Fitz (Not Ava)

did u give it to him yet

8:37 PM

does he love it

8:37 PM

are u not answering because

8:38 PM

u totally are!!!

8:41 PM

your ship name is now neid, by the way

8:44 PM

because u neid each other. get it?

8:44 PM

molly supports it.

8:45 PM

she called me a punmaster.

8:45 PM

you’re welcome.

8:46 PM

These are Fitz’s texts and she doesn’t even know we kissed.

Also, I don’t support Molly and Fitz texting each other. Nope.

But no, I haven’t given Reid his present yet. Reid and I barely sign our names on the family cards! Mom had to sign my name for me for three years. The idea of walking up to Reid with a present in hand, from me and me alone, is so embarrassing. Plus, we’ve been good tonight. Why would I screw it up with a present? Especially because he most definitely doesn’t have one for me, so that’ll just be awkward.

I shake off Fitz’s texts as Reid dips his last piece of latke into applesauce like a weirdo. I think the history of us never agreeing on anything begins with latke toppings. Sour cream for life.

“Can I show you something? Downstairs?” Reid asks. “Melted related.”

Dad overhears and inserts himself into the conversation at the worst possible time. “We’re in a good spot. It’s okay to take the night off. It’s a holiday!”

Mom hits my dad’s shoulder. “Like that has ever stopped you!”

“Never,” Leonard reiterates.

“Can’t you show everyone?” Delia asks.

“I’m not confident enough in my tap dance abilities yet,” Reid says without missing a beat.

Hannah raises her eyebrows. “You need to practice a tap routine? Now?”

I nod. “Considering the first thing on tomorrow’s schedule is a full run-through of ‘In Winter,’ it’s incomprehensible that Reid is even at this table eating latkes tonight. Speaking as his director.”

Fully aware that we are acting sketchy as hell, we bolt. Reid closes the basement door behind him and starts laughing and we are close, so close. His hair is flat from the fedora and it takes everything not to run my hands through it, not to ruffle it back to its curly norm.

“I got you something,” Reid says, after the laughter subsides. “For Chanukah.”

“Oh?” I fall backward onto the couch and raise my eyebrows because I was hoping go downstairs was code for, um, let’s make out. I don’t know what’s more surprising—the fact that we’re not making out right now, or that Reid got me a present too.

“It’s not a big deal,” Reid says. “I know we don’t do this. I didn’t want the parents—or Hannah and Delia for that matter—to see and make this something that it isn’t.”

“What isn’t it?”

“A big deal,” Reid reiterates.

I smile. “You like me.”