Page 139 of Beautiful Storm

“Jesus. It was when we started middle school, but I’ve stopped using it because it wasn’t exactly a nice nickname. I used it when we weren’t friends.”We don’t need to get into Amelia’s other nickname right now. I've already said enough.

“Okay.”

“Okay? That’s all you have to say?”

“No, I have plenty to say on the matter, but I don’t want you to walk off and leave me stranded here. I’ll dissect it with you on the way home.”

“You’re a dance therapist, Lainey, not a real one.”

“I know enough.” She shrugs, ending the conversation.Until later, apparently.

We spend the next hour bouncing from shop to shop, with Lainey providing me with so many ideas that I’m almost done before we’ve stopped for lunch. But when it’s time to get Amelia something, I stall.

“What about some piece of film memorabilia? Or you could do what Zac Efron did in that movie and pay to close out Universal Studios so you can take her to the backlot. I bet she’d love that. Hell, I’d love that and I’m not obsessed with movies. You need to suggest to Thomas that he should bethat levelromantic.”

“Isn’t he always?”

“Yeah.” She smiles lovingly and I almost joke about regretting my comment, but for the first time, I get it. I understand her loved-up persona. Because I feel it.

Lainey starts talking about Thomas’s dislike of the holidays as if he wasn’t my best friend growing up, and while I’d usually call her out on it, something she says resonates with me and I get an idea.

“I know what to get Amelia.”

Lainey pauses for a second as I catch her off guard and then she smiles. “Yes. Where are we going?”

“I’m dropping you at home. I’ve got some planning to do. Alone.”

“Booo. You’re no fun. Can you at least tell me what it is?”

“Nope. But I will tell you that yes, I gave Amelia a nickname because she was under my skin.” Lainey opens her mouth to argue so I quickly add, “But I must have cared about her more than I realized to have let her get to me. So maybe you’re right.”

“I knew it. What was the nickname?”

“Ding. Sorry, my therapy session is over.”

“Very funny,” she deadpans.

When Amelia declines my invitation for her to come to Christmas lunch for the third time, I finally accept it. She told me her mom stopped making an effort around the holidays after her dad left, so I wasn’t really expecting her to say yes. But while I was happy to respect her wishes when it came to my family, I wasn’t going to let her get away with not celebrating at all. It was going to be my present to her. She just didn’t know it.

“Are you staying at your parents’ place tonight?” she asks on Christmas Eve as she pulls the blanket up under her chin like a shield, comforting herself. “Or do you drive back in the morning?”

“Actually, I’m not going tonight. Christmas Eve got canceled.” I canceled it. Or, at least, I told them I wasn’t coming. That I was starting my own traditions. Withmyfamily.

“What do you mean it got canceled? When?”

“A couple of days ago. It doesn’t matter. But I’m going to need you to get dressed. We’re going out.”

Her eyes widen and she glances down at her protective shield. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“Luke, it’s Christmas Eve.”

“Is it?” I gasp, before hiding my face with my hands. “How did I not know that?”

“You’re hilarious.”

“Get up. I promise this won’t be stressful, but if you don’t oblige, I’m going to have to force you.”

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