“I used to demand everything be wrapped when I was younger and more into Christmas, but as I got older, I realized that wrapping things meant wasting a lot of paper and time.” And she was far too practical to let that slide. Gift bags were pretty and reusable. “I like that you’re into it, though. Marigold will appreciate it.”
Despite Evan’s reassurances, the insecurity that came with getting someone a Christmas present for the first time didn’t go away that easily. “I hope so. I guess I really shouldn’t be worrying about it.” She also didn’t think George would appreciate Leah, of all people, being the one to give her something so juvenile, but that wasn’t really a conversation she wanted to get into.
If her tone had been mentioned, Leah would’ve asserted that she hadn’t snapped. She’d spoken as levelly as possible, considering the topic, for Marigold’s sake. Evan’s question made her purse her lips. There was a glaring difference there; one that she didn’t want to point out. Whereas she’d only been with three people in the last six years, Evan couldn’t claim the same. Maybe that way of thinking was insensitive, but it was what it was.
“Then I’m sorry I kept it from you,” she said instead. “I guess I was still pissed at her for it and wanting to forget it happened. I wasn’t trying to keep it from you.” She reached up to comb her fingers through her hair, a gesture that helped her avoid eye contact for a few moments. “She’s one of those women who likes to gloat, shove their betterness in other people’s faces. Mostly mine. I don’t really know what the hell I did to get on her bad side, but…” Trailing off, Leah chuckled, the sound holding very little humor. “Maybe all I did was be me and she decided I was a fun target to go after. Either way, she’s always had it in for me.”
He asked about her reaction to the kiss and Leah replied with, “The usual. Bitching at her. Minus the punching part.” Which had taken a lot of effort, given that Micah had been insistent than Leah had been the one to initiate it.
It had been a good long time since Evan had been the one to go off on her for something. Leah couldn’t honestly have said it was completely unjustified, but it was still annoying being treated like a child. She didn’t yell back. She couldn’t even muster up any anger towards him. Her eyes found the floor. She couldn’t argue against the points he was making, the legitimate concerns he was pointing out.
“I haven’t been bitten in over a year. I haven’t even been injured since April,” she replied quietly. “You’re talking to me like I’m stupid, like I don’t know the risks of going out there. Don’t talk to me like you think this baby means nothing to me.” Leah paused to take a calming breath, collecting her thoughts. “This couldn’t have waited until after Christmas? You had to bring it up now? Today?”