I wince at the shrill sound of Livi playing her recorder from the other room.
“Sorry,” Watson says with a chuckle.
“If you were really sorry you’d help me make that damn thing disappear,” I counter, and he shoots me an apologetic smile.
“That would be against my sacred oath as an educator,” he says solemnly as he nimbly works his fingers through the knotted Christmas lights. It figures that the strand of lights we decorated the tree with weeks ago would burn out on Christmas Eve, forcing me to dig out another set from the attic and pray like hell they work. The last thing I want to do today is brave Target in search of another set of lights.
He finally works the knot free and shakes the lights out triumphantly.
“Ready for me to give them a try?” I ask.
“As I’ll ever be,” he agrees with a nod.
I pick the plug up off the floor and cross my fingers as I place it into the outlet. The strand of lights flickers once and I curse internally, but then they light up again and manage to stay on.
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” I declare.
“Next year we’re getting a new set of lights when we buy the tree,” Watson says, standing up with the lights in hand. Fuck, it’s nice hearing him talk about next year. I haven’t much enjoyed the holidays since Val and I split, but now I want it all. I want Christmas mornings with him, holiday traditions and months spent looking for the perfect gift, falling asleep in front of the fire on Christmas Eve. I want forever with him, and I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that I might just get it.
I follow him over to the tree, picking up the slack and giving him a playful pinch on the ass for good measure when I catch up. He laughs and gives me a flirty smile.
“It iswaytoo early to start that shit right now. Your daughter doesn’t go to bed for another eight hours.”
“Don’t remind me,” I joke, before snagging him by the belt loop and dragging him close until his body is flush against mine. “Hey, I love you,” I tell him, grinning as I press my lips to his. I can feel the curve of his answering smile against my mouth, and my heart flutters wildly.
“I love you too,” he murmurs against my lips.
“Kissing is gross,” Livi says, startling me into pulling away from the kiss. It’s a true testament to how well I can get lost in Watson that I didn’t even notice the ear shattering sound had ended.
“You say that now, just wait until you’re a little older,” I say, and she wrinkles her nose.
“No thanks.” Livi shakes her head and Wats and I laugh. “Can I have one Christmas present today?” She’s asked the same thing every single day this week, but lucky for her, I was anticipating this very question today.
I make a show of deliberating, stroking my chin andhmm-ing while she does her best to make her cutest faces and most pathetic begging noises.
“I don’t think Santa would mind,” Watson negotiates with a conspiratorial smirk.
Livi rolls her eyes. “I’m not a baby, I know there isn’t a Santa.”
Watson gasps dramatically. “Spoiler warning, dang girl.”
She giggles like crazy at his theatrics and my heart swells. “One present today,” I finally agree, and she squeals with excitement. “Go put your boots and coat on, we have to go get it.”
“My present isn’t even here?” she asks indignantly. “Daddy, it’sChristmas Eve.”
“Yeah, jeez Dad,” Watson mocks.
“You would’ve noticed this one under the tree if I’d gotten it too soon,” I explain.
“Is it a pet moose?” she asks.
“Not exactly. Go put your boots on.” This time she actually listens, sprinting down the hallway to get ready, while Watson and I quickly finish stringing up the lights and then follow her to get ready to leave.
Livi bounces in her seat the entire drive, attempting to guess what her present might be and growing more ridiculous with each one.
“Is it an ice castle?” she asks.
“Nope,” I answer, for the dozenth time, holding Watson’s hand over the center console with one hand and steering with the other.
