Unwrapped

“Hang on. You never told me what Mom said.”

“A lot of swearing, mostly. She didn’t mind what this means for my reproductive chances though.” Val shrugged, smiling. “It’s really awkward now, but hopefully she’ll get over it. I can’t stand lying, you know? If I want to ask a girl out, I don’t want to have to make everything a big secret. I have to deal with enough crap outside, don’t need it here too.”

“I get you. Believe me.” Cait sighed. “Hiding is way too hard.”

“Yeah, guess you would. I’m kinda shocked you’re telling everyone. Like a big announcement or will you tell people separately?”

“So far you’re the only one who knows. I’m not exactly sure how we’ll do it. Tristan’s taking charge, as he always does.” She frowned. “Except when Matt does. Hmm. How come I never take charge?”

“Because you’re the little woman?”

“Funny girl.” Cait punched her on the shoulder. “So what happened with basketball?”

“Somebody called Liz a dyke, and I jumped them.” She glanced up at Cait as if gauging her reaction. “I’ll be able to play again after Christmas break. Coach Felder wasn’t that mad.”

Cait moved forward and wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Have I ever told yo

u how proud of you I am? As proud of you as I was before, it doesn’t touch how I feel right now. You’re incredible.”

“Thanks.” Val’s watery smile made Cait’s heart squeeze. “Mostly faking it.”

“Faking it counts.” Cait kissed Val’s forehead and gave her a little nudge to go inside. “But seriously, though I don’t normally advocate violence…”

When Val looked over her shoulder, Cait winked. “Totally worth it.”

Chapter 13

As the day wore on, Matthew began to question the wisdom of their plan to unveil their sexuality like a kinky painting.

Cait’s wasn’t in question, of course, though her decision-making skills would be. Only he and Tristan would be on the chopping block there. Doing the supposed unveiling in front of Tristan’s dad, a guy with tons of prime hunting acreage and glass-fronted cases of guns lining his den, seemed particularly imprudent. Even so, he’d committed to staying the course, so he intended to follow through.

And follow through he did. He spent long hours unwrapping presents and drinking eggnog and singing carols while his own band of merrymaking men clanged up a storm behind his right eye. But his smile never faltered, not even when Cait and her noisy, excitable family arrived to much fanfare. He and his mom were usual guests at the Baldwin Christmas get-togethers, but Cait’s brood rarely came over en masse. Hard to contain that many wriggling children in one vehicle, probably.

They ate a gorgeous dinner in the huge dining room. Fine china, crystal glasses, pricey silverware. All the while, Matt wondered if throwing up his perfectly roasted duck and herbed rice would ruin the others’ digestion.

After dinner, the children were put to bed upstairs. The adults retired to the spacious den—aka room o’guns—for a sing-along and more happy times around the third Christmas tree he’d seen in the Baldwin home so far. Presents were opened and passed around. Jokes and stories were told and retold. Everyone seemed full of good cheer. Hell, some of them, especially Tris’s dad, almost bordered on giddy.

Then Tris lowered the boom.

He turned off the carols and faced the room coolly, his business smile in place. If Matt hadn’t seen him flip his shit more than once, he never would’ve believed the guy ever dropped his veneer of calm.

After the briefest of lead-ins, he announced, “Matt, Caity, and I are involved. We’re in love. We wanted to tell you all as a group.”

Silence reigned. Finally a few people seemed to get the bright idea that only Tris and Cait were involved, as if Matt’s name had never been invoked. Matt didn’t entirely mind that idea and was in no rush to correct the assumption.

His mother turned to him. “Did he say he was involved with you too?”

She didn’t look aghast. Only mildly dismayed. Still the subtle disapproval made his throat lock. “Yeah. He did.”

“But I thought you and Cait were together.”

“We are,” Cait said, abandoning Tris to the circling wolves also known as his family to jump to Matt’s defense. Obviously she’d noticed his inability to speak. “But Tristan’s part of us too.”

His mom frowned. “I don’t think I’m understanding.”

So much for delicacy.

Cait sat down beside her to try to explain—good luck there—while Matt worked on thawing his vocal cords. In the meantime, he listened to the various comments tossed out around him.