The Holiday Hoax

The Performance Of Possession

Something shifted after the kitchen confrontation.

During the rest of the day’s activities, Miles stopped playing the casual boyfriend as we had agreed.

We were adding finishing touches to the tree when Cameron came behind me.

‘Need help with those tinsels?’ He asked in a soft tone.

‘I got you, honey.’ It was Miles, edging his body between me and Cameron.

Cameron had no option but to walk away, while Miles gently placed the tinsels on the tree.

I began to notice how he became territorial in ways that didn’t feel performative.

When we all sat in the living room watching uncle Bob play his guitar, Miles wound his hands around my waist, and didn’t let go until the song was over.

And the way he always made sure to be with me whenever Cameron wanted to talk to me; his touches that brush my skin way too often.

He kept touching me like he was making a point, and the point wasn’t for my family.

It was for Cameron.

I know I should be grateful. This was the kind of performance we had agreed on, and Miles was executing it excellently. But the intensity… it was disorienting.

Miles wasn’t acting like a fake boyfriend protecting our cover. He was acting like a real man staking a claim.

And my body?

It didn’t know the difference. Every touch triggered a warm sensation within me. I found myself unconsciously longing for his presence close to me; the way the shivers ran down my spine when his breath came right at the back of my neck….

We had certainly not practiced that.

In our family, it was tradition for the entire family to go ice skating right before Christmas Eve, and as I stood watching the frozen pond behind the farmhouse, my hopes faltered.

I couldn’t skate; never had the skills for that. Back then, Cameron always mocked me for it, and I still never learned how to skate.

Everyone was already in their skate shoes, twirling like angels on the ice.

And here I was in my skate shoes, looking on silently in dread.

‘Well Derek,’ Cameron came right up to us with a smirk plastered on his face. ‘I bet you didn’t know about Thea’s coordination issues on ice.’

I glanced at Miles but he remained silent. Instead, he took my hand.

‘No, no…’ I began to protest, but Miles already had me on the ice.

‘Just focus on me,’ he said to me calmly.

‘I’m going to fall, and have a terrible bruise; or worse? I’d probably break a leg, or both legs and-‘

‘Easy Thea,’ Miles coaxed me, his warm hands wrapped around mine. ‘Follow my lead.’

He skated backwards, holding my hand steadily as he does. He guided me across the surface as if he’s done this a thousand times, but he hasn’t.

I know that because I have never seen him skate before. But here he was, moving like he was born for this; patients and sure, just like a professional ice skater.

‘You good?’ He smiled at me.

‘Yeah,’ I nodded and returned the smile.

I was happy; I felt elated. He provided a stability I couldn’t find alone, and this was the best feeling in the universe…

‘Woah!’ I let out a cry as I lost my balance and found myself about to crash on the ice.

But Miles caught me just seconds before I hit the ice, his strong arms tight around my waist.

‘Oh,’ I breathed out and looked up at him, our faces suddenly inches apart.

At that moment my body became aware of how the cold bit into my cheeks but his body was warm, and how he looked at me…

None of us moved for a moment, and I saw his eyes drop slowly to my mouth. I couldn’t breathe. I wanted him…

‘Get a room, you two!’ Josie’s words broke the silence between us.

My cheeks heat up as Miles helped me up. I didn’t even remember we were outside. Some of my uncles gave a low wolf whistle, while the rest of the family went on skating.

The rest of the evening was full of activities, and by the night, everyone retired to their beds exhausted but excited for the next morning.

‘Don’t forget to close all your windows, else Krampus would get in,’ my aunts said to their children right before taking them to bed.

That night though, the sleeping arrangement between me and Miles felt different. We’ve shared a bed for two nights now but this time, the tension was electric.

I became aware of every inch of space between us and every inch that wasn’t. He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling, and I could feel his wakefulness like a physical presence.

I couldn’t hold myself anymore so I turned to him.

‘Why are you doing this?’ I asked him abruptly.

‘Doing what? Pretending to be your boyfriend?’ He still faced the ceiling.

‘No, not the fake boyfriend thing. The other thing.’

‘I don’t understand…’

‘The intensity,’ I persisted. ‘The possessiveness; the way you looked at Cameron all day as if you wanted to dismantle him. What’s going on?’

He didn’t answer; remained silent for a long time I was about to think he had fallen asleep.

‘Because he had you and he threw you away,’ he finally replied. ‘And some people don’t deserve second chances to break what they already broke.’

I couldn’t speak; couldn’t understand. I turned away for a moment, knowing I should ask him what he meant, push for clarifications.

But I don’t. Instead I laid there, processing the raw edge in his voice, the implication that this was personal in ways that didn’t make sense for a week-long arrangement.

I still had to ask, or I might just go crazy.

When I turned to him, he was already facing away from me. His breathing was steady and low, but his hands…

They found mine under the blanket and held on like he was afraid I’d disappear while he slept.

I was too stunned to speak or ask.

He eventually fell asleep still holding me. But I didn’t sleep at all.