Gray let out a short laugh. “Right. I’m sure you say that about all the women you sleep with, then dump.”
“You need to stay clear of this one, buddy. My relationship with Carolina is my business, and hers. Not yours.”
Drew knew right away it was the wrong thing to say. The look Gray leveled at him was not one of friend to friend. It was big brother looking out for little sister.
“My sister’s happiness is always going to be my business. And if I think she’s seeing the wrong guy, I’m going to step in.”
Immediately defensive, Drew stepped forward. “Since when am I the wrong guy?”
“Okay, enough of this.”
Drew looked over at the doorway where Carolina had walked in. Instead of coming toward him, though, she went to Gray and put her arms around him for a hug.
“Merry Christmas.”
Gray hugged her back. “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
Then she came over to Drew, and gave him the same innocuous hug. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Lina.”
Gray shot him another one of those looks that could kill. Tough.
Carolina grabbed a cup and the teapot and started to make tea. Then she turned to face her brother. “I’m an adult. This is my life, and I get to make the decisions about what—and who—is right for me. While I appreciate you being protective, Gray, you being irate about me sleeping with Drew is out-of-bounds. He’s your friend, and I don’t want your friendship with Drew strained over this. If this goes wrong and I get hurt, that’s on me. I’m in this willingly and with my eyes open. Got that?”
Gray looked at Carolina for a long minute, then his shoulders finally relaxed. “I guess. But you know I’m always going to watch out for you.”
“I understand and I appreciate it. And if Evelyn had had big brothers who would have been unhappy about you sleeping with her, what would you have said to them?”
Gray looked at her for a minute, then shrugged. “I’d have probably told them to fuck off, because my relationship with Evelyn was nobody’s business but the two of us.”
Carolina stared at him.
“Okay, point taken.” Gray looked over at Drew. “Sorry for flying off the handle.”
“It’s okay,” Drew said. “And Merry Christmas.”
Gray laughed. “Back at you.”
“And can we please not mention this to Mom and Dad? I’ve had enough drama this morning. I’d like to keep my relationship with Drew under wraps for the time being.”
“Why?” Gray asked.
“Because it’s new. And you know how Mom is about stuff like this. Just me seeing a guy will have her so excited she’ll be picking out china patterns for us.”
“Okay, you have a point. I won’t say a word. How about Evelyn?”
“I’ll . . . mention it to Evelyn,” Carolina said, and then slid her glance to Drew, which gave Drew the impression that Evelyn probably already knew.
Given that women talked to each other about relationships all the time, that didn’t surprise him. Or bother him.
“Now that that’s settled, I’m going to make some tea and try to wake up the normal way.”
It wasn’t long before Gray and Carolina’s parents came back from their walk, and Evelyn came downstairs. Then there was a flurry of activity and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. They had breakfast, then everyone gathered in the family room to open gifts.