Page 125 of Booked for the Holidays
“What if we took it to my parents’ house? Mac is there. We could decorate it all together, and invite your family, too. I know it’ll only be up for a few hours, but this has been the season of new things. New traditions and new friends. New feelings. Maybe it can be the start of a new After, too.”
She dips her chin to kiss the inside of my wrist, lips pressing four pecks along my pulse point. “I love it, Theo. It’s perfect.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? You said you’d find a place for the last one, and the trees are your thing.”
She moves to my lap, head resting on my shoulder. That’s her favorite spot, I’ve learned. Tucked in my hold, safe in my arms, our heartbeats synchronized. “They’re notmything,” she says emphatically. “They’reourthing.”
“Okay. We can stop by the store before heading over. C’mon, Boylston. We have a busy day of spreading Christmas cheer ahead of us.”
* * *
It’s cloudy outside,a gray and dreary fog in the air. Our drive to the store is gloomy, the beginning of misty rain falling from the sky. The avenue is empty as we turn onto the brick road, and we’re the only car on the street. I park outside A Likely Story and cut the ignition.
I hop out of the car and walk to Bridget’s side, opening the door and offering her my hand as she steps onto the sidewalk. Her feet splash into a puddle, water kicking up onto my boots.
“The tree is tucked away toward the back of the store, so we’ll have to maneuver it around the other displays. It’s in the stand, but not decorated. Will that be okay?”
“Yeah,” I answer, hustling her under the awning. “That’s totally fine.”
“Okay, good.” Bridget wrestles with the lock, jostling the key before it finally gives. I make a mental note to pop over her tomorrow and fix the knob. “Are there lights at your parents’ house?” she asks as she opens the door and strides inside.
“Mhm. We have some.”
“Okay, good, I bet there are–” She stops mid sentence and her keychain jangles to the ground. “What… what is this?”
I fold my arms over my chest and follow her gaze, already knowing what I’m going to find. The rolling ladder Lucas and I finished before the ceremony yesterday is attached to the shelf with a big red bow. Painted white, the wooden piece is fixed with wheels on the top and bottom. It’s attached to a long metal rod running from end to end of the bookshelf, stretching over seven feet tall.
“Looks kind of like a ladder to me,” I answer with a shrug.
Her head whips around, brown hair flying everywhere with the jerky motion. Her eyes tell me she’s not pleased with my sarcastic answer, but her smile…fuck, that smile is perfect.
That smile is my favorite thing in the world.
“Is this for me?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Theo. Did you do this?”
“Maybe.” I make my way across the floor. My arms loop around her waist and I drop my chin to the top of her head. “Lucas and I have been working on it for a while. Merry Christmas, Bridget.”
“It’s… Oh my god.”
She’s crying. I hear her sniff. I feel her shoulders shake, rumbling against my chest. I pull out a tissue from my pocket and hand it to her. “Do you like it?”
“Like it? You built me a damn bookshelf ladder,” she squeals. “Of course I like it.”
“Good. I’m glad. It also comes with a joke. Want to hear it?”
Bridget spins in my arms, looking up at me. Her eyes are watery and her brows are pinched, confused. “A joke?”
“Knock knock.”
She huffs but decides to play along. “Who’s there?”
“I love you, Bridget Boylston.”
The admission catches her off guard. She blinks a few times. Her mouth drops open then closes, lips pursing together as she swallows. “What did you say?”
