Page 33 of Taylor

She walked across the room, lifted the top of the chest, and moved the games, unsure why they still had Monopoly. They weren’t even allowed to play it anymore. After one too many fights and one too many board flips between her brother and sister, her mother had banned it.

But when she moved the game, she saw a whole row of video games. Jackpot! Her finger traced along the titles until she found the one she was looking for. Monster of the Realm. She pulled it out. On the cover was a knight, front and center, and behind him were orcs and elves and vampires.

She remembered actually enjoying watching her brother play this one. Video games were never really her thing, but this one always interested her.

And if she remembered properly, there would be some wrapping paper in her mom’s closet. Considering they always did Christmas here, it had everything she needed.

She walked across the room to the downstairs bedroom her parents always used, then headed to the huge walk-in closet.Spotting the roll, she snatched it, then sat right there in the closet. After wrapping the present, she took a big red bow from the tote. Before she made her way back up to bed, she stopped and put the bow on the Playcube.

As she walked by the window, the sun was just starting to rise. Everything had a pink glow to it, and it warmed something deep inside her when the snowman greeted her like an old friend.

These past two days had been the best of her life, and she still had him for a few more. That might be it. But having Taylor for a few days would be enough to get her through her life.

She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing away the thoughts of the future, and just relaxed into the moment. And those thoughts beckoned her to bed with her handsome hockey player.

She crawled back in bed, and Taylor reached for her, melting her heart. He wrapped his body around her, spooning her. This was the only Christmas miracle she needed this year.

After another couple hours of sleep, Alice woke with a stretch and turned to see Taylor awake and watching her.

“Are you watching me sleep?” she asked with a barely contained smile.

“Maybe . . . but not in a creepy way.”

She squinted at him.

“I was just looking at your hair.”

Instinctively, she pushed it behind her ear.

But Taylor took those same strands and ran his hands through them. He held it up and watched it fall from his hold. “I love it.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, how long did it take you to get it done?”

“It didn’t take long. I had actually just finished it before you got here. I’ve had color before, but this was the first time I decided to do a rainbow.”

“You did this yourself?”

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “It’s not too hard, just like painting, but you’re painting your own head.”

“Well, I’m impressed it looks so good,” he said, running his hands through it.

“I’m surprised you like it,” she said, enjoying every second.

“Why are you surprised?”

“I don’t know... I guess I just didn’t think colorful hair would be your thing.”

He gave a small chuckle. “It’s not my thing, but it’s your thing, and it suits you.”

When he kissed her forehead, her heart fell even deeper in love.

He pulled back and looked at her, and she gave him a sleepy smile. “Merry Christmas.”

Then she sat up. “Yes, Merry Christmas! Let’s go make some cinnamon rolls and drink some coffee!”

He sat up and kissed her before getting out of bed. “Let’s do this,” he said, slipping on his shirt. “I’m just going to use the bathroom really quickly.”

---