Page 4 of A Not So Merry Ex-Mas

“Technically,it’s a Beetle, and yes.” Her hands rest on my chest with a smile that would make the sun jealous. “I’m going to call her Belle.”

The laughter that flies out of my mouth from the depths of my body just made her smile bigger.

“Wait!” I chuckled, hand in the air, unable to stop the protest falling from my lips. “So not only are you going to be driving a bug…”

“A beetle,” she corrects, punctuating it with a finger to my chest.

“I’m sorry. A beetle.” I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her against me, kissing her nose. “But you’re going to call her Belle?”

She nods excitedly and smiles up at me, making my heart melt. “Yes. Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Okay, Ladybug,” I beam at her, thinking that she is indeed the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.

“Ladybug?” She narrows her eyes at me and smirks.

I push a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes. Ladybug. The lady who drives a red bug named Belle.”

She slaps my chest and tries to pull away, but I wrap my arms tighter around her and lean down to kiss her. Before my lips touch hers, I whisper for the first time,“I love you.”

“You do?” Her eyes widen in surprise.

“I do.” I say right as my lips capture hers.

“Cole?” Noelle’s voice breaks through the memories flooding me, and I have to remember where I am. “Are you going to get that tree down, or do you need my help?”

“Sorry. I got lost in thought there for a second. But I’m good, Ladybug.” I wink at her and watch her brow furrow and lips tighten. “Thank you, though.”

“I’m going to kill Mel,” she mumbles.

“Don’t be mad at her or Mike.” I meet her gaze. “I asked them not to tell you I was coming. I wanted to spend a little time with you before they arrived. To clear the air. They’re my best friends, too, and with you back home, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

A hurricane of emotions flicker through her eyes as she processes what I just said, before finally settling on anger.

“Is that the real reason they aren’t here?” She pulls her eyes together and her lips purse.

“No. NO! Brian’s wife really did go into labor, and with Mike being chief, he’s the first one they call.” I shrug. “It just worked out that way.”

“I’m still gonna kill her…and Mike.” I head to the porch, tree on my shoulder, before she sees the smirk trying to climb its way across my face.

I start quietly hummingOh Christmas Treeas I reach the porch, and place the tree down. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling the Christmas cheer.

I feel a burning sensation on the back of my neck as she walks up to the house.

I step back to take a look at the Balsam as it leans against the house. It reminds me of the tree we picked out when we spent Christmas with her grandmother in Utah. A knot forms in my stomach as I think about the life I believed I would be living versus the one I’m living today.

I turn toward Noelle, a grin on my face.

“This tree reminds me of the one we got years ago. Your gran was very insistent on what a perfect tree needed to have.”

Before she looks away, I catch a small glimpse of sadness in her eyes.

“Yes she did,” she whispers.

“She’d be very proud of your choice with this one.” I want to put my hand on her face and rub the crease marring her brow. Instead I clench my fist to keep it from reaching out.

“Thank you.” She meets my gaze, and I can’t help but notice that her eyes are a bit glassy. Is she thinking about our time there? How happy we were? How vibrant her grandmother was?

I suck in my breath, afraid to breathe. Afraid that I’ll ruin whatever this moment is, but before I can even blink, her expression has gone hard again.

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