2010

Christmas Day for 2010 had been an incredibly long day, as far as Troy was concerned. He loved his family, but he absolutely missed his freedom. Now a college junior who was settled into his independent life in California, it was tough enough when he'd come back to Albuquerque and his mom wanted to know when he was going to be home. But that year, he'd been back in Albuquerque for just a day, before he'd joined his parents for the seven hour drive to Phoenix, Arizona, where the extended Bolton family was gathering for Christmas being hosted by Jack's brother Jeremy. Jack was the oldest of his siblings, making Troy the oldest of all the cousins on his fathers side of the family. The closest in age was his sixteen year old cousin Lisa who had zero interest even in the coolest of Troy's college stories. She was pretty minimal interest in anything other than her cell phone and texting her boyfriend – perhaps the one thing in common with Troy, who was also pretty focused on his cell phone, a shiny iPhone that his parents had bought him for his birthday a few months earlier.

A couple of years ago when Troy was a college freshman, it had been okay doing the family Christmas, everyone was interested in his stories, he'd gotten some sweet presents. But now, it was old news. Everyone was more interested in Jack's littlest sister Jennifer's six year old twins who had just started school; and in Jeremy's brand new back patio he'd finished renovating. Troy much preferred when they did Christmas with his mom's side of the family – at least he then had his cousin Todd who was only a few years older, and younger cousins who worshipped him.

They'd done the Christmas morning present unwrapping, followed by a festive feast of brunch which merged into a late lunch. Troy and Jack had managed to sneak a look at the score updates for the NBA games that had been on, however for the better part of the day the kids had comandeered the television with Christmas movies.

In the afternoon the family were spending time together, just sitting and chatting, while Troy sat idly bored, scrolling through his phone checking score updates, Facebook and texting Gabriella as she spent her own Christmas with her own family, in El Paso, Texas.

"So Troy, when are you going to be back on campus?" Jenny asked.

"Um, just after New Years."

"I thought you were flying back on the 30th?" Peter, who was Jenny's husband, asked.

"I am. We're flying into San Jose. Gabriella and I will spend New Years together at Stanford, then I'll head back up to Berkeley."

"Is her roommate away?" Jeremy asked, raising his eyebrows knowingly.

Troy coughed, glancing toward his parents. Whereas his parents were acutely aware of the nature of he and Gabriella's relationship, it wasn't something that they were quite yet at the point of feeling comfortable about open conversion about.

"Who wants tea?" Lucille asked, standing up abruptly.

"Oh come on Luce, he's a grown man now," Jeremy pointed out.

"Excuse me while I hide under a rock," Troy grimaced, and used the awkward moment to escape from the living room.

He darted upstairs to the small study where he'd been set up with an air mattress. The room was tight, but at least he'd been given his own space. He quickly dialled Gabriella's number for the second time that day – they'd exchanged a heartfelt Merry Christmas conversation first thing in the morning.

She answered after a few things, "Hey!"

"Hey you. Do you have time to talk?"

She was quiet a moment, but he could hear some noise in the background. She answered, "Call me back with Skype in five minutes?"

"Okay."

The call disconnected and Troy took the time to use the bathroom, and check on Google Maps to try to find a nearby park with a basketball hoop, hoping he could escape to do some casual training the next day.

When he dialled her back and the screen connected, he could see she appeared to be alone in a bedroom with Justin Bieber posters behind her.

"Cool room," Troy observed.

She giggled and he grinned. "You know I'm bunking with my cousin."

"Is she downstairs?"

"Yeah. The kids got given this new fancy version of Boggle. I wanted to play with them but they wouldn't let me, said I'd be too good."

"Smart kids."

She giggled. "I'm glad you called, it was good timing, actually. And I know that once tonight's game is on I won't have any luck getting your attention."

"Hey now, I've been pretty good today!"

"I want to um... to show you something..." Gabriella's voice turned suddenly shy.

Troy's brow furrowed. "You did?"

She nodded. "Yup."

"Okayy..."

"Are you definitely alone?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

"Can you look away a minute? Please?"

Troy was genuinely perplexed but followed her instruction, closing his eyes and making a show of covering them up with his free hand that wasn't holding the phone out.

"Okay... you can look..."

When he uncovered his eyes and looked back at the screen, he was met by a sight that was both equally surprising and arousing. Gabriella was dressed in a racy red babydoll lingerie set, the fabric sheer, and the cups low.

"I bought you another Christmas present, but you don't get to play with it until the 30th..." she said, her voice almost a purr.

"Gabriella!" Troy gasped. "What on... I love it but... you're killing me!"

"It's totally not me, is it?!" she exclaimed, the sex kitten tone she'd just used thrown out the window.

"I beg to differ, it's totally you," Troy remarked. "I think Justin Bieber behind you is getting the most action he's seen."

Gabriella giggled, and picked up her sweater, setting down the phone and giving Troy a view of the ceiling for a moment. When she returned, she was back, her usual self.

"You don't want to take that a little further?" Troy remarked. "It wouldn't be the first time we had..."

Gabriella shook her head. "Not with both of us surrounded by families and children not very far away!"

"Fair point."

"I do miss you, though," Gabriella said with a pout. "The last couple of years were so much better, at least we were both in Albuquerque and could see each other for the holidays."

"Yeah, I know. I mean... the holidays are about family, you know?" Troy said softly.

Gabriella smiled. "And I'm your family?"

"Well..."

"I feel the same way, Wildcat."

"My cousin Todd has been with his girlfriend for a few years. This year, he'd spending the holidays with her family. Next year, they'll both be with ours."

"What do you think our parents would say if we proposed that?" Gabriella asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Maybe not for next year," Troy conceded. "Maybe... maybe once we're living together?"

"You want to live with me?" Gabriella asked. "Really?"

"Well.. one day!" he paused. "Do you? One day?"

"Yeah. I do. I could see that."

They both went quiet, just looking at each other on the Skype cam on their phones. Troy cleared his throat. "I should probably go."

"Me too."

"Merry Christmas, I love you."

"Love you more."

"Oh and Gabriella?"

"Yeah?"

"I guarantee you that outfit would've held my attention, even during the NBA championships."