Her eyes widened slightly as she gazed up at me. "Surprised."
"I said I'd come." My voice was low so Ayla wouldn't hear us.
Her eyes flashed with emotion. "And I said you didn't have to."
I squeezed her hip, wishing I had more time and privacy to do what I really wanted to do—kiss her. "But what if I wanted to?"
She shook her head slightly as if she was at a loss for words.
I'd take that over kicking me out any day of the week. I leaned down to brush my lips over hers.
"Can I opened my present?" Ayla called from the kitchen, forcing me to step back.
I had a feeling I'd have to keep reminding Angela how good we were together. She'd want to distance herself as soon as I left, and I couldn't allow her to do that.
She wasn't kicking me out, and she didn't seem unhappy I was here. In fact, she seemed pleased. I'd made the right decision in not listening to her. She was afraid to be disappointed. I could work with that.
CHAPTER 18
ANGELA
Icouldn't believe he'd come.
Ayla knelt on the stool and lifted a box out of the tissue paper. “It’s the snow globe.”
It was the one that she’d admired at Belle’s shop. The one that was expensive. “Belle gave me a good deal on it,” Hudson murmured to me.
“You didn’t need to buy her a present.” What did it mean that he had bought her a present, but Gus didn’t?
“I wanted to,” he said simply before moving to assist her in getting the snow globe out of the box. He plugged it into the outlet on the side of the counter, and the snow immediately started moving.
“I love it,” Ayla said as she threw her arms around Hudson’s neck, and my heart squeezed.
He patted her back, and when he pulled away, he said, "I didn't realize I was supposed to wear my pj's.”
"We stay in our pj's all day on Christmas," Ayla said.
"Now, that's a tradition I can get behind."
I opened the box, conscious that I was still wearing my red pajamas with white piping, the ones that felt like silk against my skin.
Ayla pulled out a brownie, and I reached for plates. I set one in front of Ayla.
"There's apple pie, chocolate cake, brownies, and cookies. Mom goes all out when she bakes."
I plated the pie and took a bite. The sweetness was decadent on my tongue.
Hudson took the chocolate cake. "I'm a chocolate guy myself."
"Me too," Ayla agreed.
Ayla enjoyed having Hudson around. It was concerning because I wasn't sure how long he'd want to be here. I didn't think I could brush him off anymore.
Hudson wanted me.
We finished our desserts with holiday music playing in the background. We'd been watching a movie when he knocked, which was now paused on the TV.
Hudson helped me clean up the dishes, and I closed the dessert box, saving the rest of the treats for later.
