Harper smiles and shrugs.“I’m glad you gave me your sweatshirt.It’s freezing out here!”
“I know a few ways to get you to warm up,” I say suggestively.
She smacks my arm and climbs off my chair, grabbing the stick to add another marshmallow to roast.Harper sits back down in her own chair, bringing it slightly closer to the fire to keep warm.
I stand, grabbing a few more logs, tossing them carefully into the fire to keep it roaring.It is chilly outside.Thankfully, I was already dressed warmly before arriving at the compound.
Ashton clears his throat, glancing between Harper and me.“So that little marshmallow debacle back there, was that entirely a performance for his father?”he asks.
It’s certainly a question roiling through my mind at the moment.I give props to Ashton for bringing it up.
“You did say I was your girlfriend,” Harper smiles at me.“I was just playing the role.”
Nova snorts with laughter.“Sure, keep telling yourself that, Harper.”
Harper's eyes narrow.“I thought you were on my side,friend.”
My little sister tosses her arms up in the air.“Truce.Don’t make me pick a side.It’smybirthday, remember?”
“Fine.”Harper laughs.“Are you going to open your birthday present?”She gestures to the gift bag sitting at Nova’s feet.
“Oh, sure!We usually do that after cake, but who knows when we’ll have dessert.”Nova grabs the gift bag and places it onto her lap.She grabs the card first, opening it.It’s grown dark outside, and she grabs her phone and turns the flashlight feature on, allowing her to read the card.“Cute.”
“Are you going to share with the group?”Ashton asks, waiting for her to hand over the card for everyone to read.
Nova laughs.“No!When it’s your birthday, you can read your own card.”Her hands dig into the bag, pulling out an adorable narwhal stuffed animal, and I can’t help but wonder if she chose that because it’s my team’s mascot.
My heart fills with pride.
“Oh my gosh!Isn’t he adorable?”Nova squeals and brings it to her face and nuzzles its horn.“I can’t wait until I start there next semester!”
“There’s a gift card in there too,” Harper says, gesturing to the bag.
Nova’s eyes light up even more and she feels around, finding it and looking at it with the flashlight.“Oh, bookstore!Yes!We are going first thing tomorrow morning so I can grab a new book.”
Her excitement is contagious.
“Okay,” Harper says and smiles.“Sounds fun.”
“What’d you get me?”Nova asks, turning to face me.
“He probably brought you dirty laundry,” Ashton jokes, and he stands.“My gift is in my bag.Give me a second to grab it.”He heads over toward the house, but his bags are still outside on the porch.He digs through, and a minute later, he returns with a wrapped box.
Shit.
I rub the back of my neck awkwardly.
I didn’t have time to get Nova a present, and not because I didn’t want to, but between school and hockey practice, I haven’t exactly gone off campus.If I’d thought ahead, I could have ordered her a present … but she hasn’t been the first thought on my mind lately.
I’ll think of something before the night is over.I can always have Moreno swing by the store and pick it up if I give him cash.Wouldn’t be the first time he’s made a run for a last-minute gift.
Nova’s eyes light up as Ashton carries over a box that was small enough to fit into his backpack but isn’t so tiny that it could be jewelry.
Thank heaven.
I’d have had a fit if he'd bought her a piece of jewelry.
That’s way too intimate a gift to be giving to Nova.
