Page 19 of Away With You
I nod, more firmly this time. “This one is perfect.”
Decision made; he springs into action. Before I can think next steps, he’s inside paying for my tree and organising to get it to his car.
“Nathan! I can pay for my own tree,” I say, following him around as he does the busy work. He ignores me, using the rope provided to wrap the tree up to make for easier manoeuvring.
“Shall we?” He’s tipped the tree onto its side and seems to be waiting for me to do…something?
“Shall we do what?”
He picks up the tree from one end and tilts his head towards the other. “Isn’t this the whole point of tree shopping being a two-person job? So no one has to drag the tree around single-handed?”
Clueing in to what he’s saying, I beam at him and reach down to pick up my end. As a team, we transport my tree from the shop to where his car is waiting, several steps away. It’s not quite like Harry helping Sally transport a Christmas tree through the snow-covered streets of New York City, but it’s pretty fantastic not to have to do this alone.
I guess that was the point of him offering to do this with me.
“Let’s get this tree home,” he says as he settles in the driver’s seat, where the chair is pushed all the way back to accommodate his freakishly long legs. He’d just squashed the tree into the back of his SUV and has a head of hair covered in pine needles to show for it. I have to sit on my hands to stop from reaching over and stroking them out. That would be highly inappropriate of me.
“Thanks again for doing this with me,” I say as we head back down the High Street, towards my flat. This entire endeavour has taken less than an hour of our time, but in the grand scheme of my general happiness, the effect has been immeasurable.
His smile is warm and genuine. “It was no trouble at all.”
We’re stopped in front of my building, with Nathan having secured a parking spot right out front. These spots are never available, but I guess when you’re the Nathan Jackson, stuff like this just happens for you.
“Now we need to get this up to your flat. You ready, Muscles?”
I giggle and join him at the back of the car, where as a tree-moving-machine-team, we hoist it out of the boot, into the building and up one flight of stairs. I’m near death by the time we get there; in contrast, he’s barely broken a sweat.
Stupid, elite athlete.
“Where should we put it?”
I tear my eyes from where they are lingering on his bulging biceps as he carries the tree with one arm (maybe it was a one-person job all along?) to glance around the room. It’s small and filled to the brim with furniture and…stuff. I’m not sure where to put it.
“How about we place it here in the corner?” I shove a small table stocked high with textbooks to the side, making place for the tree. In this position, it’s next to the television, which is otherwise known as the focal point of the room.
“Here?” He steps back and looks between me and the tree.
My spirits soar at the sight of the two of them together, and I swallow down a contented sigh. “Yes, that’s perfect.”
Like a helpful elf, Nathan gets to work setting the tree up in the pot provided while my attention snags on a cardboard box sitting in the centre of my round kitchen table. It’s medium-sized and covered in dust. The kind of box that has been stored in a deep, dark corner somewhere, rarely seeing the light of day.
I lean over, looking inside while plucking at the neon pink post-it note stuck to it.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FOR KATIE. LOVE, JADE.
My eyes sting as I rifle through the box. It’s filled with baubles in shades of pink, blue and purple. There are strings of tinsel in gold and silver, and even an unopened box of Christmas lights. I’m not sure where she pulled this collection from, but my bestie has ensured that my newly purchased Christmas tree won’t be undressed for long.
“That looks like the perfect amount for your tree,” Nathan observes from over my shoulder. I spin, and my breath hitches at his nearness. He’s so tall, I’m face-to-face with his neck, and I get the pleasure of watching his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallows.
Delightful.
I clear the emotion from my throat. “I know, right? Anything more would break that poor little tree in two.”
He chuckles in agreement, hoisting the box off the table and dropping it in front of the tree. I watch in a daze as he examines the box of twinkly lights, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Uh, you don’t need to stay.”
Somehow, this offer to help sad single gal Katie has raged out of control.Surely he’s not staying to help decorate the tree?
