Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Right here?” Devon asks me from underneath the branches of green pines. He’s lying on the ground, making sure the tree is secure, and Jude is holding the tree up. I’m standing on a stool, ready to put the topper on the top, and Nolan and Millie are bickering about the lights and where each bulb should go so we have evenly-spaced lighting. And Kyler? He’s currently pinning up another set of lights on the mantel. I’m not surprised he’s taking part in our decorating day. Over the last few days, he’s been more present in the house, what with participating in house meals and not hiding out in his room. The only times he’s not here is when he’s at fights. He thinks I don’t know what he’s doing on the nights he doesn’t come home, but I’m not stupid. It’s obvious from the day-old bruises and the grimaces he tries to hide when one of his injuries gives him trouble. Since Thanksgiving, he’s tried to talk to me a few times on occasions when we’re alone, but I always shut him down. I’m not ready to walk down that road yet and hear the sordid details of how he’s moved on. Not that he has anything to move on from, we were over before we began. We blurred the lines from the start, and I know I need to take part of the blame for the messy impasse between us.
“Okay, try it now,” Devon calls out again, and I reach up and place the topper—an ugly-looking Christmas gnome the guys insist we have to use—on the tree. As I do so, I lose my balance but before my life starts to flash before my eyes and I fall back, two strong arms grab me around the waist and hold me steady. I look and see Ky behind me holding me up. He looks intently into my eyes.
“I got you,” he says quietly, and I almost laugh at his words. He did have me for a few short days, but then he shared his bed with someone else. I turn back and reach up again, Ky’s hands never letting go until I’ve precariously balanced the topper. Once done, I quickly move out of his grip and jump down from the stool declining his offered hand. We all stand back and admire our handiwork.
“Not bad,” Jude comments, with the others humming in agreement. “Not bad at all.”
“What’s next?” Nolan asks as he, Ky, and Devon tidy up the odd bits and pieces we’ve decided we’re not using and put them back in the box.
“We’re doing the Secret Santa draw next, and then you boys can all be excused,” Millie informs us as she takes a small tin out of her purse. “You know the rules, the name you pick, is who you’re buying for. No discussing with anyone else, and no telling anyone who you’ve picked. Otherwise, it’s not a secret.”
“What if we pick our own name?” Nolan asks. Millie rolls her eyes at him before responding.
“Then you put it back and pick another, doofus!” She chastises him a little as if she has to state the obvious. “Who wants to go first?”
“I will,” Ky replies as we circle. Millie holds out the tin to him, and he takes out a small, folded piece of paper which he unfolds. As he reads the name written on it, his brow furrows slightly, and then he folds it back up and places it in his pocket. Nolan and Jude go next, and then it’s my turn. There are only three slips of paper in the tin, and I grab one and open it. The little slip of paper has Kyler’s name on it because, of course, it does. Of course, I’d pick his name out because the universe is trying to punish me. Keeping my expression as neutral as possible, I fold it back up and slip it in the back pocket of my jeans, wondering if Secret Santa rules allow me to swap with someone else. Mille takes these things seriously, though, so I know it’s not worth her wrath by asking. After Devon takes his pick, Millie takes the remaining paper and puts the tin back in her bag.
“Well that was easy. We’ll do the exchange and open our presents before we all go home for the holidays. Until then, no discussing with anyone.”
We all agree with her rules and go back to decorating the rest of the house for the next few hours.
I’m in my room later that evening, working on some mock test questions, when there is a knock on my door. Looking up, I see Kyler standing in the open doorway. He’s picked his time well, as he knows there’s nowhere for me to hide in my room unless I lock myself in the en-suite or storm past him and run downstairs.