CHRIS

What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to this craziness?

Oh right! Haley was wearing a fucking pair of boy shorts and a low tank top when she got the idea of a fake engagement.

My parents had just texted me, saying they'd be doing Christmas at a spiritual retreat, so I stopped by her room to let her know that I'd be spending Christmas at our place. She was already lying under the covers when I knocked on her door but jumped out of bed when I gave her the news.

She replayed her past Christmas when her mother kept making her feel bad for being single and enjoying casual dates while finishing her doctorate, and both of us got a good chuckle about how different our parents were. While Hailey's mom thinks she should be not only focusing on her education/career but also on finding someone to build a family with, my mom thinks we are all free spirits and whatever means to be ours will find us somehow.

Anyway, at some point, she looked me in the eye and said she felt bad I was going to be spending the best time of the year alone. Then, one thing led to another, and she contemplated how great it would be if I spent Christmas with her parents. And how perfect it would be if we told them we were engaged.

I confess I can't remember what she actually said that made me agree to a fake engagement to appease her mom. Maybe it was the way her nipples pressed against her tank top. Or the way her eyes shined when she came up with this crazy idea. All I know is I have a hard time saying no to this girl. And that day was no different.

Hailey friend-zoned me the week we moved together three years ago. My baby sister, her then-roommate, got a job opportunity in another city and she wanted to find someone to live with Hailey for at least six months, so they didn't have to break their lease. I was returning from a year work-related trip in Asia, China, and the Philippines and needed a new place to stay. So, it all worked out in the end.

We became good friends over the next months, and we never discussed other housing arrangements. Which worked well for me. If it wasn't for the fact I also fell head over heels in love with her.

So, now here I am in her family place wondering what the heck I'm doing.

"Are you hungry? I bet mom cooked a lot of food even though Christmas is just in a few days." Hailey stops in front of me as we leave her parent's car. They live in a typical middle-class neighborhood and looking around all the Christmassy decor, I can see why Hailey loves this stuff. It feels like I was transported into Santa's hometown. It's almost midnight now, but there are so many Christmas lights around that you would think it's eight in the morning.

"There's food in the fridge if you guys are hungry." Her mom unlocks the house getting inside first. "We'll let you guys get settled. We can catch up with everyone over breakfast tomorrow."

"Everyone?" I ask, imagining their family and friends would just arrive on the 25th.

"Uh..." Her father takes our baggage inside. "We invited a few relatives and the Clarksons over for coffee tomorrow?"

"You what?" Hailey shouts, making her mom flinch.

"We didn't know you were getting married when we invited them, honey." Her mother's eyes plead but Hailey's not having it.

"Dad?" She looks from her mother to his father, and the remorse in his eyes is clear.

"Damn it! You two are unbelievable..." She looks down for a second, and I hate the vulnerability I see in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," her father says, "as far as we know Tom is not coming."

"Tom?" I hear myself saying, finally putting two and two together. I can't believe the son of a bitch who broke her heart would have the audacity of showing up at her parent's place. They broke up a few months before I moved in with her, but I remember well the number the fucker did on her.

"You know what?" Her mother clears her throat. "It's late and you two must be exhausted. Why don't I heat something for you kids to eat and we can call it a day?"

Letting out a long sigh, Hailey nods. "Right."

As her father carries our luggage upstairs and her mother heads to the kitchen, I take a moment to look around. Their home is spacious and filled with antiques and gorgeous paintings gleaming over hardwood floors. Sure enough, everything inside the house screams Christmas, and I don't miss the way Hailey lets out a reluctant smile when she sees the tall and vibrant Christmas tree near the fireplace.

A wall full of pictures calls my attention and I stop when I see a bunch of black and white pictures of her.

"I hate these photos." She stops by my side, touching her fingers to one of the frames.

"You were cute." I pull on the ends of her hair, making her snort.

"Tell these to the boys in ninth grade..." She chuckles. "Thank God those years are gone. No more braces, acne... And I finally have boobs now. Even if I had to buy them."

"You're so bad." I shake my head, and she shrugs, pulling me inside the kitchen.

Her father joins us a few minutes later and he and her mom make small talk while we eat. Once we're done, Halley washes our plates and then turns to her parents. "I'm crashing hard."

"Your father already put your things in your room, honey," her mother says, and my heart stops for a quick second. I guess we didn't think this part through.

"What about Chris?" Hailey looks at me, but before I have time to think about something to say, her mother speaks.

"Oh, we thought you'd be sharing a room since you two are living together?" Her mother looks at her father confused, and Hailey finally snaps out of it.

"Right." Hailey clears her throat. "Of course! I'm just exhausted, you know... Not really thinking straight."

"But if you two are not comfortable with it, I can perfectly sleep on the couch." I try, but Hailey is already linking her arms with mine.

"We'll see you guys tomorrow," she says, guiding me up the stairs.

______

A/N: I mean... How could they not have thought about the sleeping arrangements? ;)

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XOXO

Celeste