I’m revealing too much to her, but honestly, I don’t care. I’m done with holding back, especially when she smiles up at me, appearing like she’s warming from the inside out. Slowly, she leans her face toward mine and kisses me.
Olivia’s mouth stretches into a grin against my lips before she pulls away and watches me, as if memorizing this moment. Just like I am, because I fear this all might vanish when we return home. Dread fills my chest, giving it a slight squeeze, reminding me once again that I have a secret I need to tell Olivia before we can move forward with our relationship.
I’m pretty sure that I’m only one careless comment away from her figuring out I’ve been in love with her for longer than she thinks. I’m not ready for her to know that, though. Not yet.We’ll save that conversation for when we get home. Right now, I’m going to soak in this last day at my grandmother’s before we have to load up and head back to Covewood.
I’m not sure how in tune Olivia is with me, but I catch the moment that she senses a change in me. I attempt to hide behind a smile, sliding my hands to her stomach, and begin tickling her. The sound of her laughter fills the room, making her chest move against mine, and I want to bend my head until I can press my nose into the pulse point on her neck. And because I can now, I do it. I stop tickling her and press my lips to the sensitive skin at her neck, and her hands smooth through my hair, giving me a teasing tug.
Christmas music begins to play, and we hear Aunt Andy singing loudly down the hallway. The smell of bacon drifts through the crack in the door, a little reminder that we have some things to do today. As much as I would rather stay in bed with her, I know if we don’t get up now, my nosey family will eventually break down the door.
“Do we have to get out of bed?” I ask, nuzzling my face deeper into her neck.
“Yes,” she says joyfully. “Merry early Christmas, Lukie Bear.”
She leans in and gives me another kiss. Our lips move in sync with one another, as if we’ve done this a million times. She pulls away, a wide smile spreading across her face, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
My gaze settles on the flush staining her cheeks down to her Cupid’s bow. She arches a brow, studying me curiously, waiting to see what move I plan to make. I look at the curve of her ear, to the spot I just brushed with my lips, and think about doing it again, but as I predicted, there is a knock on the door, sending us both jolting in surprise.
“Get up, love birds. It’s Christmas time!” Jerrica shouts through the door.
Olivia leans her face into my chest, giggling into the cottonshirt I changed into last night, before she gets out of bed. I grunt like a disappointed child before forcing myself to get ready for our last day here. At least today, we won’t be faking anymore.
Everyone is gathered around the huge Christmas tree in the main living room. Olivia leads us to a small chair that’s next to where my dad is sitting. As I sit down, she slides into my lap, and I wrap my arms around her. Dad gives us a knowing smirk, appearing genuinely happy to see us together, and it means more to me than I could express to him.
“MerryearlyChristmas,” he says to us.
“Merry early Christmas, Davis,” Olivia replies.
I take in his pale reflection, the dark circles under his eyes, and the way they appear a bit cloudy. “Are you feeling okay?”
He waves a hand toward us. “Yeah. I just didn’t get much sleep last night. I’ll be okay.”
I peer over at his nurse, who’s sitting in a chair behind him, as she gives us a faint smile that tells me it’s more than just lack of sleep, and I go to ask more questions but am interrupted by Nonni.
“Good morning, family,” she says cheerfully, her eyes landing on Olivia and me, and then on my dad, and I see the emotions she’s trying to keep at bay. I give her an encouraging smile and squeeze Olivia closer to me. “Olivia, we have an odd tradition of giving gifts. We pass around boxes until everyone has one in their hands. Then we unwrap them and guess who the gift is for.”
“That sounds fun!” she exclaims, practically wiggling in my lap as she takes a box in her hands and passes it along.
While I was chatting with my dad last night, Olivia hadbrought in a few things she bought from our trip to Buc-ees and wrapped them for people. “See, all that shopping came in handy,” she whispers to me after she hands someone one of her presents.
“Luke, you should go first,” Jerrica says to me.
“Okay.” I rip away the green-and-red wrapping paper, cut open the cardboard box, and reveal a nice golf set. “This is for Uncle Leo.”
“Correct,” Nonni announces as I hand Leo his gift.
“Who came up with this silly tradition?” he mutters, accepting the gift, a grin twitching his mustache. He takes the bag by his feet and opens it, showing us a nice coffee set. “This could be for anyone.”
“Just guess,” Jerrica snaps before losing her restraint and ripping open her gift.
“I don’t know. Mom?” he questions, handing it to Nonni.
She scoffs. “No, it’s for Rebecca.”
“Oh, thank you, Nonni. I love it,” Rebecca replies, clapping her hands excitedly.
Jerrica holds up a creepy-looking doll. “This has to be for you, Uncle Leo.”
We all laugh, except for Uncle Leo, who's shaking his head and pressing his mouth into a thin line. Emma jumps from her mother’s lap to grab the doll, squealing, “It’s mine. Right, Nonni?”
