Page 13 of Merry Little Christmas
“It doesn’t have to, but I’ve never played with a friend before. Coming out of that is new for me as well.” They nodded in understanding and as I watched them, something dawned on me. “How have you been getting by since you lost your job? Jesse hadn’t mentioned you getting another one.”
Peyton flushed again, looking everywhere but at me. “Jesse doesn’t know. I wanted to find something else before I told him because I didn’t want him to worry. I’ve been taking commissions; gamers mostly and character art for indie authors. Though I’ve recently branched out into book covers. I’m glad my tablet survived, or I wouldn’t even be able to do that.”
“And that’s been enough?”
“For now, but it’s unpredictable and I’m new. Savings have helped but that’s slowly starting to wind down too.”
Suddenly, I got the sense that Peyton didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Their gaze focused over my shoulder, and I followed their line of sight to the tree. Currently, it only had lights on it—it came that way. I hadn’t had the time to decorate it, so the ornaments sat in their boxes beneath it like the saddest presents ever.
“Why don’t you help me finish decorating that?” I asked, guzzling the last of my coffee and rising to put it in the sink. “It looks sad sitting over there with no ornaments.”
Peyton only crooked a brow at me. “You’ll have to excuse me if I’m not feeling so holly jolly this Christmas.”
“Oh, come on. Christmas has always been your favorite.” I came to a stop behind their chair, throwing my arms around them. They easily relaxed, resting their head on my shoulder. “Don’t be a Grinch.”
“Actually, the Grinch didn’t hate Christmas. He hated people, which—ah!”
I’d dug my fingers into their ribcage again, tickling them. They giggled and squirmed, trying to wrestle out of my grip, but I was that much stronger. They tossed their drink to the table, liquid sloshing over the sides and splashing to the surface—I didn’t even care. Their laughter was one of my favorite sounds and the fact that I was the one to make it happen? Pure magic.
“Okay, okay! I’ll help you with the tree! Stop before I wet myself!”
I ceased the torture, but only because they’d just taken a shower. I knew from past experiences that they weren’t joking.
They still hadn’t forgiven me for last time.
“Come on.” I nudged them out of the chair, taking their drink with me as I moved to the living room. In truth, I was trying to forget how good they felt in my arms. Keeping my hands busy meant that I was less likely to haul them into my lap and never let them go.
Peyton was meticulous about their ornament placement. It only took a few sloppily placed baubles before they ordered me to sit down and watch.
Happily.
I made myself comfortable with another warm drink, watching as they carefully placed each ornament in respect to the red and green lights strung through the branches. Every once in a while, they’d pause and toss a knowing grin at me.
Christmas was Peyton’s favorite holiday, and the idea that theyjust weren’t going to celebrate wouldn’t fly with me. While they were distracted, I’d managed to put their favorite Christmas movie on TV—The Polar Express—and it took them half the movie to even realize it. Ornament placement was neglected then. Knowing how much they’d loved it the night before, I slipped another hot chocolate into their hand. They stared into the mug, confused. “I’m not Little right now.”
“Who said you had to be Little to enjoy hot chocolate?”
The corner of their mouth quirked, and they hid their face in their drink—but I didn’t miss that stunning pink washing over their cheeks. “Thanks.” Shaking their head, they reoriented themself. “Your tree’s been saved from disaster.”
Peyton spun to admire their work and this time, I didn’t hesitate to move in close and wrap my arms around their waist. They didn’t even flinch, instead relaxing into the touch. “I knew you’d pull it off. Want to help me with the star?”
Their brow scrunched. “You know I can’t reach that high.”
Setting their mug down, I handed them the star. Hands on their hips, I lifted them. They gasped, but settled the topper onto the tree, fluffing the branches and plugging it into the end of the lights. I set them back on the floor, but I didn’t move my hands. I didn’twantto. Instead, I took a step closer—they didn’t stop me. My arms wrapped around their waist, and their hands laid on top of mine. My heart thundered, and I wondered if they could feel it.
“Gorgeous,” I muttered nuzzling into their hair.
“Mmhmm.”
I wasn’t sure about them, but I sure as hell wasn’t talking about Christmas decorations. “Peyton…”
What the hell did I have to lose? Peyton and I knew each other like the back of our hands. What was stopping us from taking that plunge from friends to… more? I’d have been foolish to think that Jesse would wish us anything but the best, but that didn’t stop that doubt tickling in the back of my mind. But when Peyton rotated inmy arms and looked up at me with those big brown eyes, that little flicker was banished. When they looked at me? All was right with the world.
“Cole, are you about to do what I think you are?”
I lifted my hand, brushing an aggravating lock of blond hair out of their eye—it was obstructing my view. “Would it be a bad decision if I did?”
It was small, nothing more than a twitch of their head. If I’d have blinked, I would have missed it. I curled my hand around their neck, cupping their cheek. We were chest to chest, nose to nose. The pad of my thumb stroked silky-soft skin.
