My December Darling

by Lauren Asher

To those who were torn between Doctors McSteamy and McDreamy… Get ready to fall in love with Doctor Darling.

To say things have been slightly awkward between my sister and me since she started dating my ex is an understatement, but then again, I haven’t helped matters either.

Most people in town call Catalina an ice queen, but everyone has a melting point. I just haven’t found hers yet.

When our plates arrive, it doesn’t take me long to understand why Catalina reacted the way she did when I placed my order. Had I known a Dragon’s Breath roll would literally set my mouth on fire, I would have chosen something a bit more palatable.

The little she-devil across from me sits back in her seat with a satisfied smirk, and my heart trips at the sight. I’m not sure what kind of hold she has over me, but her presence is screwing with my head.

It might have taken me a year’s worth of therapy, but I’ve since learned that I’d much rather receive Mom’s disapproval than her full, undivided attention.

“Here. Let me try.” I bang against the side of the machine, earning an amused huff from her. “What?” I look down and find her smiling. It’s small, but my heart trips over itself for a moment. She shakes her head. “Men.” “That’s a sexist statement. Perhaps I should report you to HR for inappropriate workplace behavior.” “I’m sure they’ll recognize your name when I place a complaint about you for checking out my ass.” “I… You…” Her head tilts. “How did you even see me?” My question comes out as a hiss. “I could feel it.”

My last bite tastes like ash in my mouth. “Are you going to be an overbearing ex?” “Worse. A protective brother-in-law.” “That’s supposed to be worse?”

“Yup, because anyone who hurts Catalina is guaranteed to upset my future wife, which will instantly piss me off.”

“My sister requires a certain kind of handling.” “Is she a package or a person?” Gaby glares. “Okay, okay. I’m listening.”

“Well, before this chat, I bought the Galactic Command Base LEGO set and planned on inviting her over to build it.” Both of their jaws drop. “Is that a bad idea?” “You bought a seven-hundred-dollar LEGO set for a first date?” I rub the back of my neck. “Well, I wasn’t going to tell her it’s a date.”

My smile widens as the singer croons about mi burrito sabanero,

I can’t believe this author actually put this in!!! I love this song & a big part of my childhood memories

Then why do you feel so heavy whenever you think about her not pushing to make sure you’re okay?

“When everything went down between you, Aiden, and me, I felt like I gained a boyfriend but lost my sister.”

“When did you realize it wasn’t the real thing?” “When the pieces said LECO on them.”

“The guy who conned me out of a thousand dollars?” I pause for dramatic effect. “He couldn’t be more than thirteen years old.”

She finally cracks, and a soft laugh pours from her lips, feeding me in a way food never can. Catalina isn’t the type for loud belly laughs that leave someone’s stomach aching, but I’ve never heard a better sound than the one she makes because of me.

Aiden looks up at me. “Tell Luke about the time I built that IKEA bookshelf for Gaby.” “Which time are we talking about? Because it took you three tries to get it right, and when she asked for another one, you hired someone off the internet to build it for her.” “That’s exactly what I thought.” Luke plucks the instruction manual from Aiden’s hands. “You’re officially dismissed. I appreciate the offer to help, though.”

Aiden scoffs. “My pride is being obliterated here, Cata. Show some damn respect.” “Aw.” Gabriela kneels beside her fiancé and rubs his chest. “There. There. I’ll buy you some MEGA BLOKS to practice with first.” “Aren’t those for toddlers?” he asks.

“Making the most of two weeks with you seems better than spending a lifetime wondering what could’ve been.”

“Did you walk here or something?” I joke. “Yes.” She digs her face into my sweater. “Two different rides cancelled on me, so I braved the weather instead.” I’m not able to enjoy the feel of her because my anger takes hold. “What the hell.” I pull away, but she lets out a growly protest and tugs me back with a “not yet.”

“Can I join?” I ask without hesitation. If a parranda makes Catalina look like that, I want to be a part of it, solely because she clearly cares about it.

He didn’t just kiss me. He ruined every kiss of my past, present, and future, reshaping my expectations and creating a craving that only he can satisfy.

“Well, there goes our plan to trick Luke and Cata into standing underneath the mistletoe,” my sister says, loudly enough for half the house to hear.

“Is it too late to suggest that we skip the wedding?” “Para con eso, Catalina Ana-Lucia Martinez-Rivera!” my sister shouts from the entryway. “Keep embarrassing me and I will!” “I’m hiding your passport and driver’s license as we speak.” Feet shuffling and the tinkling of jingle bells on Gabriela’s hat follow her as she walks down the hall.

just need a little more time, I want to say but don’t. Don’t give up on me just yet, I think but don’t share aloud. Show me that whatever we have is worth the fight, even if I doubt it, I beg without uttering a single word.

This hit me! So sad

“When Gabriela and my parents taught us that ‘sharing is caring,’ I don’t think they had boyfriends in mind.” More people laugh this time, and some of the tension in my shoulders loosens. “I should’ve guessed it was a possibility given how my sister always stole my Ken dolls, but my parents said she would grow out of that phase…or so we thought.”

“See, my sister has dreamed of meeting her prince charming ever since she was a little girl who forced me into wearing our father’s suit for our pretend weddings while drawing a mustache across my upper lip with a Sharpie.” The group of women near the back of the room gasp. “I know. To think, people call her the nice Martinez sister when she single-handedly gave me a permanent mustache during picture week.” “I thought it was a washable marker!” my sister shouts. “So you say…” A wave of chuckles follows my comment.

On the one hand, I’m so happy for her, but on the other, I yearn for a love like hers. A love that might not be perfect, but one that will stand the test of time and all the trials that life brings our way.

They make me believe that there is always room for love in our lives, so long as we are open to accepting the kind we think we deserve.”

This quote will be in my heart forever

“Lucas.” Her nickname earns her a hard suck on her clit. “Say my name.” “Fuck me first and maybe I’ll remember it.” “Wrong answer.” I deny the one thing she has been begging for and sink a finger inside her instead. The feel of her…the sounds she makes. It has my cock stiffening until I’m pressing into the mattress for some kind of relief.

This was the only intimate scene of the whole book

“Something I made.” He kneels in front of me and holds out the dark box made out of small LEGOs. “Is that…” I can’t even finish my sentence. “A ring box?”

Cutest proposal ever