Page 77 of Cross the Line
Oh, wow.
My breath catches in my throat as Jayden’s eyes find me, followed by Elijah’s.
“You’re up,” Jayden says at the same time Elijah states, “You’re awake.”
“What are you doing?” I stutter, glancing between them, still processing the scene in front of me.
This wasnotwhere my brain was going. I don’t know whether to feel sheepish, awed, or disappointed. Clearly, my eager thoughts got away with themselves.
“Umm… surprise!” Jayden announces, pushing the top of the Christmas tree into place.
“Wow… that’s… it’s… huge.” My mouth drops open again as Jayden climbs down the stepladder, grinning like the cat that got the cream.
“Not the first time you’ve said that to me,” Jayden chuckles, literally bouncing with excitement while Elijah shakes his head, laughing under his breath. “Do you like it?”
I nod, ambling closer. The nearer I get, the smaller I feel with how tall the tree is behind them… and they’re already so big. I’ve never seen a Christmas tree this enormous in my life.
“It’s so… tall… massive…”
“I told him not to go overboard,” Elijah mutters, twisting to look up at it. “He can’t help himself.”
“The ceilings are too high for a seven-footer. It would look weird. Even my mom said so when I asked her,” Jayden says, plugging the tree into the power supply.
“And what did your momma say?” Elijah asks with a smirk.
“Well… she’s the grumpy elf of the family, so… I guess now she has company.” Jayden sticks his tongue out at Elijah, grabbing a small remote from the kitchen island where various boxes are laid out neatly like tubs in a candy shop.
Snatching up Eli’s hand, he drags him to my side. “Don’t be a grumpy asshole. It’s our first Christmas tree… It’s go big or go home, right, Lucky?”
“Looks like we’re going big,” I chuckle at the same time Elijah grumbles, “You’re incorrigible.”
“And you love it, Bombshell,” Jayden fires back, grinning across me at him with a cocky sparkle that makes my smile ache as wide as the tree behind them.
Elijah’s glaring, barely keeping his own grin in check. It’s so normal, so nice—perfect. Like all the pieces of us slotting together to form the most beautiful picture. And suddenly, I’m overwhelmed by it.
I’ve never been this happy or grounded. The future has never felt so clear and marvelous. I can’t wait to live it all. I’m greedy for it.
“Well, go on, sugar cookie,” Elijah rumbles, trying not to laugh. “Put it on.”
“Stop pulling my pigtails, bossy boots. It’s turning me on.”
I can’t with them.
It’s five in the morning, and I’m cackling so loud I can’t breathe. Meanwhile, they’re both standing there with the hugest, most ridiculous grins on their faces. Jayden’s holding the small remote out to me.
When I take it, he explains all the buttons and settings—different flash patterns, light colors, temperatures.
Elijah isn’t kidding. Jayden has gone completely overboard… and I love it.
Although we celebrated Christmas in Havenview, it wasn’t like this. We never got to believe in Santa or put up a tree, and we stopped receiving presents once we hit adolescence. Christmas became just another occasion to praise the Lord and give thanks for salvation.
Pressing the button for the first preprogrammed option, I watch the lights on the tree slowly twinkle to life in a steady golden glow. The entire room fills with warmth when Elijah and Jayden wrap their arms around my shoulders. We just stand there, staring at the lit-up tree in complete silence.
Tears roll down my cheeks, and it’s not until a sob hiccups out of me that we’re pulled from our trance. Elijah draws me into his chest, onearm holding me tight while the other cradles my head as he peppers my hair with hums and kisses.
When I look up, I find the same overwhelmed emotion in his eyes that’s filling my chest.
“We made it,” he mouths with a smile.
