"You don't have to come, you know."
Shouldn't have said that. Caleb's already stuck doing enough fake boyfriend activities without adding Christmas tree shopping to the list.
"I'm only going because photographer duty calls. Social media and alumni outreach never sleep."
Caleb shrugs. "What else am I going to do? Study for finals like a responsible student?"
"God forbid."
His mouth quirks up at one corner. "Besides, someone has to help you explain fire safety to these idiots."
He makes me laugh.
Fuck I like when his mouth does that almost smile."Your sacrifice is noted and appreciated."
An hour later,I'm squeezed into the middle seat of Gavin's truck. For some reason, it’s Tyler driving and Gavin has shotgun, so I’m stuck between Caleb and a pledge named Rick. Drew's SUV is ahead of us, carrying four more brothers, and Cameron's sedan brings up the rear of our ridiculous convoy.
"Isn't this great?" Gavin turns around, beaming. "Ten grown men going to pick out a Christmas tree together. It's like we're in a Hallmark movie."
"If this were a Hallmark movie, at least one of us would be a secret prince," I mutter.
"You watch Hallmark movies?" Tyler sounds genuinely surprised.
"Sometimes." Defensive now. "They're formulaic and predictable. That's the point."
"The Webmaster watches Hallmark movies," Gavin crows delightedly. "This is the best day of my life."
"Oh shut it. You probably cry during the proposal scenes."
"Every single time," Gavin admits without shame. "The one where the guy shows up with the Christmas tree farm deed? Destroyed me."
"I watch them with my mom," Rick says quietly from beside me. "She used to watch them with my dad before he..." He trails off. "Makes her happy, you know? So we watch them together."
The car goes quiet for a beat.
"Real men watch Hallmark movies," Gavin declares, reaching back to fist-bump Rick. "And real men cry during them too."
Rick's smile is small but real as he returns the bump.
"Okay, but seriously," Tyler says, steering us back to safer ground, "why is there always a bakery? Or a coffee shop? Or both?"
"And the woman is always a workaholic from the city who's forgotten the true meaning of Christmas," I add.
"There's always some big charity event to save something,” Caleb says dryly. "A toy drive or a Christmas festival that's losing funding."
"Don't forget the childhood friend who's now conveniently hot," Gavin chimes in.
"The guy always owns some adorable small-town business," Rick says, warming up. "Like a Christmas tree farm. Or a toy shop."
"There's a big city boyfriend who's always a corporate dick," Tyler laughs.
"And a meddling relative who pushes them together," I finish. "Usually a grandmother."
"Oh! And there's always a kid who believes in Santa," Rick adds with more confidence now.
"The kid always says something wise beyond their years that makes the main character realize what really matters," Caleb deadpans.
"You've clearly watched a lot of these," I say, glancing at him.
