Page 92 of About to Fall

“Backup has arrived,” I announced.

His face lit up when he saw me. Actually lit up—like I was something worth being happy about. I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to that. I wished I could lean in and kiss him.

“Thank God.” He held up the stack of books. “Margaux wants the entire Wings of Fire series. There are fifteen of them. Fifteen, Adrian.”

“She has good taste. Dragons are cool.”

“My mother wants a specific cookbook that's sold out everywhere. And my father—” He sighed. “My father is impossible.”

“What does he like?”

“Golf. Wine. Complaining about the weather.”

“Get him a nice bottle of red and a gift card to his favourite course. Done.” I plucked half the books from his arms to lighten his load. “What else is on the list?”

We spent the next two hours wandering through the mall together. I helped him pick out a cashmere scarf for his mother—a deep burgundy that would go with black or brown. Found a vintage cookbook at a secondhand shop tucked in a corner of the third floor. Helped him pick out a boring tie for his father. Personally paid for the sickest pair of stiletto ankle boots for Kat.

Spending time with him like this felt natural. Shopping for Christmas gifts. Debating wrapping paper colours. Existing in public together like it was normal, like we were just two people who belonged in each other's orbit.

“What about you?” Nicky asked as we waited in line at the register. “Are you spending Christmas with your family?”

I shrugged. “My parents will be in the Maldives because God forbid they experience a Canadian winter. My brother Cam just left for LA. And I will be here.”

Nicky's brow furrowed. “Adrian—”

“It's fine. I was going to order Thai food and watch movies with Cam but he ditched me last minute. So now I'm doing the solo version.” I grinned. “Very light on the family drama. Highly recommended.”

He was quiet for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip.

“Come home with me,” he said.

I blinked. “What?”

“For Christmas. Come to my parents' house.” He said it quickly, like he might lose his nerve. “It's nothing fancy. Just dinner, my sister opening too many presents, my mother fussing over everyone. But it's—it's warm. And you shouldn't be alone.”

“Nicky, I can't just show up at your family's Christmas.”

“You can if I invite you.” He met my eyes. “I'm inviting you.”

“What would you even tell them?”

“That you're my—” He paused. Took a breath. “That you're important to me.”

Something cracked open in my chest.

“Your mom won't mind a random skater crashing Christmas dinner?”

“My mom will be thrilled. She never got to know Théo as my boyfriend.” He stopped. Made a face. “She really didn’t like him after, you know.”

“She has excellent taste.” I grinned. “And your uncle?”

“He and his ‘special friend’ spend Christmas at their cabin in Whistler,” he said with exaggerated finger quotes.

“Seriously, he’s like fifty-something and still in the closet?”

“He grew up in a different era. He convinced himself that being gay in the elite world of skating would undermine his credibility. That the federation wouldn't take him seriously.” Nicky shrugged. “And now he's been hiding it so long I think he's forgotten there's another option.”

“That's depressing.”