Page 53 of Why Not Now?

Then the timer on my phone goes off, forcing us apart, gasping for breath. I take the second batch of cookies out of the oven and turn it off. When I look back at Ava, she’s still watching me like she wants to keep going where we’d started. The only sound is the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” playing from my speakers.

“Options,” I say as I transfer these cookies to the cooling rack Lis has also loaned me. “We can continue with the night as planned. Next up is decorating while watching a Christmas movie, followed by more Christmas movies.” I put the last cookie on the wire rack and turn to her. “Or we can finish what we just started.”

Her gaze drops to my lips as she thinks about it. I’m honestly torn between which I want her to choose, but as with everything else, I’ll do whichever she asks.

“Finishing what we started sounds good, but you went through all this trouble to set up something fun.” Her gaze lifts back to mine. “And we’ve got all night.”

Chapter 17

Ava

Thefirstmoviewewatch is one of my favourites, a stop motion classic calledThe Year Without a Santa Claus. We hang decorations around Derek’s living room as the movie plays, and he brings in a tiny tree in a pot from his back porch.

“That’s your Christmas tree?” I ask.

“Yep. Got it a couple years ago. Figured a bigger one was a bad idea with her around.” He gestures to where Abyss is curled up on the couch. “I’m actually quite proud of myself for keeping it alive.”

“It’s adorable,” I say.

He has tiny ornaments and we decorate it, setting it on the floor to the side of his fireplace, the gas fire flickering merrily.

I pause decorating when the movie gets to my favourite part and watch as the children sing “Blue Christmas” to Santa Claus, a single tear escaping and rolling down my cheek. Derek wipes it away.

“Still makes you cry, huh?” he asks gently.

I smile. “Maybe a little.”

I don’t mention that this is the first time I’ve seen this in years. I haven’t had much time to watch Christmas movies. The most I’ve done is catch bits and pieces of whatever Lacey puts on.

When we’re finished, he orders pizza for dinner and returns to the kitchen, where he makes hot chocolate and popcorn.

“Lis showed you how to do this?”

“I was talking to Spencer about tonight,” he explains as he whisks the hot chocolate. “I wanted his advice on Christmas movies. He’s a huge movie nerd. He mentioned Lis making this for him before they dated, and it was worth doing.”

Someone knocks on the door and he gives me some cash so I can get the pizza.

“Bring it to the living room,” he says. “This is almost done.”

I set the box on the table, picking up Abyss when she comes sniffing, then return to the kitchen for plates and napkins. I have everything laid out neatly when Derek comes in with two mugs of hot chocolate and a large bowl of popcorn.

“What are we watching?” I ask as he lights a few candles, brightening the room a bit with the flickering flame. They smell like pine and I smile, wondering if he uses them since his tree is so small.

“I’ve got a bunch queued up.Nightmare Before Christmas,Elf,The Santa Clause,Die Hard.”

He settles onto the couch in a corner and I snuggle into him as he wraps a throw blanket around me.

“Die Hardis not a Christmas movie,” I say.

He gives me a shocked look. “Ava. I didn’t know this about you. How can you say such a thing? It is absolutely a Christmas movie.”

“Just because it takes place at Christmas doesn’t mean it’s a Christmas movie,” I say, deadpan.

“But there’s Christmas music and Santa and presents. His wife’s name is Holly.”

I roll my eyes. “Everything could have taken place during the summer and it would have been the same movie.”

“But it’s a Christmas party. How would anything happen without that?”

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