Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 70554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Nipping.”
“Not the way you’re goin’.”
Additional laughter shakes his frame prompting The Kid to interject, “Reusable seems like the best call.” He lets his attention fall to one of the boxes we had to dig limbs out of. “Do we need lights too?”
“Definitely,” replies the man who has been around him for more Christmases than I have.
I lean a little closer to visually scour the box too. “Tinsel?”
“Is that that shiny boa like shit?” Mutt inquires in tandem with redirecting his gaze to the container.
“Doesn’t know it’s called tinsel but knows what a boa is,” leaves me just above a whisper. “You are a tax write off mystery, Mutt.”
“Thank you.”
“Wasn’t a compliment.”
“Felt it.”
Our eyes momentarily exchange teasing glares until I’m yet again left with no choice but to smirk.
They are the best gift I could ever ask for.
I honestly need nothing else.
“Probably new ornaments too,” Kid announces upon him lowering his frame down to a squat. “Afterall, I only see one in here that really matters.” Before I have the opportunity to investigate, he lifts out a round, wooden ornament painted white with the number 50 in the center and his last name underneath. “This was the last ornament my mom ever got me.” Rather than meet our melting stares, he turns it around to show me the other side where it says Ferrari in a matching font. “It’d mean a lot to me if it was the first one, we put on our tree.” His blindingly blue eyes finally find their way to my brown. “Is that okay?”
“Of course, it is, babe.” I lower my frame to be directly beside his where I can lovingly plant a hand on his back. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Chapter 19
Bunny
“Ohmygoddddddd,” giddily giggles Posie from across the counterspace, “Kipp is sooooo gonna love that!”
I let the corners of my lips curl towards the paper snowflakes that are dangling from her store ceiling. “He better. This shit wasn’t exactly easy to find.”
Especially not with him curiously peeking over my shoulder practically every chance he gets.
Thankfully, not because he’s jealous or not so secretly thinks he has something to be jealous about, but simply because I’ve been spending way more time on my phone reading about pregnancy, newborns, and stealthily Christmas shopping.
I haven’t done the whole Christmas thing in years.
None of it.
Not the tree.
Not the decorations.
Damn sure not the gifts.
A lot like being in a relationship – threelationship? – it’s new.
And exciting.
And fills me with joy as opposed to apprehension which is such a fucking relief.
I’ve wasted enough of my life like that.
I don’t wanna go back.
I won’t go back.
Regardless of whatever Brad tries to do to me.
Us.
“He is totally obsessed with that franch,” Posie dramatically sighs prior to flipping her hair over her sweater covered shoulder. “The fact that you got him a framed, signed movie collectable collage is absolutely gonna jingle his bells.”
It’s impossible not to snicker at her Christmas pun. “You live for holiday jokes, don’t you?”
“The boyfriend is a bad influence.” She offers me a piece of tape, grin massively growing. “He swears he loves hearing them.”
“Does he love hearing them or,” I slide the object from her fingers to mine, “does he really just love hearing them from you?”
Her teeth steal a small bite of her bottom lip. “Idontknow.”
“What do you think?”
“That being asked to meet his ‘rents for Christmas was so not on my BINGO card for the year?”
“Same.”
An arched eyebrow of curiosity is instantly shot in my direction.
“Not for you!” leaves my mouth in frazzled rush. “I meant for me. I absolutely would’ve put that on my card for you. That and will go out of his way to kiss you underneath the mistletoe.”
“Ohmygodhedoesthat!”
“Not surprised.” The playful wink that escapes me precedes the smoothing of the sticky item in its proper place on the edge of the package. “You two are Mariah Carey Christmas in love.”
Another giggle and bite are executed. “You really think so?”
“I know so.”
“Because you’re in love and know what it looks like?”
“Exactly.”
This time we girlishly giggle together, and I embrace it.
I actually like hanging out with Posie.
It’s so…different than being with the guys.
Don’t get me wrong.
The three of us have a shit ton of fun together.
Teasing and cooking and dancing and building and binging and still banging like my namesake.
When we’re together – whether that be all of us or in pieces due to someone working – it’s undeniably incredible. They have not only become the two people I trust the most in the world – pens down – but the two people who know me best.
Who have welcomed letting me get to know me better.
The real me.
The me who doesn’t have to hide behind blocked windows or recoil in fear over convertibles.
I love them.
I do.
Fuck…I really, really do.
But I want friends outside of them.