Page 105 of Almost Ours
Ryan chuckled. “You’re welcome, kid. Just let me know when you’re ready for your first lesson.”
Connor set the snowboard aside before hurrying over to grab a small box he’d set aside. His excitement was palpable as he handed it to Ryan. “This is for you!”
Ryan’s expression softened as he opened the box. Inside was a framed picture of the three of us from the tobogganing day. We were all laughing, our faces red from the cold, with snow clinging to our hair.
Ryan was quiet for a moment, his fingers brushing over the glass. Then, his voice came out softer, more sincere. “Connor, this is perfect. Thank you.”
Connor beamed before diving back into his pile of toys, already lost in the magic of Christmas morning again. Ryanstood and crossed the room toward me. His presence alone sent a warm, tingling sensation through my chest, but when he leaned down and brushed a soft kiss to my temple, my breath caught.
“Merry Christmas,” he murmured, his voice warm and low.
I turned toward him, my heart swelling in my chest. I needed to tell him. I liked him–so, so much.
Before I could find the words, the door swung open, bringing a blast of cold air with it.
“Merry Christmas!” Nina called, stepping inside with Liam on her heels.
Behind them, Shane strolled in, a familiar smirk tugging at his lips.
Ryan exhaled a quiet laugh, straightening up as I turned toward our friends, the moment between us slipping away.
Nina pulled me into a quick hug before glancing over her shoulder at Shane. “Look who I found wandering aimlessly on the side of the road.”
Shane grinned as he stepped inside, brushing snow off his jacket. “Always rescuing me,” he quipped.
The door closed behind him, and for a moment, we were all crowded together in the entryway, shaking off the cold and exchanging greetings.
“Merry Christmas,” Nina said again, turning to Ryan and giving him a quick side hug.
“Merry Christmas,” Ryan said, his voice as calm and steady as ever.
Nina gave Shane a much shorter hug, muttering, “Don’t make me regret this.”
Shane laughed. “Always a pleasure, Nina.”
He nudged me with his elbow, his grin easy. “No hug for me, Harp?”
I rolled my eyes but relented, giving him a quick, one-armed hug. “Merry Christmas, Shane.”
“Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he teased.
“Debatable,” I quipped, shaking my head at him.
We moved into the living room, the boys already diving into their bag of treasures. Nina and I shared a knowing look as they chattered loudly, their excitement filling every corner of the house.
The warmth of everyone being here settled over me, and as Nina leaned closer, she whispered, “Okay, this is nice.”
“It is,” I agreed, my smile softening.
It was more than nice. It was everything I’d wanted this Christmas to be–simple, easy, filled with laughter and good company. There had been so many years where Christmas had felt like something to endure, like I was holding my breath, just waiting for the day to be over. But not this year. This year, it felt right.
The energy buzzed around us, and I turned to Nina. “Want to help me with some mimosas?”
She perked up immediately. “Always.”
We headed to the kitchen, leaving the joyful chaos of the living room behind for a moment. Nina grabbed the champagne while I reached for the orange juice, and together we made mimosas for the adults and poured sparkling orange juice for the kids.
When we got back, Shane had claimed the couch, looking far too comfortable, while Ryan crouched on the floor with Connor and Liam. The three of them were deep in conversation about some action figure or car–I couldn’t tell which–but the sight of them made my chest tighten in the best way.
