I got back home fairly quickly. I was welcomed by the smell of pasta and garlic bread. I sighed with a small smile on my face as I kicked my shoes off. I could hear laughter from the kitchen and it sounded like my dad and uncle ty we're watching football. "Who's playing?" I asked.

"Cowboys and the Dauphins." Uncle Ty replied. Neither of them removed their eyes from the tv. We wouldn't have their attention until the game was over.

I heard the door open and close so I decided to see who came in. "Luke?!"

"Why you yelling my name like that?!" He yelled back. "Don't give me attitude."

He smiled and ruffled my hair much to my dismay. I swatted at his hair and we made our way to the kitchen. "This dinner about to buss. I can't wait until christmas dinner though. Im getting mentally prepared to go into a coma."

"You dramatic as hell." I rolled my eyes as I laughed. "I heard you went out with you're little friend."

"I mean yeah we just went to shop for her little sister." He replied and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh my god are you blushing!" I teased.

"I want all the tea when we finish eating dinner."

He groaned loudly and hid his face. "You don't need to know!"

"Of course I do!"

He playfully shoved me away and I shook my head. In the midst of our exchange my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Xavier: Are you Good?

I quickly liked Xaviers text message about my well-being and tucked the phone away. I'd call him back in a little bit. He texted me two more times but I had already decided I wasn't going to look at it until after dinner.

Surprisingly it was kinda short lived. We didn't sit around the table together and talk when dinner was ready. My parents, Uncle Ty, and Aunt Janice went into the living room to watch some football crap while Dante and my other cousin Faye ate at the dining room table.

Meanwhile Lucas and I stood in the kitchen eating while we talked quietly. "What's been going on with you. You've been busy." He commented.

"Yes with my job."

"Bye girl. I gotta meet this professor man."

"Get in line. Aunt Janice wants to have words with him so she can jump his bones."

"Of course she does." He laughed. "How long are you staying?" He asked.

"Until Friday."

"Why aren't you staying for new years?"

I simply shrugged and scooped up another fork full of food. "I would Id just rather go back. You can come with me if you'd like i'll probably be working most days though."

"That man has you working through break?!"

"Voluntarily. It's all basic stuff nothing too crazy."

"Yeah okay. Don't work too much." He warned.

Although I didn't mean to. I ended up falling asleep without getting back to Xavier. Hopefully he won't be upset when I finally get away from my family so i can call him back. "Alright yall that was fun now I'm going to take a nap!" I lied as soon as we all got back in the house.

We'd just come back from ice skating and getting lunch together. I jogged upstairs and closed my door quietly before getting out my phone. I sighed heavily as I dialed his number.

I don't know why I felt so nervous as I paced my floor whilst waiting for him to answer. I almost jumped for joy when the sound of his voice came through. "Hello?"

"Hey! It's me-obviously. Of course you know that already um hi. Sorry I'm just getting back to you."

"It's all good. You were busy with your family." He said casually. My eyebrows furrowed and I frowned. "You're not...mad?"

The line went silent for a second before I heard the sound of his laughter. I love his laugh but I frowned when I heard it. "Of course not. I understand and I figured you would call me when you got the chance. I was not a fan of you liking my message instead of actually replying last night but we're good."

I let out a sigh of relief at the sound of that. "Really?"

"Yes, Why would I be mad at you?" He asked more seriously now. "Should I be mad?"

"No! I don't know I just thought you would be."

Maybe i thought so because I felt like he should be mad that I intentionally ignored him. But How would he know that? Maybe it was because my family's playful words made me feel so guilty about our relationship. I don't really know how to explain it.

"You alright?" He asked. "Yeah it's just...I feel like I...I don't know. When do you board your plane?"

"At the airport right now. It's another 45 minute wait for everything to be ready. What were you about to say just then?"

"Nothing it doesn't matter. Is your sister with you?"

"Nah she flew out two days ago with my parents."

"Oh okay. Excited?"

"More like excited to get back to my bed." He chuckled. "Oh don't be like that, baby. You'll have plenty of fun." I told him. Right after I did though I regretted it because I'd accidentally let the baby slip.

"Yeah I know. Looking on the bright side. I'm glad I actually like my family."

"That's always a plus."

"Yeah...how are things with your family?" He asked. "They're going well. We all get along around here so the next couple of days should go by smoothly."

"That's good. When do you come back?"

"Friday."

"That's perfect I want to take you somewhere."

"Really?! Where?"

"That, princess, is a surprise." He replied. "And I'll be guessing where we're going until we get there."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."

I laughed a little and a small silence passed over us for a second. I stayed on the phone with him talking about nothing in particular until it was time for him to board his plane.

When I hung up that feeling in my chest dissipated a little. It gave me a sense of security so I didn't feel like such a disappointment. I'm just dramatic.