Kiss Me (On Christmas Day)

chapter 3

chapter 3

~Spiro~

       I have a few hours left until my family starts to arrive for the game night, so I'm working hard on baking the gingerbread houses pieces. I bought pre-made gingerbread houses before but I have to say, I like the homemade ones better.

       Mom is helping me set up for the gingerbread house competition my family is going to have while Dad whips up some snacks. I have yet to tell my parents that I have a 'boyfriend'; they're also part of my family that would constantly ask when I'm going to start dating someone, though their questioning is a lot less frequent than everyone else.

       I don't think they'll be particularly happy about me fake dating someone, so they're going to find out about me 'dating' Blue once he shows up tonight.

       The doorbell rings throughout the house, so Dad heads over to the front door to greet whomever is there. Unfortunately, he soon returns to the kitchen followed by my cousin Albert and his fiancee Ramona. I already know what's coming out of their visit.

       Albert just absolutely loves rubbing his achievements in my face. The only reason why I can't find it in myself to hate him is that he has never done anything to physically or emotionally harm me. It's just the teasing and the bragging that makes him very annoying.

       "Oh, hi, Albert and Ramona!" Mom says cheerfully when she sees them. "What are you two doing here so early?"

       "Oh, we feel bad that you're doing all the work to prepare for the game night," Albert says. "So we stopped by early to help. We also brought along Ramona's famous mini quiches." He sets the container he's holding onto the kitchen counter where all the other food Dad has set out already is.

       "That would be great," Mom says. "We are running a bit behind on the gingerbread houses, so you can help make the icing for it." She pushes a cookbook towards Albert and Ramona. "Here's the recipe."

       "Sure thing," Albert says. 

       Before he and Ramona get started on the icing, they head to the kitchen sink to wash their hands. I'm waiting for Albert to bring up the topic of me finally dating someone because no doubt his mom told him the moment she got the chance.

       If I'm being honest, he's probably only hear to interrogate me about it.

       The moment Albert and Ramona start following the recipe for the icing, Albert says, "So, Spiro. I heard something very interesting."

       "And what would that be?" I ask, continuing my work of baking the gingerbread houses.

       "That you finally bagged yourself a partner," Albert says. And there it is.

       Both Mom and Dad stop what they're doing as they look at me, shocked expressions written all over their face. Dad is the first one to speak, "I'm sorry, you're dating someone? When? How come we weren't told about this?"

       Before I can even reply, Albert says, "You never told your parents about it? How peculiar." By the tone of his voice, I can tell he doesn't buy the fact that I'm in a relationship. I mean, he's right to not believe me, but it's still very annoying that the first thing he thought of was that I'm lying about it.

       "I haven't said anything because we're taking it slow," I say. "I don't want to rush into telling anyone if we realize we don't work after a few dates."

       "I see," Albert says. "And what's this mysterious partner's name?"

       "His name is Blue," I say.