I spun to find a family standing nearby wanting to take pics in front of the tree. I moved and offered to take a group shot for them. Then another family asked, and I played photographer for a while, making faces and getting kids to smile.

When I looked back across the room, Henry was watching me. My breath caught at the softness in his eyes. He still held out his phone, but his arm had dropped, and Mr. Sakaguchi nudged him.

Jerking, Henry refocused on the screen. They had to be almost done, so I quietly took my seat, scrolling through Insta as a male voice—probably Henry’s dad—told the elder Mr. Sakaguchi he really should wear his hearing aids.

“We should finish our game,” Henry said.

“Let’s see! Who’s winning?” someone asked. It sounded like Henry’s brother.

Henry turned the phone down over the board, and Sam said, “Wait, who played ‘bike?’ That’s my speed. Ha ha, get it? You and Ojiichan must be having too much eggnog, bro.”

Again, Henry’s gaze flicked to me. He seemed to be debating, and then he swiveled the phone up to face me. On screen, Henry’s parents and brother made identical faces of shock with eyebrows high and mouths open. A tiny old woman who had to be Henry’s grandma smirked.

“Hey!” I waved. “I don’t really know anyone here in Toronto, so Henry took pity on me.” I honestly still wasn’t sure if his grandpa knew I was Henry’s top rival, but the rest of his family sure did.

“Theo!” Henry’s mom said. “Well, uh, merry Christmas. How is your family?”

We small-talked for a minute before Henry’s grandma butted in and asked, “How are you and Henry getting along?”

My gaze flicked to him doing his deer-in-headlights routine. “Uh, good!” I said. “We push each other to be better. Henry’s taught me a lot.”

“Mmm. You know, Henry says he’s too busy for a boyfriend, but he sees you every day now. You should—”

“Obaachan!” Henry snatched back his phone. Of course he was too polite to just hang up, so he said, “Merry Christmas” before disconnecting. The tips of his ears were pink, and I wanted to kiss them.

Soon, the residents were called to lunch. Mr. Sakaguchi shook my hand, clasping mine in both of his as I gave him a respectful nod. Henry stooped to hug him, and his grandpa squeezed him tight, saying, “You’re a good boy.”

I couldn’t help but smile. He was a good boy, and it was one of the things I loved most about him.

Whoa.

Loved?

Where had that word come from? A few months ago, I’d barely liked Henry. Honestly, I’d barely given him any thought beyond thinking he was boring. Now we were…

What? I had no idea what this was. But it was Christmas, and I had a present for him, and all elephants could proceed directly to the corner. Or I’d have to shoot them.