Page 128 of Light My Fire Three Times
I nod. “I’m sure she has. We’ll make a whole thing of it. Lots of snacks, lots of laughs. I think she’ll love it.”
“Right,” Leo says, his tone turning more serious again. “But let’s not forget about the gift exchange. We can’t make this day special without the right presents.”
I grin. “You’re right. Personalized gifts. Nothing generic. We get her gifts that show we really know her. Presents with meaning. And we’ll give them to her after the movie, right when we’re all cozy by the fire.”
Jesse nods. “You want it to be intimate. That’ll make her feel like she’s not alone anymore. That we’ve got her back.”
I smile, glad we’re all on the same page now. “Exactly. I’ve been thinking about it. I want to give her something she can hold onto. Like a framed photo of us all.”
Leo taps his chin thoughtfully. “Jewelry, maybe. But right forher.”
Jesse speaks up. “Maybe I’ll get her a leather journal. Something custom. She’s always writing down her thoughts inthat little notebook of hers. I think she’d love something that’s all hers. Something she can pour her heart into.”
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, the plan starting to come together more clearly.
“This is it,” Jesse says, breaking the silence, “the best damn Christmas she’s ever had.”
I grin, looking at the two of them. “Hell yeah. This is the Christmas she deserves.”
Leo leans back in his chair, giving a rare, relaxed smile. “You know what? This is going to be one hell of a day.”
“And no one needs to know,” Jesse adds. “We keep this under wraps. Just us, and her. No drama.”
We all agree that the plan is finally settling in. It feels good, no, it feels right, to be doing something for Olivia. That’s going to show her just how much she means to us.
When Christmas Day comes, it’s going to be perfect.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Olivia
DECEMBER 22ND
The crisp winterair feels refreshing, even though my fingers are a bit cold as I work the espresso machine.
I’m getting used to the quiet rhythm of the truck, the steady flow of customers, the buzz of the coffee beans grinding, and the occasional chatter of the town’s folks.
Coyote Glen is starting to feel likehome, even if I’m still figuring out my place here.
I love these little moments, where everything seems to fall into place.
I’m in the middle of steaming milk when I hear the sound of boots crunching in the snow, the rhythmic jingle of keys, and an unmistakably confident voice.
“Hey,” the guy says, leaning against the side of the truck with a relaxed grin. His voice is smooth, like he’s used to people hanging on his every word. “You have any of that magic in a cup?”
I glance up, my eyes meeting a pair of striking, confident blue ones. His face is familiar, though I can’t quite place it at first. It’sone of those faces you see on a magazine cover or maybe on a poster at a concert venue.
He's tall, with an effortless coolness about him, wearing a leather jacket and a cocky smile that could probably melt the polar ice caps.
“Magic, huh?” I raise an eyebrow, a teasing smile on my lips as I wipe my hands on the apron. “What, like… an espresso with extra charm?”
He laughs, and there's something genuine in it that makes me feel more at ease. “Exactly what I’m looking for.” He holds up his guitar. “I need some festive inspiration.”
“Are you a musician?”
He nods. “Yeah. Roman West… musician.” He laughs. “So, what’s your best drink? Something that’ll make me forget I’m arock starfor a few minutes?”
“Ha,” I laugh. “I could do that. How about a flat white? Not too fancy, but it'll take you to a whole new level of bliss.”
