Christmas dinners had one hot topic. Whether you and CJ, his nose nuzzling against your hair, would ever get together. You loved your mom, but sometimes she got a bit much.

He noticed your nervous ticks as your mom kept warbling. To know that you were overwhelmed, and it broke his heart. You, however, were his priority.

“Hey.” His knee nudged yours, and he offered a sympathetic look that could only mean one thing. You two always had these subtle cues you could rely on. It made you feel like he noticed, which duh, he always did.

Are you ok? Was the intended message.

You nudged his knee back, swallowing thickly as you felt a little small in this room full of yours and CJ’s lively family members. CJ’s Uncle Bill’s voice was the loudest of the lot, booming with laughter that made you jump a little when it started.

I’m ok. Was your message back through that nudge.

As if CJ would believe you. He knew you too well, and definitely knew better.

When one person felt overwhelmed, the other could soothe the trouble with a few platonic (pretty sure they’re platonic) kisses. Whether it be on the forehead, cheek, nose, lips, anywhere. As long as the other calmed down.

You wanted those kisses to calm you down. But you didn’t want your family to get the wrong idea, even though you needed CJ the most right now when your brain seemed to be working overtime and your social battery was depleted.