Answering, Lainey is smiling brightly as she holds a craft out in front of her.
“Solved,” she says proudly.
I study it, and instantly I smile.
It’s a menorah.
Stepping aside, Lainey enters my place. “Enzo has crashed. He is just going to chill on the couch with a movie, but he made this for you.”
Accepting the gift from her hand, it’s definitely from a kid, but it’s pretty darn cool.
He used foil to create candle sticks and popsicle sticks to create the base. Most of all, he made it for me because he likes me, and that matters.
“It’s great.” I’m being honest.
She claps her hands together. “Perfect. Now on to your tree.”
I can’t help but stay put and watch her eagerly head straight to the branches and kneel down to unpack the shopping bags.
I hate it.
That her mood is becoming infectious, and I like her a little more during the holiday season. It freaks me out that I might actually have a spot inside of me that isn’t focused on hockey.
After ogling her a little longer, I come to her aide.
“I follow you, boss,” I inform her.
She is already ripping open a box of tree lights. “First lights, then ornaments, and maybe I have some more sparkly garland in a box somewhere.”
“Let’s just stick to what is right in front of us,” I suggest.
She stalls for a moment, and our eyes lock. Probably because there are interpretations for that sentence, and it has nothing to do withdecorations.
What is happening?
Her lips pinch, and she seems to reflect for a moment. “Okay, you take one side of the tree, and I’ll take the other. We need to weave the lights.”
“Sure.”
She begins on the other side of the tree near the base. “I’ll pass it to you, then you hang lights then pass back to me and so on.”
“Got it. It’s not rocket science,” I assure her and stand in my spot.
“I can’t believe this is happening. Mr. Grump has no choice but to celebrate Chrismukkah. Two great holidays rolled into one.” She’s elated as she strings the lights along, and then I take over.
“Okay, we established you have received your bonus gift of the year of my holiday demise.”
“Bonus gift?”
Now I smirk sinfully to myself. “My cock was your first gift.”
She coughs a laugh as she stays focused on her work. “I was waiting for you to say something to take us there.”
“We’ve been occupied today. Couldn’t exactly say anything inappropriate.”
“True. You know Enzo told my brother that we were all together today.”
It piques my interest. “Oh yeah? What did Seb say?”
