Tangled in Tinsel (a holidates series)

“We’re so glad to have you home,” my mom breathes.

I smile at my mom and nod as my sister pours a very generous glass of white wine for me.

We’ve been holed up in the kitchen pretending to help my mom cook. My dad walks past me, giving my back a gentle pat.

“Yeah, Mom was starting to think we’d never get you back off that mountain.”

I take a gulp before shrugging.

“Well, I’m back in one piece…” Kind of.

He momentarily frowns at me, but my sister just tops off my glass, interjecting, “Did I tell you I started dating that guy—”

“Which guy?” Mom shoots back, looking up from the bowl she’s mixing stuffing ingredients in.

Eleanor leans on the counter, giving me a wink. “The one from the roller derby. He’s so hot.”

My dad scoffs.

“The one with a purple mohawk and all the metal in his face? Jesus Christ. It must take him an hour to go through airport security.”

My mother chuckles but Eleanor shrugs.

“He doesn’t believe in flying…he’s reducing his carbon footprint.”

I almost laugh because it’s like she customized the perfect story to set our retired airline pilot father off and away from my bummed-out mood.

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my cardigan before I pull it out, staring down at the texts.

“I’ll be right back,” I barely say audibly before slipping off the kitchen stool to go somewhere more private.

Four texts stare back at me.

They must’ve all sent them at the same time without telling each other they were doing it.

Cole: Home?

Jace: You good?

Reed: Proof of life? Naked pics, preferably.

Alec: Got home safe?

“Wow,” my sister rushes out from behind me, resting her chin on my shoulder to look at my messages. “I call bullshit. Those guys are interested. You sooo predictably read them wrong.”

I shake my head, thumbs hovering.

“I know they like me, Elle. But…I like them. Emphasis on them. And they don’t do that.”

She scurries in front of me, grabbing my thumbs so that I can’t text.

“How is it you managed to find a pack of emotionally unavailable fuck boys?”

I roll my eyes. “I’m just lucky, I guess.”

“Wait, how do you know they don’t do that?”

I scowl. “Because they laid it out at the start.”

She tugs my hands. “But you said Alec said it was unexplored territory. Did you ever just tell them what you wanted?”

I shake my head. And she laughs.

“Why are you so dumb? God, I hate this trope.”

“My life is not a book, Eleanor. Cole walked me to the door. Reed didn’t say anything. None of them did. I made a fool of myself, standing there waiting for them to say anything to stop me. If he wants to, he will—isn’t that the saying? Well, they obviously didn’t want to. So—”

She pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry.”

I pout. “It’s fine. I’ll get over it. It’s not like we’re in love. I just…”

Eleanor releases me, smiling as she draws back, and finishes my sentence, “Wanted your own boy band?”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

She turns to rejoin my parents in the kitchen, motioning for me to come too. But my eyes drop to my phone, teeth finding my lip as I make a group message.

Me: I’m home. Miss you guys.

No, delete, delete, delete.

Me: I’m home. Let’s get drinks soon.

No, we can’t do that. Shit. Delete, delete, delete, delete.

Me: I’m home. And, ummm, I think I quit.