Unprecedented by C.D. Gill

Author:C.D. Gill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.D. Gill
Published: 2021-06-06T08:04:35+00:00

Chapter 14

His video call with Gia interrupted the stare down he had been having with his computer. Their conversation was rocky, at best, but it had ended on a tender note. Words didn’t soothe like a hug or simple touch could. And they had to spend a lot of words on calming each other down over the past few months.

If he never had to do long distance again, it would be too soon.

His arms ached for Gia to be in them, to soothe the paranoia and fatigue that haunted him at the moment.

After he dropped into bed that night, his phone pinged.

You coming to Mom & Dad’s for the Christmas brunch in the AM? Avri texted.

Xander muttered a colorful word into the darkness. This weekend kept getting better. Mom had invited him weeks ago to their annual Christmas brunch that they held for their neighbors and coworkers. A twenty-seven-year tradition that—of course—hadn’t stopped because he was in prison. Instead of giving gifts to friends, Xander’s parents threw a party to feed the families of the people they felt obligated to invite.

To be fair, a small portion of the attendees were obligatory. The rest had been invited because they ranked high on his parents’ list of people who mattered. That he had been reinvited this year, his first Christmas outside, had Xander cautiously optimistic that he was no longer a dark stain on his parents’ crisp, white reputation.

Yep. See you at 10:30.

The anxiety of showing up at his parents’ tomorrow paled in comparison to what it was he was supposed to be handing over to criminal organizations. Still no word from his anonymous note sender. The thought made him very angry.

In the morning after a fitful sleep, he dressed in a collared shirt and his dark wash jeans. As kids, his parents had always insisted they wear khakis and a collared shirt to this occasion, so undoubtedly that would be what his parents still expected. But he wasn’t that same kid who complied with ridiculous external rules in order to please his parents anymore.

He wasn’t out to smear it in their faces, but their opinions had no bearing in his life anymore. If he was going to be at an uncomfortable party, he was definitely going to be dressed how he wanted to be. On his way to their house, Xander stopped by the store to grab gift bags for the gifts he’d made each family member.

Parked on the street, he stuffed things in the bags. It felt strange to be sitting here, in front of his parents’ house for the holidays. He had a lifetime of December memories at this house that were nice, that made this “home for the holidays.” Yet five years away and relational distance had transformed him into a visitor, lucky to have an invite to the party.

A knock on his window had him scrambling halfway across the car. Avri’s laughing face flashed by as she bent in laughter at scaring him.

If she only knew…

“Yeah, yeah. Very funny,” he muttered as he opened his door, dragging his gift bags with him.

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