Page 74 of Troublemaker: The Big Picture Edition

I pull off my sweater and find a blouse to put on. “Mom. I’m not getting back together with Brent. Ever.”

“Okay, honey,” she says. Because she’s heard it before.

“I’m serious.”

She nods and leaves the doorway. “I’ll make us all hot toddies!”

“No! Do not make him a hot toddy!”

Ugh. This is exactly the opposite of how I wanted my night to go. I get my phone from the charger and find a text from Alex. Just a “how’s it going up there” text, but it makes me happy again for one second, nonetheless. I send him a quick response, telling him I’ll be in touch with him later, and go downstairs. With my phone. Because in a way, it feels like I’m bringing Alex with me in my back pocket. But with each step I take, I feel my blood running a little colder.

My mom was wrong. Brentisa vampire. He’s a time-sucking vampire, and I’m not going to let him suck more than ten minutes from my life tonight.

I find him sitting on the sofa in the living room, talking to my dad about budget analysis. I know my dad asked him about his job, because that’s what he does, but my dad’s eyes are glazing over and he stands up as soon as he sees me.

“There she is!” my dad exclaims. “I’ll go help your mother in the kitchen. Great to see you, Brent.”

“You too, sir.” Brent stands up, watching me.

I stop where I am, at the edge of the living room. He’s wearing the cardigan I gave him last Christmas. I guess it’s sweet of him, but I can’t believe I was twenty-six and dating a guy that I would buy cardigans for as Christmas presents. Literally anything I’d give Alex would be more interesting than that, because he’s interesting. Because I’m so much more interested in him.

I feel almost nothing as I stand here staring at Brent. Which is depressing because it’s not right to stand in a room with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and a person that you usedto live with and to feel almost nothing. “Hello, Brent” is all I have to say.

He doesn’t even say hello. He just crosses the room to hug me.

“Did you see Atticus?” is what I want to know as I pat his back and then step away from him.

“Is he here?”

“Of course he’s here.”

“Nobody mentioned it. Where is he?”

“He’s probably in the kitchen. Never mind.” The fact that Atticus didn’t come out to greet him tells me so much. “So. Happy holidays.”

“You look well. You look different. Nice, though.”

Wow. I can’t believe I was ever even remotely attracted to this person.

“You should have let me know that you wanted to come over.”

“Your mother invited me to drop by. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Surprise!” I cross my arms in front of my chest. “I’m actually in the middle of something.”

He crosses his arms, mimicking me. “On Christmas night?”

“Yes.”

“How are things in LA?”

“Things in LA are amazing, actually. Better than I’d ever imagined it could be.”NowI’m feeling things. “I didn’t know I could be so happy.” I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye and sniffle.

I can tell immediately, from the look on his face, that Brent is misreading the tear and the sniffle.

“Em,” he says, reaching for my arm.

I shrug away from him.