Page 73 of Eight Weeks
I doubt it, but what if Sofia were to question where I am at, this early in the morning? It’s easier to say I’m out with her father to catch a couple last-minute Christmas presents instead of somehow having to explain why all three of us were gone.
Though, maybe Sofia wouldn’t believe the Christmas present excuse because as far as I’ve been told, stores aren’t open on holidays, and Christmas Eve here is like their Christmas day? It’s confusing, really. At least for me.
It’s so much more logical to wake up on Christmas morning and open presents than hand them out on Christmas Eve after dinner or something like that.
“Are the stores open today?” I ask Peter as we wait. I’m not asking because I need one more present to buy, but because I’m genuinely interested in finding out. Germany’s business hours are confusing as hell.
Peter nods. “Until two p.m., as far as I know. You need anything?”
“No, I’ve got all my presents. I was just wondering.” Yes, I even have a present for Colin and Lily, believe it or not. I’ve had that idea of inviting Lily and Colin for Sofia’s birthday ever since I knew I’d be here for it, so I bought a couple just-in-case presents.
Then, finally, Lily and Colin come walking toward us. Having to keep myself from snorting out loud when I find their hands interlocked, I manage to not gag and appear happy to see them both. I am happy to see them, I just don’t like seeing them being so… in love. It’s kind of strange, especially when my best friend has his tongue stuck down my sister’s throat.
I’m happy for them, truly. I couldn’t imagine anyone better for my sister, and I know Colin makes her really happy. Perhaps I’m still a little weirded out by what I had to witness on my birthday.
“Please cover up your face, my eyes cannot take this ugliness,” Colin says instead of a heart-warming greeting. But that’s him, I guess. I’d be worried if he were to shake my hand as hello or give me one of his all too loved bro-hugsonly. I get those when he’s drunk all the time, or when he has something up his sleeves. “Man, my eyes were just recovering from the last time I saw you, and now all the progress is down the drain.”
Instead of a hug or anything alike, Colin is holding his fist out to me, naturally, I give in for the fist bump because, you never ignore one. Ignoring fist bumps or high-fives? Super uncool.
Then I move over to my sister, pulling her in for a brotherly hug. She chuckles, but eventually closes her arms around my torso to reciprocate the hug. “Didn’t get enough affection the last few days?”
“I did, but I figured a hug won’t hurt because you guys have a lot of work to do. So see this as my form of payment to you.”
We pull away from the hug, and I grin at the stunned face she makes. At least until Lily turns away to greet Peter.
Shortly after a couple of “how was your flight” and other small-talk attempts, we’re finally on our way back to the Carlsen’s house, or more like their barn. We haven’t quite managed to finish decorating everything before Sofia came back home yesterday, and as I didn’t want her suspecting anything, we all had to be back at the house to seem as unsuspicious as ever.
But now we only have a couple more hours to finish, tops.
It’s around six-thirty in the morning when we get back to the house and storm into the barn. Peter is kind enough to take Colin and Lily’s luggage into the house for them, that way there is a less of a chance for Sofia to spot them in advance.
“Oh, there are clothes for each of you in your room. I’d like to ask you to wear them, even if it’s not your color,” I tell them both, not bothering to explain any further.
“You really did meanbigplans,” Colin says, looking around the mostly finished decorated barn. “Looks good.”
Lily does the same, just looking around with a rather impressed expression. “I start to understand why the party starts as soon as the sun sets.”
Makes sense once you see this. The number of goddamn lights everywhere… they’ll only look good in the dark. With sunlight shining through the two windows, it just looks weird.
“Yeah. But we still need to take care of all the flowers. They delivered them last night. Karin only had enough time to put them all in some water, so we have to put them in different vases now and, you know, make them look pretty all around here.” That’s going to be more work than I imagine, won’t it?
Of course it will be. It’s always more work than people imagine.
“I do wonder, though…” Colin turns to look at me, slightly narrowing his eyes. “It’s just Sofia’s birthday, right? Why go so over the top for it?”
“Because her stupid ex-boyfriend is planning to propose to Julia.”
Lily gasps, bringing both of her hands to her mouth. “No way.”
“Yes way. Can you believe that guycheatedon Sofia? Like, who the fuck would do that?” My blood still starts to boil whenever I think about that. Sometimes I wish Sofia hadn’t told me, because every single time I see Leon’s face, I want to do nothing more but to make him taste my fists and give him a free nose job.
Colin walks over to where the flowers are separated into five huge buckets. “Sounds like you’re really mad about it, babe.” He takes one bouquet out, looking at it like he’s questioning every single decision he’s made in his life.
“I am.”
He grins, though turns to not let me see he is. Too bad, I’ve already seen it.
“You know, for someone that claims not to have feelings for her, you get quite upset with shit that isn’t your fault and involves her.” Colin walks over to the table in the middle of the barn, putting the flowers in a vase. “The last andonlytime I got that upset about anything that wasn’t in my hands, it was connected to Lily, and we all know how that turned out.” He smiles at my sister, then winks when he finds her smiling back at him. “Okay, and maybe the shit Maeve is pulling with Miles. But that’s still a different kind of madness.”
