Tristan was sitting with that revelation when his phone rang. He considered ignoring the call when he noticed his parents’ number flashing on the ID, but that was only for a split second. Everybody swore their mothers were omniscient while they were growing up, but Tristan was pretty sure his mother could still tell when she was being ignored, and she always gave him hell for it. He noticed the woman sitting next to him look up from her tablet and felt immediate guilt at being a distraction, mouthing sorry to her before he went ahead and connected the call. Relief rushed through Tristan when he was greeted by his father’s deep, gruff voice. That relief was short-lived once it became apparent his father was just doing his mother’s bidding. He’d already told her that he had no plans to travel during the Christmas period, nor was he interested in spending the day with his friends and their families. He preferred a low-key day on his own. He didn’t even try to hide the fact that it was because he would likely be moping about Nia being away. Tristan thought it was as valid an excuse as any, but his mother did not. She predictably took offense to that. It was one thing telling the family he was skipping Christmas because he was spending quality time with his daughter, but it was something else altogether when the reason was one she couldn’t quite understand, much less try to explain to his many aunties whose children wouldn’t dare ditch Christmas.

Tristan was in the middle of doubling down to his father that his mind couldn’t be changed about celebrating Christmas in Florida when he noticed the woman smile. All thoughts fled from his mind for a few seconds at how her smile lit up her entire face. He’d thought she was beautiful before, but now he wanted to do anything…whatever he could…to keep seeing her smile. Damn. He struggled to refocus on the conversation with his dad and was happy when he finally disconnected the call. He looked up and found his tablemate looking at him with the oddest expression on her face. His guilt rose to the forefront of his mind.

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

She was gracious, choosing to pretend like his presence wasn’t messing with the entire vibe she was going for. He was surprised when she fed him a tidbit about also being on her own for Christmas, and Tristan immediately knew he wanted to keep the conversation going, even if it just meant that he’d have a bit more time to bask in the musicality of her voice and watch animated expressions move across her beautiful face.