My December Darling

by Lauren Asher

To say things have been slightly awkward between my sister and me since she started dating my ex is an understatement,

Personally id end her

She turns her nose up in clear displeasure. “Can you manage to not cause a scene for an hour?”

Really not liking her family at all

might like Luke’s touch. I might even like the way he smells like sandalwood and leather from the jacket he is currently wearing over a plain black Henley and jeans. But I dislike Luke the person. He’s annoyingly friendly, frustratingly thoughtful, and the kind of guy who could inspire a future comic book superhero, thanks to both his muscles and his commitment to helping others.

Down horrendously i see

Despite the pep talk I gave myself during the walk over to the restaurant about being on my best behavior and acting like a mature man in my early thirties, the moment I saw Catalina, all bets were off.

You want her so bad dont you

slipped up when I called Catalina by her full name. She probably thought I did it strictly because I like to annoy her, but I just think her name is beautiful.

oh my god i need someone like this so bad

too focused on the beautiful, irritated brunette sitting across from him,

Catalina snorts, and hell, it sounds a lot cuter than it should.

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

He wants her so bad its pathetic

I’m so caught up in the way her eyes sparkle that I’m taken aback when she reaches across the table and snatches a piece of sushi off my plate. Before I can warn her against it, she tosses it into her mouth with a smile and chews. No flinching. No watery eyes. No desperate search for water. “Show off.” I frown. She gasps dramatically. “Did you just scowl?” I glare. “Whoa. Warn a girl next time.” She mocks me by checking her pulse.

“Stop stealing my food.” Her eyes roll. “Is it considered stealing if you took one of mine when I wasn’t looking?” Shit. She noticed that? I hold my hands up. “In my defense, I’m starving.” Her sigh is soft and resigned. “Here. We can trade.” She doesn’t wait for me to agree before swapping our plates.

“Why did you do that?” I blurt out. Her brows scrunch. “What do you mean why? You hate it.”

“I find you…” “Yes?” I lean in toward her, my breath catching in my throat as I wait for what she might say. “Repugnant,”

Screw that. I’ve seen the way she stares at me, and repugnant is the last thing on her mind. That much I can promise.

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.

Theyre so cute omg

It used to bother me, but I’ve grown to pity Gaby rather than envy her. 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.

Thankfully, Aiden broke up with me before we slept together, or else I doubt Gaby would have bothered giving him the time of day.

but the lack of it in my life makes me feel…sad? Lonely? Slightly hopeless, knowing I’m the reason I haven’t found someone in the first place.

Felt

To put it bluntly, Aiden isn’t the first man to find a reason to leave, but he was the one I couldn’t escape by moving to a new city and taking on a temporary nursing job.

“He’s a good guy.” “You would know since you dated him too.”

I’m not the kind of person who enjoys them because it reminds me of too many days spent alone, wishing for someone to keep me company since my parents were too busy to do so themselves.

Aww luke poor baby

I catch her lingering on my arms for a little longer than necessary.

Disgusting pervert

Okay. Clearly, she might dislike me as a person, but my body is a different story.

Now…

“For your information, I prefer to keep my dry cleaning bills to a minimum.” “Is this your casual way of telling me you’re broke?” “I prefer the term fiscally conservative.” My comment earns the best kind of laugh. My eyes widen. “Did you just…” “No.” “Whoa. I didn’t think your internal software was capable of such a sound. Are you malfunctioning? Is there a 1-800 number I can call to get you help?”

Tonight, I didn’t only make Catalina Martinez laugh, but smile twice, and I’ll be damned because I’m already looking forward to when I can do it again.

“What changed?” “I grew up.”

“That’s a shame that adulthood killed your ability to have fun.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Now I have something to ask you.” “Yes?” “Let’s say, hypothetically speaking of course, I was interested in your ex⁠—” He slaps the counter before pointing an accusatory finger at me. “I knew it!” I can’t tell whether he is mad or not. “This is strictly a hypothetical.”

“I always thought you two were better suited for each other.”

“Watching you fall in love like this is fascinating,” I say. He shoots me a smile. “I look forward to saying the same thing to you one day.” “I never said I was falling in love with anyone.” “That’s what we all say before it happens.”

“Relax. Take it day by day and see what happens.” Famous last words.

Sarah Lynn, 3 lbs 4 ounces.

Lauren asher a bojack fan

“I would never dare, Doctor Darling.” He beams. “Say that again.” I roll my eyes. “And feed your power trip? No thanks.” The sparkle in his eyes rivals the stars above us. “Please. At this rate, I will be begging for scraps of your attention.”

“If you wanted me on my knees for the full effect, all you needed to do was ask.”

“By all means, feel free to share whatever thought is making you look at me like that.”

“Does it make you happy to know that Luke bought the Galactic Command Base solely because he wanted to build it with you?” My eyes widen. “Or does it make you happy to hear that he talked to me about how he is interested in you?” she asks when I don’t answer. My heart skips a beat.

“That look right there is why you shouldn’t stay away from Luke

I reach down and help button her coat.

When I get in the car, I immediately turn on the seat warmers for both of us and arrange our heater settings, making sure Catalina’s vents are open and facing her.

“My dad always does that for my mom,”

My car might have a back-up camera, but that doesn’t stop me from placing my hand on the back of Catalina’s head rest and turning to look back. My fingers graze the nape of her neck in the process, earning a slight inhale from her and a little zap of electricity along the tips of my fingers.

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

“You’re annoyingly smug right now.” “And you’re adorably flustered.”

“What I know is that opinions are just that. Opinions, not facts. And frankly, anyone who thinks that about you sure as hell doesn’t deserve to have you prove them wrong.”

Luke Darling is kissing me like I’ve never been kissed before, and I’m not sure what to do with this discovery.

The urge to explore his body with the tips of my cold fingers becomes undeniable,

Because the next time we do kiss, it’s going to be because Catalina initiates it, not me.

So, I hover close enough to smell her perfume

Freak

“Just…stay close?” “How close are we talking?” I waggle my brows, making her laugh.

She doesn’t speak, but her hand reaching out to grab mine is the only one I need.

“Thank you for what?” “For being here. With me.” She looks up at me with a dazzling smile that rivals all the twinkling lights covering the house in front of us, and I’m stunned by the sheer intensity of it. Stunned by her. I’m quickly learning that the next ten days won’t be enough time for us, or at least not when a smile and a simple thank-you make me feel like I’m on cloud nine.