Chapter 13

He walked me to Mom’s even after I told him it was not necessary. We went to the side yard where Jonathan had put my private door.

“Hey, Nick.”

My hand on the doorknob, ready to use my key, I turned back to him. “Yeah?”

“You want to go to the Christmas party at my dad’s assisted living place with me?”

“The one on the twenty-third?”

“Yeah.”

“Your dad won’t mind?”

“Heck, no. He’d love it. You saw him. He loved you being there.”

“He did seem to,” I said musingly. “You really think your dad won’t mind if we’re a thing and you bring your boyfriend to his party?”

And just then, I realized what I’d said, and felt a little embarrassed. One date and sex didn’t make us boyfriends.

I hastily said, “Not-not that we are. I meant…”

Jolly laughed. “Relax. Stop worrying about how fast we use labels. Or if we use them. I’m fine with ‘boyfriend.’ And I’m good with us seeing only each other if you are.”

I smiled back. “Yeah. Okay. I am. But back to your dad.”