Page 48 of His Christmas Gift

AUTUMN

Ilingered outside of the hotel, shifting on my feet excitedly and a bit nervously as I waited for Jenna and Hannah to pick me up to go Christmas shopping.

When Dean and I got back from our fun day in New Orleans, I got a text from Jenna asking me if I wanted to go Christmas shopping with her and Hannah. I liked the thought of becoming close friends with them, even if it was temporary, so I agreed.

Dean was happy that I got invited as well and encouraged me to go and have a good time. I already missed being around him, but we still had a little more time to spend together before it was time to go back to New York. At least this week and a half wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

A few minutes later, a red sedan pulled up in front of the hotel, and the passenger side window rolled down. Hannah’s head popped into view as she smiled and waved at me.

“Come on, girl! Let’s go shopping!” she called out to me.

I couldn’t help but smile as I hurried over to get in the backseat. I shut the door and greeted Jenna and Hannah, thanking them for inviting me to go with them. They welcomed me so quickly, even after just getting to know me. That seemed to be a trait of the Everard family, though. They were all so welcoming.

“I heard you and Dean took a little NOLA trip yesterday,” Jenna said as she drove to town.

“Oh, yeah. It was really fun,” I replied, feeling my heart flutter at the thought of yesterday. I couldn’t believe Dean gave me the perfect gift of a day out in New Orleans. It was so thoughtful, and he got me so well. He knew exactly what to do. It seemed like he really had been paying attention.

“We’re so happy Dean found you. We’ve been waiting for another friend,” Hannah chirped, glancing over her shoulder to smile at me.

“You guys really have been the sweetest. I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome like this,” I admitted. The Everard family was nicer than most. They made sure every guest was comfortable, and they made anyone feel like part of the family.

I knew that it was fake, but it was nice to feel included in their family. They were far more welcoming than my own family, and I wasn’t used to such nice treatment. It honestly blew my mind, and it nearly felt too good to be true. However, every time I had been around them, they were still nice to me. It wasn’t an act.

“We felt the same way when we first met the rest of the Everards,” Jenna told me. “We weren’t sure if we would be welcomed or not, but they’re so kind. We fit in immediately and so do you.”

It comforted me that they felt the same way I did. At a point, they were on the outside coming in as well.

“I take it Aiden and Jared weren’t ones to settle down before they met you guys?” I asked them, feeling curious about the other Everard brothers. I didn’t really know them much back in the day because they were older. I didn’t even really know Dean that much, despite our unpleasant interactions.

“Oh, no. Aiden was a party guy. We actually met at a party,” Jenna laughed.

My eyebrows lifted in surprise. I didn’t expect to hear that. Aiden seemed so down to earth now, but I knew that people could change over time. Or someone could encourage them to change.

“Jared was married to his research,” Hannah said. “Seems like Dean followed in his footsteps with his work.”

“He’s definitely devoted, but I like that about him. I’m career-driven too,” I replied. It was him being brainwashed by money that I didn’t want to happen. He was a good guy, and I believed that he would stay that way. He was more grounded than I originally thought that he was.

“You guys seem like a perfect match,” Hannah told me. “Dean needs someone who can keep up with him.”

It was true that Dean lived a fast-paced life. Luckily, I didn’t like staying in one place. I liked being active too, trying new things and excelling at my work. That was probably another reason why we were a good pair. Together, we would keep moving forward. We didn’t have to worry about the other holding us back from what we wanted to accomplish.

“Let’s see if he can keep up with me first,” I smirked, sparking laughter from the others.

Jenna parked in front of one of the town’s boutiques. We went inside, admiring all of the nice clothes, accessories, and household décor. There were plenty of items that we could turn into gifts for other members of the family.

“What are you getting Dean for Christmas?” Jenna asked me.

That was a good question. Ever since yesterday, I had been trying to think of a good gift idea. It was hard to think of something specific because he could have anything that he wanted. He had the money for that, and I hadn’t ever been to his house, so I wasn’t sure what he did and didn’t have.

“I’m not sure yet. I think I’ll do something funny and cute. He doesn’t need anything fancy. He probably already has it,” I replied as I walked by a table full of different home accents like coasters, decorative trays, and bookends. Nothing popped out to me yet.

“That sounds perfect,” Hannah told me as she moved to stand beside me. Her eyes swept over the coasters before stopping on one that was shaped like the town of St. Francisville on a map. “This would be perfect for Jared’s desk at the university!”

“Aw, cute!” Jenna gasped as she looked at the coaster. “I usually get Aiden something medical-related, but he has a newfound love for fishing. I think I’ll switch it up this year.”

I smiled a little as I listened to them talk about their husbands and their interests. They knew their husbands so well, and they had so much history with them. They shared lives and children together. I couldn’t help but imagine how nice it was to have someone by their side no matter what. It must’ve been very comforting.

“I have to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back,” Hannah said before walking off toward the back of the store.

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