“Not much. He was unreadable, actually. But I think he believes that I hate you so much that it was literally Enzo and me helping you in a time of dire need.”
I take a deep breath. “Do you still hate me?”
She peeks her head around a few scant branches and chortles a laugh. “The answer is kind of obvious, no? Was I not naked in your bed this morning?”
“Just checking. I would hate to get coal in my stockings, which I’m thankful as fuck that my mom texted to tell me that she is bringing stockings.”
Her deep concentration on the tree is impressive. “I’m going to wrap some presents later for Enzo. You have the box of stuff.”
“You would look kind of hot in wrapping paper only.” That fantasy is building in my mind. Add in some heels and I’m a goner.
“I’ll see if I have any left.”
Not exactly a no.
“Tyler.” She says my name as if it’s a warning.
“What?”
She pulls gently on the lights. “You totally knotted the string of lights together.”
My eyes drop down to where the level of lights end, and in truth, I wasn’t paying that much attention, but now that I see it, I realize Santa just added another lump of coal to my stocking. Because it’s a mess. Crossed strings, knots, weird patterns.
“Ooh. Sorry about that.”
Her mouth turns into an O shape. “Are you serious? I’m trying to help, and you decide to ruin the lights.” She’s annoyed now but still seems in good spirits... I think.
I laugh, but maybe I shouldn’t. “What? I’m sorry. You know this is all new territory for me.”
Lainey drops the lights in her hands. “Will you stop this holiday grumbly monster grr roar routine?”
I’m trying to say the sentence in my head to see if it makes sense, but all I get is that she is irritated.
“Are you trying to just start an argument for old times’ sake? Because you’ll meet your match,” I warn her, but I am completelybemused.
“Tyler, you grew up with parents who love the holidays, so suck it up, put in the effort, and get this damn tree decorated.”
“No need to be feisty.” It’s hot.
She gripes as she gives up on the lights and opts to pick up a box of ornaments. “Let’s just get this done. Otherwise, I’m going to demand that you do this while wearing only a towel.”
Reminds me of the kiss when she dropped off cookies. Towels tend to do things to women.
“I can arrange that.”
“Work,” she snaps back.
For the next little while, she supervises my tree skills until we both hang ornaments in random spots. Stepping back, we both seemed satisfied with our work. To be honest, the tree looks a little wonky, but the effort is there.
“Just need the star for the top,” she mentions and searches in the bag and pulls it out.
“Come here.”
I haul her to me with her back to my front and my hands squaring her hips. Lifting her up high, she reaches for the top to connect the star to the pointed branch. Slowly I bring her back down, her body sliding against mine. With her feet back on the ground, I keep her still and wrap her close, kissing that place just below her earlobe.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
She twists in my arms. “We have five minutes.”
