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I hear muffled giggles in the background. “Ugh. I’m sorry to cut this short, but the twins just got up, so I have to go.”

“Alright. Kiss those cuties for me!”

“Will do! Keep me posted on the Madden situation!”

We say goodbye, and then I sit up in my bed for a moment to consider what Kate said. It really does seem like terrible timing for Madden to start dating someone. I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up.

The next week goes by uneventfully. I haven’t heard a peep from Madden, and I can't help but feel disappointed. Going on a date with him would’ve been amazing.

Tonight, I’m at Home Depot with my parents, looking for an artificial Christmas tree. We've always gone to the tree farm and selected the perfect Fraser fir, but it would be too difficult for Dad to get around a tree farm this year.

We’re standing in an aisle filled with inflatable yard ornaments, and my mother begs Dad to splurge on a fuzzy, grinning Christmas llama to spruce up their yard.

“It even dons a plaid scarf and plays music!” My mom reads off the box.

Dad looks at me and lets out an exasperated sigh, but agrees, so I heft the box into the cart for them. He acts annoyed, but I know he’d buy a million inflatable llamas if it would make Mom happy.

“Sweetie, it’s been over a week now. Any word from... that boy? I’m sorry, I can’t think of his name.” Dad glances at me with a raised eyebrow.

I let out a heavy sigh that I just can’t seem to suppress anymore. I’ve been trying all week to convince myself that I'm not disappointed. “It’s Madden. And, no, I’m afraid not.” I guess I can add one more name to the list of guys who thought I was boring.

Dad gives my hand a squeeze. “Well, that’s surprising. I thought he was making eyes at you the entire evening.”

I chuckle at Dad’s choice of words. “I’m sure that Madden has plenty of other prospects. I probably didn’t make much of an impression.” I can never seem to make a good first impression. Madden couldn’t even remember who I was.

“If he thinks he can find a smarter, prettier, or better woman than my Odette, then he’s an imbecile. And you make pretty decent coffee, too.”

I put a hand over my heart in feigned shock. “Well! I never thought I’d hear those words out of your mouth.”

“I’m feeling generous today.” He winks.

As usual, Dad puts a smile on my face. I pull him into a hug, cherishing the moment. Little things like this make me grateful that I moved back.

One artificial tree and one inflatable llama later, we return home to decorate. I had always flown home for holidays in years past, but it’s been a while since I was here to decorate the tree with Mom and Dad. We laugh together as we pull out the old ornaments and share our favorite Christmas memories. The house feels cozy and romantic with the twinkling lights on the tree, cinnamon-scented candles, and the little glass snow village my mom sets up every year. We transform their home into a little winter cottage.

Glancing outside, I notice that the sun is beginning to go down, so I throw on my coat and gloves and head outside to set up Mom’s llama before it gets too dark.

Just as I’m getting the ridiculous Christmas llama inflated, I see the headlights of a black Audi pull into our driveway. Someone must’ve made a wrong turn.

But the car parks, to my surprise, and out steps Madden Windell in jeans and a black pea coat with a cocky grin on his face–dreamy as ever.

Seeing him takes me by surprise, so much so that I don’t see the extension cord wrapped around my ankle. As I step toward him, the cord snags and I topple over onto the half-inflated llama. With a rush of embarrassment, I realize that I landed right between the llama’s hind legs, putting us in a very compromising position.

A laugh bursts out of Madden, but he tries to compose himself as he runs over to help me up. My foot is still caught in the cord, though, and I stumble again, this time right into his strong arms. He grabs my waist to steady me, and our faces are only inches apart when I look up to thank him. I feel dizzy. Somehow, his face is even more handsome up close.

Coming back to our senses, we laugh awkwardly and he steps back to put an appropriate amount of space between us.

“I’m sorry for laughing. That was just such a sight. And is that a Christmas… llama?” Madden nudges the downed inflatable creature with his foot.

I pin him with an annoyed glare. “I assume you didn’t come over here just to watch me assault an inflatable, did you?”

“No, of course not… Llama tell you how much I love whimsical Christmas décor.” He smiles, looking very proud of himself for his pun, and I groan. “Actually, I really do think it's great. My mom never allowed fun decorations like this.”

“Well, it’s freezing out here now that the sun is down. Do you want to come inside?”

“Yeah, that would be great.” He takes one last look at the llama, which is now fully Inflated and playing Christmas music just like the box said it would. Madden chuckles as he follows me through the front door.

My parents look surprised and delighted to see me walk through the door with Madden. Dad shoots me a quick wink and my face heats. I hope Madden doesn’t notice.