Colin
I know I was dreading this day, but having everybody at the table, with the conversations loud and animated, feels good. I’m definitely happier than in year's past, and I know it has everything to do with Bailey.
I watch her, sitting between Paige and Holly, watching how quickly they've bonded, and smile. They're laughing and talking like they've been friends for a thousand years. It's really good to see. I was worried about how easily Bailey would integrate into the family, but it looks like my fears were totally unfounded.
“It's good to see you, Colin.”
I look over at Laurel, who managed to worm her way into the seat to my right – a seat that should have been reserved for one of my brothers. I'm sitting at the head of the table, and Liam is to my left, engaged in a conversation with Brayden. To Laurel's right is Aidan, who's chatting up the girls, leaving me stuck with my ex.
“It's nice to see you too, Laurel,” I say – not that I really mean it. “You look well.”
“I am well,” she says.
“I'm glad to hear it,” I say. “What are you doing these days?”
She shrugs. “A little bit of this, a little bit of that,” she says. “Always looking for the next challenge.”
The way she delivers that line, her eyes fixed to mine, make it clear to me that she sees me as the next challenge.
Yeah, not going to happen.
“Yeah? That's good. I'm glad to hear it,” I say and raise my wine glass to her. “I wish you many new adventures, and exciting challenges then.”
She runs the tip of her finger around the rim of her wine glass, leaning her chin in her hand, her arm propped on the table, on her elbow.
“Why didn’t you ever return any of my calls?” she whispers.
“I'm not getting into this with you, Laurel,” I say. “Not now, not ever again.”
She shrugs. “I think I deserve an answer.”
I pitch my voice low, trying to avoid being overheard. “After fucking my best friend – in my own apartment – you deserve two things: Jack and shit.”
She laughs, a rich, throaty sound. “Are you still holding onto that?” she asks. “Don't you think it's time you let go and move forward?”
“I have,” I say. “You see the dark-haired beauty down there? That's my fiancée. That’s me moving forward.”
“That silly waif?” she laughs. “That'll be over in six months.”
I give her a long, level look, trying to temper my rapidly escalating anger. “You don't know shit, Laurel,” I say.
“I know enough to know that she's young. Naive. Idealistic,” she says. “I know that she has a real affinity for the poor – whom you disdain.”
“Nice, so you stalked her?”
She shrugs. “Googling somebody isn't exactly stalking,” she says. “I mean, the information is floating around out there for anybody to see.”
“And why would you do that?”
“I wanted to see what I was up against. My competition,” she says. “Turns out, I'm not competing against all that much.”
“You realize, of course, that game is long over. You lost,” I say. “Competition's over, and there's no comeback for you. I'm with Bailey now. End of story.”
“Yes, well, I've been known to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, Colin,” she says. “Come on, baby. You know we're good together. We get each other in ways you and the waif never will. You know you should be with me.”
I give her a feral grin. “I'd rather stick my cock in a paper shredder.”
Taking my plate and glass of wine, I stand up and carry it down to the other end of the table, taking a seat next to Bailey. She gives me a smile and squeezes my thigh beneath the table. I look back at Laurel, who's glowering at us with murderous intent in her eyes.
Just to illustrate the point I was trying to make – or maybe, just to twist the knife a little bit – I lean over and plant a soft kiss on Bailey's cheek. She giggles and returns the favor. Then she gets lost in her conversation with Holly and Paige. It's amazing that the three of them are clicking so well, and are chatting away like long lost friends. It warms my heart to see.
Leaving her mostly full plate behind, Laurel picks up her glass of wine, and stalks out of the room to pout. I just roll my eyes and shake my head. Brayden looks over at me, giving me a shrug. I motion for him to join me in the kitchen that's situated behind the dining room. He stands and follows me through the door. The moment it's closed, I round on him.
“I knew this shit was going to happen,” I say.
“What?” he asks. “What happened?”
“Laurel, man,” I say. “She's still running around, thinking there's some chance we're going to get together. She sees Bailey as competition.”
He whistles low and runs a hand through his hair. “Shit. That's not what she told me, little brother,” he says. “I swear it. She said she was in a good place in her life and had zero interest in trying to rekindle anything between you two.”
“I told you she's a goddamn liar, man,” I say. “An opportunist, and a master manipulator.”
“Shit,” he says. “This is going to be awkward.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” I say. “The best thing we can do is put her back on the plane and fly her ass home.”
He sighs and shuffles his feet. “I don’t know. I feel bad for her, man,” he says. “She's obviously lonely. She's got no one.”
“Maybe she would if she wasn't such a rancid bitch,” I say.
“Look, I'll play babysitter,” he says. “I'll make sure she doesn't get in your hair.”
“Why are you so insistent on her staying?”
“I guess I just feel sorry for her,” he says. “I mean, I can't imagine what it's like to have nobody. Nobody willing to take you in on Christmas – that's really sad stuff, Colin. I mean, think about it.”
“She brought it on herself.”
“Damn. When did you become so heartless?” he asks, grinning at me.
I just shake my head. “When did you get to be such a soft touch, Brayden?”
He shrugs. “I blame the wife and kid,” he says and chuckles.
“Fine,” I say. “But you're responsible for her. Straight up. You keep her far away from me, and you especially keep her away from Bailey.”
“Done,” he says.
“I'm serious.”
“I hear you, Colin,” he says. “I promise, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
I blow out a frustrated sigh and run a hand through my hair. I don't have a good feeling about this. Not at all. I somehow knew this was how it was all going to turn out. Laurel is a snake in the grass. Always has been, always will be. Yeah, I feel bad that nobody is willing to take her in on Christmas, but I also think that shows a hell of a lot about her character, and the kind of person she is.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I can't let her get under my skin. It's Christmas, and my family is here. I have to focus on that, rather than that petty, evil bitch. And I sure as hell won’t let her ruin our good time.
“We good?” Brayden asks.
“Yeah,” I answer. “We're good.”
“Alright, great,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder.
We head back into the dining room, and I'm intent on putting this behind us and focusing only on having a good time with my family.
This time of year, family is all that’s important.