“I heard you might need one of these,” Teddy says, a slight flush painting his cheeks.
I toss my arms around him, breathing in him and the tree. His hands are occupied, trying not to drop the tree, but he leans into my touch and his lips brush against my temple. Felix chuckles. “I think she likes it.”
The next two days are packed full of all the holiday things we missed out on before Christmas. We bake cookies and other desserts with Mom, we make our gingerbread houses, we drive around and look at all the holiday lights in the neighborhoods that go all-out every year, and play games and watch movies. My heart is so happy.
Felix and Teddy leave tomorrow. The Valley U football team’s season is over, but the guys are attending bowl games with some of their teammates and coaches. I swear they’ve been done for only a few weeks and they’re both talking about off-season practices, summer camps, and going all the way next year.
Stella and I are planning to spend a few more days at home and then we’ll all meet up at Valley. Felix and his roommates are having a New Year’s Eve party at their apartment. I can’t wait to spend more time with the guy lying next to me.
We’re taking up one couch. My head rests on his chest and one of his big, beefy arms is slung around my waist. Felix is in the recliner, and Stella is sitting on the love seat. Teddy’s chest rumbles with laughter at the movie. I glance up at him, the goofy smile on his face and the way the lights dance across his face and darken the shadows of his dimples through the light scruff that’s appeared since he got here.
He catches me staring at him instead of the movie and dips his head to kiss me. “You’re not watching the movie.”
“Now neither are you,” I quip back.
His laughter spills into my mouth. Soft kisses turn a little hungrier, and then something soft collides with the side of my head.
I pull back in time to see the pillow land on the floor next to the couch.
Felix holds another up like he’s ready to launch it. “I’m cool with my best friend making out with my little sister, but you know, not in front of me.”
Teddy runs a hand down the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair. “Noted, bro.”
I look at him with outrage. “Just like that? He says stop and no more kissing?”
“Later.” He winks.
“You’re missing the best scene,” Stella says. She turns the volume up as Kevin runs through the snowy park to give the pigeon lady a turtle dove.
She cries every single time.
After the movie is over, Felix gets to his feet. “I’m going to bed.”
“Same.” Stella pushes the throw blanket off her.
“Eight tomorrow morning?” Felix asks Teddy.
“I’ll be ready.”
“Night, Holl,” Stella says. “See ya later, Theodore.”
They go upstairs and it’s just the two of us hanging out in the living room. Mom and Dad went to bed hours ago.
Last night was the same, we stayed up for hours talking and kissing. I didn’t make it to my own bed until well after three in the morning.
I get up and go grab the present I wrapped and placed under the tree earlier today. I bring it back to the couch and sit it in front of him. “I have something for you.”
“You didn’t need to do that,” he says, but smiles.
He tears into the paper with the biggest grin.
“It’s just something silly,” I say when he has the tin completely unwrapped.
He gives it a little shake and his brows rise in question. He pries the top off, and when he looks inside, his mouth falls open in surprise. “No way. You made gingersnaps!”
“Well, I tried.”
He picks one up and takes a bite.