BIGGER BUBBLES

*Chapter 17:First Holiday Together*

Thanksgiving.

The first holiday where nobody was pretending.

For 3 weeks they debated it.

Lily: “My sister’s house. It’ll be 12 people. Loud. Kids.”

Adrian: “My apartment. It’ll be just us and Mark and a frozen turkey.”

Lily: “...can we do both?”

Adrian: “Yeah. But we leave if it gets weird.”

They agreed on a plan. And a code word: *pie.*

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*2:00pm - Lily’s Sister’s House*

The house smelled like cinnamon and chaos.

Kids running. Football on TV. 3 different pies cooling on the counter.

Lily’s sister opened the door and hugged her hard. Then looked at Adrian.

“Hey,” she said. “You’re early.”

“Traffic was good,” Adrian lied. He was 20 minutes early on purpose.

Introductions were quick. Awkward.

“This is Adrian,” Lily said. No last name. No explanation.

“Nice to meet you,” 3 cousins said at once.

Dinner was fine. Too many questions about work. Zero questions about _them_.

Until Aunt Carol: “So how long have you two...?”

Lily froze.

Adrian reached under the table and squeezed her hand. “A few months,” he said. “We’re taking it slow.”

Aunt Carol nodded. “Good. Slow is good.”

And that was it.

After pie, Lily whispered: “*Pie.*”

Adrian nodded. “Time to go?”

*4:30pm - Adrian’s Apartment*

Just them. Mark. A too-small turkey. Mac and cheese from a box.

Milo had his own plate of plain turkey.

No expectations. No performance.

Mark raised his glass. “To new normals.”

They clinked.

After Mark left at 7, it got quiet.

Lily and Adrian did dishes side by side. No music. Just the sound of water.

“I thought it would be worse,” Lily said.

“Me too,” Adrian said. “Your aunt was cool about it.”

“She texted me after. Said ‘he seems nice. Be good to each other.’”

Adrian dried the last plate. “That’s... a lot.”

Lily leaned against the counter. “This was nice. Both parts. The loud and the quiet.”

“Yeah,” he said. “We did it.”

At 9pm they were on the couch. Blanket. Leftovers.

No TV. Just talking.

About how next year maybe they’d host.

About how Milo was snoring too loud.

About how they were grateful.

At 10pm Adrian walked her to her car.

Cold air. Parking lot lights.

He didn’t kiss her. He just hugged her. Long.

“Thank you for doing today with me,” he said.

“Thank you for being there for both parts,” she said.

*10:17pm*

*Lily: Home safe. First holiday together = survived.*

*Adrian: Survived and liked it. You were brave today.*

*Lily: You were too. See you tomorrow for leftover sandwiches?*

*Adrian: I’ll bring the bread.