"Alright, have a safe flight. And say hi to Auntie and Uncle for me."
Luke hums from the other line. "Will do." Then he hangs up.
I should have gone to China for Christmas and New Year with my friend, but my parents weren't going to pay for my ticket. Besides, my brother Connor won't make it this year either, since his company won't give him time off during the holidays. And I'm sure his fiancée would rather he stay in Canada.
I guess I will be celebrating Christmas alone this year, which isn't all too bad. Blake told me the other day that he will be going back home to his family in Montreal to celebrate together. That's awesome for him. Though what isn't awesome is that I haven't seen him for over a week, and he's not coming back until after New Year. It's strange to say, but I've never spent this much time apart from Blake since we've met. I might sound clingy, but I really miss him. We've been exchanging messages almost every day since he left, but it doesn't feel the same. It's almost like I want to spend every waking moment with him. Am I growing too dependent on him? I quickly shake that thought off and move on with my day.
Christmas Eve was spent relatively calm. I bought myself a new Nintendo game and had chicken for dinner. On Christmas morning, I called my parents and my brother to wish them a Merry Christmas and basically went about my day. This morning, I have to admit, I feel lonely. Blake hasn't responded to my messages yet either. Maybe I just need some fresh air.
I scramble off my bed to throw on a hoodie and grab a thick scarf. I stride to the door, already kind of regretting getting out of my warm and cozy bed, but I open it anyway. My feet freeze. And it's not because of the cold. I think my eyes might be playing a trick on me. Because there is no way Blake is standing in front of my door right now.
Then he even speaks, "Uhm, hey."
My mouth cracks open. Blake is really here. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you," he says simply. "Bad time?"
I quickly shake my head. "No, I just wasn't expecting to see you! That's all."
He chuckles, "Yeah, maybe I should have given you a heads up. Looks like you're going somewhere."
"Oh, no. I wanted to go for a walk. It felt stuffy from staying inside for the last few days."
Blake's brows furrow. "Right. You've been alone this entire time."
The relief on his face slips into something close to anger? Or sadness?
"Alright, let's go then! I'll go take a walk with you," Blake says, turning away a tad too quickly.
I can't help the smile crossing my lips as I follow after him. My mood is already better now that Blake is here.
We make our way to the nearest playground we come across and I take note that Blake hasn't been talking as much as he usually does. I don't want to assume anything, but I want to believe he enjoys just being together. Eventually, we both take a seat on the swings.
"So…" I break the silence. "How was your Christmas?"
"It was fine. Same old," Blake answers.
"Doesn't sound very convincing."
He snorts, "Well, both my Dad and Valerie were making a fuss again."
I inch closer. "Valerie?"
"My older sister."
Oh. "Right… so, what were they fussing about?"
Blake releases a heavy sigh. "They keep on insisting I join their law firm. They're both lawyers, which is awesome. So, good for them! But law isn't something I want to pursue."
I dip my head with a sense of understanding. "My parents wanted me to go into entrepreneurship like my brother."
He laughs, his voice not unkind." What is up with parents wanting us to follow in the footsteps of our older siblings?"
I huff out a laugh as well. "Might be a common thing."
Blake smiles at me, and I do the same. We just look at each other for a while until my gaze falls on his shivering form. That's when I notice that it has started to snow. I get up from the swing, marching towards Blake and wrap my scarf around his neck, nice and snug.
"What are you doing?" he asks, his hands wrapping around mine.
"Making sure you're not freezing to death."
Blake laughs, "And what about you?"
"I'm fine."
"Nope," he tugs me closer as he stands up and envelops me inside his coat. "You're not freezing either."
A tiny chuckle escapes my lips and I snuggle up, feeling so much warmer already. We stay like this for a while, and I catch Blake occasionally glancing down on me.
"Is something on my face?"
He shakes his head. "I was just wondering."
"Wondering what?"
"I won't be going back to Montreal, so do you want to spend New Year's together?"
I swallow and nod almost immediately. "That'd be great!"
He smiles, and so do I. Part of me is tempted to ask why he came back early. And the other part of me doesn't really care. Blake's here now. With me. And we'll be celebrating New Years together in a few days. Looks like I won't end this year all alone after all.