Cosima would have laughed at her comical behavior if it wasn’t so damn cringy. She was grateful when Jules finally returned with her drink, hoping the Prosecco would help take the edge off whatever it was that her nerves decided they’d rather do than allow her to finish her novel.

Sipping on her drink, Cosima tried once more to delve back into her book when the vibration of the man’s phone against the table had her looking up.

“Sorry,” he mouthed with a shy smile before answering the call.

Mind your own business, she thought, dipping her eyes to her e-reader even though she wasn’t focused on anything.

“I’m fine,” he was saying. Cosima caught her bottom lip between her teeth. He had such a delicious voice.

“I appreciate that you and mom are worried about me,” he continued. “But there’s no way in hell I’m going to be braving holiday travel to come home. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Cosima couldn’t stop the knowing smile from spreading across her face. It seemed she wasn’t the only one trying to navigate familial Christmas drama.

“I’ll be fine. It was the right thing to do. I’ll just watch as many Christmas movies as I can to pass the time. Nia will be back before I know it, and we’ll be able to celebrate Christmas then.”

Cosima felt herself deflate a little, and she chuckled at how ridiculous she was. Where the hell did she get off, being disappointed that this man whose name she didn’t even know had a partner?

She didn’t avert her gaze quickly enough, and this time, he caught her looking.

“I’m sorry,” he started to say. “This is the opposite of the quiet reading time you expected to have tonight.”

Cosima brushed him off. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping on your conversation. It’s just that I’m spending Christmas alone too, and I’ve been having very similar conversations with my own parents. You’d think I’d chosen banishment or something.”

His laughter was filled with genuine warmth and amusement, and Cosima’s traitorous belly fluttered at the sound.

“So how did you come to be spending Christmas alone?” he asked. “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

She started to speak but stopped so she could thank Jules as she put the plate of crab cakes with a generous serving of baked macaroni and cheese in front of her. She shut off her e-reader and put it in her bag, sensing she probably wouldn’t return to her book.

“That I can do.”

4. Tristan

Chapter 4

Tristan