“And you thought being in your underwear was appropriate?” Gavin challenges.
Dylan rolls his eyes again. “Again, sorry to point this out—oh, who am I kidding…no, I’m not— but it’s nothing she hasn’t seen before. Many times.”
Okay, I’m really grateful to Dylan for confirming that nothing bad happened but did he have to go there? I grab Gavin’s hand when I feel him tensing, getting ready to stand. Probably to break Dylan’s jaw, I’m guessing.
“Dylan, thank you for filling in the gaps. I really think Gavin and I need to be alone now.”
“Whatever, Kitty,” Dylan huffs. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Gavin and I wait until the door is closed before saying anything else.
“Kat, I’m going to ask you something and you need to be honest with me.”
“Go on.”
“Do you have a drinking problem?”
“What? Of course not!”
“What else am I supposed to think?” he asks. “This isn’t the first time I’ve found you in a bad situation due to alcohol. People don’t normally drink this heavily this often unless they’re feeding an addiction. After what I told you about my birth mother, I’m sure you can appreciate how sensitive I am to alcoholism.”
“Of course I can appreciate it,” I snap. “My own mother is a fucking heroin addict. Among other things. I get it. Probably more than most people.”
“Well, then please explain it to me.”
I sigh. “Look, we were just hanging out. Besides you, they’re the only people in this world that I feel safe with. I overdid it because I can actually relax around them. But I don’t have to drink much to make that happen. I’m 5’2” and a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet, Gavin. It doesn’t take much, especially when I’m drinking liquor. You can’t tell me that you didn’t drink in high school.”
“No, I can’t.”
“So where do we go from here?”
He pulls me into his side and tucks my head into the crook of his neck. “Look, all I’m asking is that you’re more careful from now on. And that you consider me when you’re out with your friends. I’m not saying that you need to report to me, Kat. I don’t want that at all. Just put yourself in my shoes. Okay?”
“You’re really not giving up on me?”
Gavin shifts so our faces are practically touching. “Oh, baby, you’re not getting rid of me that easily. When I’m in a relationship, Kat, I’m all in. I know you don’t have any experience with this but that’s what I’m here for. We’ll work through it together. Okay?”
A tear drops from my eye. “I feel like you’re too good to be true.”
He smiles. “I think the same thing every time I look at you.”
GAVIN’S WAITING FOR ME with a big smile on his face as I park my car in the garage. I grin when I see him bouncing on the balls of his feet as I walk toward him.
“Merry Christmas,” he says excitedly.
I place a light kiss on his lips. “Christmas isn’t until tomorrow.”
“Christmas Eve counts too,” he argues. “Hence the word Christmas.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. Even though you’re technically wrong.”
Gavin closes the garage door. “How very kind of you to humor me, Grinch.”
“Oh, just what every girl wants—to be called a grumpy green guy.”
He gives me a playful smack on the ass as we’re walking toward the house. “Just get in the house, smartass.”
“Yes, Mr. Cooper.”