Alice and Peter were in the library, heads bent over their respective coursework. It was the weekend before finals week and, for once, Peter didn’t have any games to play or prep for. Not that it helped their dating schedule much. Whatever time could be spared from basketball, Peter had to dedicate to revisions. Hence, their “romantic” library date.
Alice stared at her textbook, trying to take in the complex formulas of molecular orbital theory but not really succeeding. She felt guilty for being here with Peter. She’d always done her last minute revisions with Jack, but lately, they didn’t hang out much outside classes.
Jack had stopped antagonizing her about her relationship with Peter, and she’d stopped asking him about his dates. She didn’t want to know anymore, and he was being uncharacteristically discreet. He hadn’t bragged about a new girl in a while. Not that Alice kidded herself into thinking he had not boasted because he had nothing to boast about. Alice didn’t know if she felt better or worse not knowing exactly what was going on in Jack’s love life. Yet, a new stubbornness compelled her to never ask.
Alice had asked Jack if he wanted to join them for this study session, but he had replied with a curt, “No, thanks!” that had sounded more like “I’d rather walk on broken glass barefooted.”
Peter looked up from his econometrics book and asked, “Are you going home for Christmas?”
“No. Every year my parents go on a cruise for Christmas.” Alice grimaced. “Be away on the 25th and you can get the cheapest fares ever. My family is more about Thanksgiving. I’ll stay here and get a head start on spring term.”
“Alone on Christmas Day?” Peter arched his brows. “That’s sad.”
Alice shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
“Why don’t you come to Hawaii?”
That had been her latest discovery about the Harvard basketball team. The Crimson weren’t free, not even for Christmas. They had to fly to Hawaii to play three games, one of which was on the 25th. Okay, there were worse fates than “having” to go to Hawaii at Christmas time. But still…
“Hawaii?” Alice repeated.
“Yeah, why not?” Peter stared at her expectantly. “We leave on the 21st and we get back on the 26th. I know we have three games, but they usually leave us some chill time in between. My parents can’t make the trip, so it’ll be just the two of us.”
“And the team.” And Jack.
“Yeah, but I can cut some free time, and it’s a week in Maui.” Peter’s enthusiasm was evident. “It’s better than staying here buried under the snow, alone on Christmas Day.”
“Yeah, but you’d be busy most of the time with the team, no?”
“True,” he admitted. “Why don’t you ask your roommates along? You girls could go sunbathing on the beach when I have team duty, and we could hang out the rest of the time.”
Alice considered the possibilities. “Madison has to go home at Christmas for sure. Her family’s a bit overbearing. But I could ask Haley.” Christmas in Hawaii was starting to sound like a real option. “Are you seriously asking me to go to Hawaii with you?”
“Never been more serious.”
Alice chewed her pen. “Can I think about it?”
“What is there to think about?” Peter mimicked hula dancing. “What could be better than flying to a tropical beach with your awesome boyfriend?”
Boyfriend. So far, Alice had thought of their relationship as hanging out or casual dating, but Peter had just made it official.
“I can’t say yes for sure,” Alice conceded. “I have to check flight fares and ask Haley if she can come.”
Alice was stalling to gain some time to decide. The truth was, every year since she’d moved to Boston, her parents had given her a very generous Christmas gift, basically a bribe, to appease the guilt of not spending the day with her. She had saved up the money for the past two years—but maybe, for once, she could stop being super responsible and give herself a break. A Hawaiian break.
Alice was both thrilled and wary of Peter’s proposal. True, sports could be fun to watch. Yet, whenever the team lost—a fifty-fifty chance so far—Peter became sulky and short-tempered. It could be hard to be near him after a lost game. Jack was a tad less moody about it, but basketball wasn’t as important for him.
To be honest, it felt like basketball was the third wheel in her relationship with Peter. It was an all-consuming element in Peter’s life with practice almost every day and several games a week, both at home and in other cities. Before, being Jack’s friend but not taking a real interest in the game, Alice hadn’t noticed how demanding it was.
She had a love-hate relationship with basketball now. Watching Peter play—okay, she kept an eye on Jack too, she couldn’t help it—was exhilarating. It was like dating someone in a band. Whenever you put a man on a stage of sorts, it was guaranteed women would find him instantly more attractive. For Peter, it was exactly like that. On the field, he had a huge spotlight on him that made him irresistible. And he wanted to spend Christmas with her.
Christmas in Hawaii with Peter sounded awesome in theory. But what if the team lost? She’d be in a tropical paradise with her boyfriend and a dark cloud of bad temper over their heads. Not ideal. Also, it wasn’t going to be a cheap or short trip. But if Haley could go, it’d be a fun trip, better than staying in an empty campus during the Christmas holidays. As gorgeous as Harvard was, it wasn’t Hogwarts.
When she thought about it that way, the choice was clear. It was between Hawaii with Peter and possibly one of her best friends—two, counting Jack—or Cambridge alone. Mmm. Last year, Madison had invited her to celebrate with her family. Every year, the Smithsons had this huge Christmas celebration at their country house. It had been such a cheery, fuzzy-warm day. And also the day she’d met Ethan. Madison would invite her again, but Alice couldn’t accept this time; it’d be too awkward. Ethan probably had no desire to have his ex sprinkled on him on Christmas Day. And what if he brought his new girlfriend? Ugh. It’d be a holidays nightmare.
There was no contest. She was going to Hawaii.
***
Alice barged into her apartment barely able to contain her excitement. “Roommates meeting!” she announced.
Haley and Madison were seated at the dining table revising for finals. Madison was studying poetry verses, and Haley code lines. They both lifted their heads, looking grateful for the interruption.
“What’s up?” Haley asked, sagging on the couch.
Madison sat next to Haley, and Alice chose the armchair on the side. “Peter’s invited me to go to Hawaii with him over Christmas,” she said. “The team has to play three games there, and he wants me to go.”
“Hawaii? Wow.” Haley seemed excited.
Alice beamed. “Would you girls like to come with me?”
Madison’s face fell. “I can’t go,” she said at once. “You know how my family is about Christmas and traditions. I can’t skip it.”
Alice had expected that. “Haley?”
“How many days would we be there?”
“Less than a week.”
“I would have to tell my parents I’m not going home for Christmas and ask them for an expense contribution,” Haley said. Then, turning toward Madison, she added, “They’re more flexible about holidays than your parents.”
“Lucky you,” Madison muttered, paling. She gave the impression of swallowing a lump in her throat.
“I’ll check with my parents.” Haley got to her feet and disappeared into her room.
Madison got up as well. “I have some reading to do,” she said, somewhat deflated. She picked up a book and disappeared into her bedroom.
Alice followed her and knocked on her door. “Can I come in?”
“Yes,” came Madison’s muffled voice from within.
Alice opened the door and leaned against the threshold. “I need to ask you a favor.” Alice thought of the first excuse for following Madison. “Can you take care of Blue while I’m gone?”
“Sure, I’ll only be gone for Christmas day.”
“Thanks.” Alice walked into the room. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Madison said a small voice. “Why?”
“You seem upset about Hawaii.” Alice sat on the bed next to Madison. “What is it?”
“Nothing. I just thought you were coming to my house again for Christmas.” Madison crossed her arms over her chest. “I know I haven’t officially asked you yet, but I thought it was implicit.”
“Yeah, I know, and thank you.” Alice smiled, tight-lipped. “But I can’t come to your house this year.”
“Why?”
“You know why. Ethan will be there. It’d be too awkward for the both of us.”
Madison grimaced and theatrically swatted her forehead with her hand. “You’re right. I’m so stupid. I hadn’t even thought about it.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing else?” Alice insisted. Madison was very private about her feelings—she had to have information like this dragged out of her.
“Like what?”
“Is it about that guy, mmm, what was his name?”
“What guy?”
“Number 23, the one you recognized at the game.”
“Scott? What does he have to do with anything?”
“He’s in your concentration, and I got the impression you had a little crush on him.”
“I don’t,” Madison said, too defensive.
“Haley seemed to like him too,” Alice pressed. “You wouldn’t be worried about something happening between them while we’re in Hawaii, then?”
Madison blushed. “No!”
“Madison, if you like him, just tell Haley he’s off-limits.”
“As if it would matter.” Madison sulked. “If Haley Thomas wants him, she’s going to get him. She doesn’t even try, and all the guys love her. Nothing I say would make a difference. It’s not like he’s my boyfriend or anything. I’ve never said more than ‘hello’ to him.”
“But if you told Haley—”
“No! And promise me you won’t say anything to her about it, ever.”
“Why?”
“Just promise me,” Madison said with an anguished face. “Can you?”
“Okay, I promise.”
Alice had a hunch she’d just made a mistake. Secrets ruined friendships; nothing good could come out of this one.
Haley barged into the room a second later. “Guess what?”
“What?” Madison asked.
“My parents okayed the Hawaiian trip and, as a Christmas present, they’re helping me pay for it.”
“That’s wonderful,” Alice said.
She turned to Madison to study her reaction. Her friend was smiling, but her eyes were sad.
“Come on.” Haley, oblivious as always to most of the things happening around her, grabbed Alice’s hand to pull her up from the bed. “We have to plan our trip.”
Alice stood up and followed Haley out of the room, throwing a dismayed Madison a wistful glance as she closed the door.