“I am not in love with her. I’m in love with what you two havetogether. I only wish one day I might find the same for me. You’resoulmates, don’t you see?”
“Crisp…”
“Seriously, Kell, you underestimate yourself. You’re not thatselfish kid anymore. In fact, there isn’t a selfish bone in yourbody. Bullheaded, perhaps but definitely not selfish. Aw, man, notonly have you looked after all of us, you’ve given us a place wherewe can be ourselves. You took that girl in without a moment’shesitation. You even took Keegan back when you and I both know hedoesn’t deserve it. God knows I wouldn’t have taken him back. Kell,you’ve been nothing but generous, especially with our little Becky.God, how could she not fall in love with you?”
“All right, Crispin, you’ve made your point. You’re starting tofreak me out here,” Kell said, suppressing a smile.
“Just being honest…”
Chapter 37
Dorian didn’tknow what the others had in mind, but he’d made his plan to makethings right between him and Becky.
There she is,hiding behind that tree trunk, thinking he hadn’t seen her. Thegirl could be silly beyond belief sometimes. He barely containedhis laughter as he pulled up to the curb and got out of thevan.
“Ah, ha!” he said, sneaking around the tree. “Gotyou!”
“Dorian!” she gasped, startled before blushingly guiltily.“What are you doing?”
“I might ask you the same question.” He smirked, crossing hisarms, leaning casually up against the tree. “Why are you hidingfrom me?”
“I am not hiding,” she lied, averting her eyes fromhim.
“Don’t lie to me.” He quirked a smile, bending to her level. “Isaw you deke behind this tree when you spotted my van followingyou.” He couldn’t help but chuckle at her guilty expression. “Nevermind that now. It’s cold out. Let me drive you home.”
“I don’t need you to drive me home!” she stated, lookingfurtively from his friendly face to the puffy collar of his fleecelined bomber jacket. “I don’t mind walking, and I’m quite used tothe cold.”
“Nonsense…” He laughed, taking her hand and literally draggingher towards the van. “Go on, Becky, get in before someone thinksI’m abducting you.” He chuckled heartily as he hoisted her up intothe passenger seat and shut the door.
Becky satfuming as Dorian got in beside her and started up the van. “Justwho do you think are?” she challenged, reluctantly buckling herselfin.
“Your housemate? Your friend?” he said as he drovealong.
“I don’t have any friends,” she said, looking out the window,seeing him drive right on past their home. “Hey?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dorian said, patting her on the knee.“You have us, and you have me. Even though we haven’t been verygood at showing it sometimes, you must know we do care aboutyou.”
“All you all care about are yourselves,” she said with a frown.“Now tell me where we’re going or pull over and let meout!”
“Relax, Becky, I thought you’d like to come pick out aChristmas tree with me.” He let her jab go for now. He wasn’tlooking for an argument, just to spend some time with her, awayfrom the others.
“A Christmas tree?” she repeated, suddenly realizing just howfar into December it was. In her melancholy state as of late, shehadn’t even noticed. How odd, given that she’d always lovedChristmastime. Then again with all that had happened lately, itshouldn’t surprise her.
“Yeah, what do you think?” he asked, glancing sideways ather.
“What kind of tree, and where will we put it?” she asked,slowly coming around.
“Well, I don’t know, a regular one?” He chuckled. As far as hewas concerned, a Christmas tree was a Christmas tree. “We usuallyput it in the living room by the old fireplace.”
“Oh… that sounds like a nice place to put it, but won’t it getin the way of the television?”
“Ah, we’ll make it work. Besides, it doesn’t have to be a bigtree.”
“No, I suppose not.” She shrugged as he pulled into the grocerystore parking lot.
“Here we are, Becky.”
“Oh, of course,” she said, seeing the burlap covered trees outfront. “I was afraid we were going to have to go cut onedown.”
“Uh… no. I’m not quite that adventurous. Besides, that wouldrequire spending a lot of time outdoors. If you haven’t noticed, Idon’t much like being cold,” he said as hopped out of the van.“Come along, girlie.”
The two of themwalked silently side by side, looking like a most unlikely pair.The people they passed couldn’t help but stare at Dorian’seccentric steampunk style of dress, goggles over his floppy mohawk,combat boots on his feet, visible tattoos creeping up his neck.
Becky couldn’texactly blame them for looking. He was quite striking. He wasn’t asbeautiful as Crispin or as handsome as Kelley. His features weremore rugged and manlier for lack of a better word, but he had asweet nature that reflected easily in his steely blue eyes. Hisobvious attractiveness was not lost on Becky, or the prettycheckout girl wearing a Santa hat.
“How about this one?” Becky asked, pointing at a particulartree.
“Hmm… a little too big,” Dorian winced. “Ah, ha, here we go.”He pulled up a smaller tree and stood it up next to Becky. “Justabout your height, perfect. Won’t take up much room at all,” hesaid with a grin.
“Dorian, stop trying to make me laugh,” Becky said,unsuccessfully suppressing a giggle.
“Oh, but I live for making pretty girls laugh.”
At his words,Becky turned pensive. He could literally see the wheels turning inher mind. His job wasn’t done here yet.
“Now then, Becky, need anything else while we’re out?” heasked, having just placed the tree in the van.
“No.”
“Come on, a coffee or a hot chocolate perhaps?”
“I don’t know… where?”
“Well, we could go to the Second Cup, across thestreet.”
“If you want to.” What was he all about? Why was Dorian beingso friendly all of a sudden? She couldn’t help but besuspicious.
“Oh, wow, a little enthusiasm would be nice,” he said stiffly,looking quite dejected. Zipping his coat up higher, he turned andwalked towards the street.
Oops, she musthave offended him, she realized, biting her bottom lip. Shecouldn’t help but feel bad for hurting his feelings. Of all of herhousemates, he’d always been so
