Summer doesn’t pay any attention to me as she strips out of her pajamas and pulls a white body suit on with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans.
“It’s notjust a brunch. It’s Christmas. Plus, Ford will be here. Also, you should just know to trust me.” She looks at me, her giant blue eyes doing that pleading look. Finally giving in, I grab it from her hands and get changed.
Okay, so maybe she was onto something, because this outfit works. I decided to wear the black bodysuit and a black skirt, but made sure I added some pops of Christmas color by wearing a festive headband and fun Santa earrings. I keep my hair down and straight, while Summer’s blonde hair is down in big loose curls.
Just as I’m throwing on some clear lip gloss, I hear Ford’s voice in the kitchen and my pulse starts to rise. No one but Summer knows we’re together, but this iskind ofour first Christmas together and I just want to make it special. Yesterday, Ford said he got me a gift, even though I thought we laid down a very strict no gift policy.
“Merry Christmas,” I say while walking into the kitchen. Ford is standing there next to my brother and Nate.
“You know this brunch is just happening in our dining room, right?” Summer hits Chase on the arm as I give him an evil stare for that comment.
My attention turns to Ford and his eyes trail up and down my body. He stops when our eyes lock and I don’t miss the way he adjusts himself in his jeans before he says, “Merry Christmas” back to me. It makes me blush every time. He’s wearing a hunter green t-shirt, something different than his normal black or white, but looks just as delicious in. His jeans hug his thighs and I’m well aware that he’s happy to see me as my gaze lands near the bulge by his zipper.
“Ahem.” Summer clears her throat and I shake my head looking up at her smiling in my direction. Ford notices and I hear a low laugh from his chest as he moves to help my mom take something from the oven.
For the next two hours, we eat and open a few gifts, and my mom suggests a round of Scattergories which has Summer and Chase jumping out of their seats. They’re so competitive with one another, it’s annoying. Ford and I lock stares, somehow quietly deciding that we aren’t playing and both get up.
“I need to run to my truck, I’ll be right back.” Ford excuses himself and I walk outside to the balcony. It’s gotten colder as the day has gone on and I’m suddenly thinking I should go in and throw some sweatpants on when Ford opens the sliding glass door. He has a small bag in his hand and I’m about to question how he made it out here with a gift and no one stopping him before he answers it for me.
“I sprinted through the house as they were all trying to think of things that start with the letter S.” Biting the inside of my cheek, I smile at him and take the bag.
“We agreed on no gifts. What's with you and breaking rules, Anderson?” I raise my eyebrows at him.
“I told you, it’s technically a gift for both of us.”
Glancing behind him, it seems like we’re not in view of anyone inside so I reach my hand in the bag and pull out a piece of tissue paper. Under the tissue paper, I see red fabric with some stitching on the back.
“You got me a jersey?” It comes out as a squeak before I’m looking up at him as I pull the whole thing out of the bag.
“A gift for you. And for me.”
I give him a questioning look while holding the jersey up, focusing on the giant number 87 on the front and turning it around to see ANDERSON on the back, my cheeks begin to blush.
“I love it. Thank you, but how is this a gift for you?” I laugh, folding it up and putting it back in the bag. Ford inches closer and his hands land on my hips. We’re dangerously close to being within eyesight of everyone in the house, but he’s too tempting to pull away from.
Ford’s breath hits my neck below my ear as he whispers, “While this outfit you have on right now is fucking hot as hell, Abby, there won’t be anything sexier than seeing you with my name on your back.” My breathing stutters as I reach my hand up to his cheek and smile.
The moment I push myself onto my tippy toes and lock my lips with Ford, I know I should’ve pulled away.
“Chase… man it’s not what you think.” I’m trying to remain as calm as possible when I see the horror on Abby’s face as she backs away from me.
“Oh? It’s not? Care to explain what the fuck it is then?” His voice draws Nate, Summer and Diane out to the balcony where we are now apparently doing this with an audience. Abby’s hands cover her face and Summer walks over to her.
“Chase, calm down.” Abby tries to relax him with a soft tone, but he snaps at her.
“Don’t tell me to fucking calm down, Abby. I walk ontomypatio and seemysister hanging off ofmybest friend. What the fuck is going on?”
“Hey!He’syour best friend?” Nate interjects and we all whip our heads in his direction.It’s not the time to debate best friends like we’re children, Nate.
“Don’t yell at her.” I take two steps in Chase’s direction. Hearing him raise his voice at her like that, if it were anyone else I would’ve had my fist in their teeth. “It’s on me. You want someone to lash out on? It’s me,” I say, patting my chest.
“Chase.” Diane steps to Chase’s side. “Let your sister talk to you.”
“No.” Chase stares me down, not even giving his mom a glance. “I want to talk to him.”
I give Abby a nod as she makes her way inside with everyone else. Chase is pacing the patio like a mad man, you’d think he just walked in on us full on having sex.
“Listen—” I begin, but he cuts me off.
