“We’ll have plenty more Christmases together,” he replied quietly. “You can go over to her, you know,” I said, giving him the permission he clearly thought he needed. “You don’t have to sit around babysitting my ass for the night because I’m okay, lad.” He looked at me with that sad look and then quickly blinked it away. “You think this is a pity date?” I arched a brow. “Well, isn’t it?” “I’ll make a deal with you,” he said then, tossing the controller down. “I’ll go across the road, and ring in the new year with my girlfriend if you do the same with yours.”
