The sun shined brightly, rising above the trees, and made the snow twinkle like diamonds. I walk towards the fire, and see Ajay like most mornings already awake. He wears a Christmas Sweater, and I couldn't help laughing to myself. I move towards him, and he smiles in my direction. Ajay is so sweet and soft spoken, and literally I consider him my best friend still.
Taking a seat next to him, he passes me a cup of coffee.
"Already poured two cups?"
"It's actually legit the elves brought gingerbread coffee!"
"Shut up," I say while taking a sip. He was right, it was absolutely mouth-watering. I hear the trailer door open, and my eyes see it's Nora, and I couldn't help the eye roll that follows. I am never alone with Ajay for a minute or two before somehow she magically shows up, and her matching Christmas sweater is even more annoying.
I stand up to leave, and I see the frown that appears on Ajay's face. I know he can sense the wedge between us. I spent hours talking to him every morning before she showed up.
"You don't have to leave just because Nora joined us."
I feel eyes upon me like I'm under pressure to say the right thing. Obviously, I can't express what I'm actually feeling that would come across as jealousy. I'm not jealous that she is his wife. I love Chetan, but I just miss my friend time with Ajay that's completely gone now.
"It's not because of her." I smile in her direction, and she returns the smile, which makes me feel a little better.
I see Dev and Riya approaching, and I was glad they decided to stay instead of leaving the forest. They walk hand in hand, and I smile when I see her bright red Christmas hat.
"This is for you," Riya tells me, with her sweet cheerful grin passing me a blue sparkly Christmas hat.
"Thanks."
Riya was probably my best friend in the pack. I mean a best girlfriend. Obviously, my best friend would be Ajay, and close behind Dev. I know many couples consider their love interests their best friend or whatever, and I think that sounds cute. Chetan, I considered my other half and lover, not a best friend. His role is much more powerful than that. There's not a title I can give him that's strong enough for my feelings for him.
I place the hat on my head, and I tried my best to give an authentic smile.
"Adorable," Dev gives me a wink.
Kiara and Cricket with their daughter, my sweet niece approaches me.
"We are leaving." She gives me a big hug, and I can smell the sweet smell of her perfume as it enters my nose.
"Tell Mom and Dad hello for me."
"Are you sure you don't want to just come home?" She asks me.
I shake my hand.
"You know our parents are going to be very disappointed," she gives me her most sassy look.
"I'm sure there'd be so much excitement over Atsila, they won't even notice." I chuckle, thinking about mom being so excited about being a grandma.
Kiara laughs too. "I am so excited."
"I'm really excited for you."
"I'm not leaving until tomorrow," I hear Chetan approaching the wood line, carrying a dead squirrel.
"Hopefully, we'll see you at the family dinner," Kiara tells him with a grin.
"Yeah, sure."
"Well, at least you got one more day to change her mind," Cricket looks at me and has a smirk on his face.
"Good luck with that, we all know Zare is stubborn," Ajay says, shaking his head.
"From my side, there will be no change of heart. She doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to." Chetan smiles at me.
I nod. I feel so bad that we will be apart for Christmas, but I don't mentally think I can return home as the sister who's with her ex sister's boyfriend.