white angels blowing gold trumpets behind them, and an assortment of snowmen wearing black bowler hats and red scarves with cute penguins scattered in front. A giant Santa stood on the other side of the lawn, surrounded by shiny green, red and gold ornaments as large as my truck’s wheels, fake presents and large red and white striped candy canes. A gigantic wreath covered the second story. On the roof, a large sled pulled by reindeer was parked near the chimney. And Christmas lights were strung absolutely everywhere. All over the front of the house, in the shape of stars and snowflakes, over every tree, around the handrails lining the stairs up to the front door. Even during daylight, it was overwhelming.

“You should see it when it’s all lit up at night. It looks incredible.” Emily beamed. “And it’s not all done yet! They left the final touches for me and Lucia to help with.”

“There’s more?” My mouth dropped. How could there possibly be more? Every inch of the lawn and house was already adorned.

“Yep!” Emily said. “We’ve still got to put out the light-up signs that say Joy and Merry Christmas, string some more lights and attach big red bows under each window. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to rope us into helping this afternoon. Mom and Dad always like to turn the lights on the Friday after Thanksgiving."

It was garish, over the top and a terrible waste of electricity. I should hate it.

But I didn’t. I frowned. What was wrong with me? Was it because Emily was so enthused about it? Had all the sex hormones affected my judgment?

Her smile faltered as she took in my expression. “Sorry, I know Christmas isn’t your thing. If it’s too much, you could shut your eyes while I lead you up the stairs.”

I chuckled. “I’ll survive.”

An unexpected lump formed in my throat. Mom and Dad enjoyed decorating too. Not to this extent, but they usually put up a wreath and Christmas lights in their front yard, and the last year I was home for Christmas, Dad had invested in a family of light-up reindeer, just like those on Emily’s lawn.

I turned to grab Emily’s suitcase out of the back of the truck, pausing as I registered the other houses on the street.

All of them were in some stage of being decorated. Christmas lights, inflatable Santas, snowmen and even a few Nativity scenes. Good lord.

As we walked up the path, I felt slightly shaky. Was it the lack of sleep or all the digging through snow I’d done to open the barn door last night? It might have been nerves as well. Meeting someone’s parents immediately after sleeping with them for the first time felt a little odd, even if we were just friends.

I glanced at Emily who was practically bouncing up the path, still grinning at the Christmas decorations. Perhaps in another universe, we would be walking up together, hand in hand, for me to meet her parents as her girlfriend. My chest ached.

As soon as dinner was over, I’d head back to Sapphire Springs. I had to prep for the Christmas trees going on sale this weekend and a clean break from Emily was clearly warranted.