“So, is everyone excited about Christmas?” Andrea chirped.

Tanner looked at her and said in a deadpan voice, “I am so excited.”

Her eyes narrowed shrewdly. “You don’t sound excited.”

“Well, I’m not twelve.” Tanner cocked his head to the side. “Christmas ain’t that interesting once you grow up.”

“What?” she gasped, eyes wide. “Christmas ain’t that interesting once you grow up?”

He shrugged.

“You’re un-American,” she accused.

Syd’s lips pursed.

Tanner looked unaffected. “Man, I just like the time off from school, and the food. That’s it.”

“But it means more than that.” Andrea shook her head and curls flew everywhere. “What about the presents?”

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s what Christmas is about,” he commented.

Andrea huffed. “That is what Christmas is about. Anyone who says differently is trying to make themselves look all spiritual and shit. I keep it real.”

My gaze slid over to Syd and she looked at me, brows raised. Our eyes locked and for a moment, a sweet fucking moment, it was like it used to be. Us sitting back, listening to Andrea and Tanner annoy the living shit out of each other. We should have popcorn when those two went at it.

But then Syd cast her eyes at her glass and started fiddling with her straw, and that was a cold reminder that things weren’t normal. Syd was never this quiet, and things were never strained between us.

I couldn’t say I regretted the time with her though, because I didn’t. Hated how it ended. Looking back, there were a lot of females I’d wished I’d kept my dick in my pants with, but Syd would never be one of them.

The waiter showed up and got our drink and food order. Small talk was made, mostly on Tanner and Andrea’s end. They kept it going so there wasn’t an awkward lull in conversation, but sitting here, not talking to Syd, was wrong on so many levels.

Leaning back, I looked over at her. She tipped her chin up at the same moment and our gazes collided for another second. I sort of felt like an inept schoolboy. It was that bad. “So, your lip looks a lot better.”

She blinked. I was a dumbass.

“It healed up pretty quickly,” she said, training her gaze on her glass. “Just a little mark.”

That was good to hear. “Your jaw?”

“It doesn’t hurt at all.”

It seriously was a relief to hear that. Even drunk off my rocker, I’d been going out of my mind with worry for her.

“Your knuckles still look a little raw,” she said, causing me to look up.

Our eyes locked and held this time. “What?”