Jax moved her eyes around the room. “There’s no one else here, so I’d say they are.”
“None for Speck?” I joked.
“I don’t know.” Jax shrugged, but nodded toward her bedroom door. “Maybe you should see for yourself.”
What? No way!I jumped from the bed just like Jax had a minute ago, and ran out of her room. Sure enough, there was Speck, sitting on the couch, wearing the dog version of the same pajamas. I laughed out loud at the sight in front of me. This was absolutely perfect.
An arm wrapped around my waist and Jax held me tightly. “Like your surprise?”
“Like it?” I laughed again. “I absolutely love it. Let’s get ours on.”
Once we had our pajamas on, we took our usual spots on the couch and cuddled close together with Speck lying across our laps. Since we were already dressed for the occasion, we figured it was only right to watch a cheesy Christmas movie. Luckily, given the time of year, there were a ton on TV, so we easily found one.
“What are your feelings on grand gestures?” I asked Jax when the movie was nearing the end and one character showed up at the other’s event and confessed their love in front of the whole crowd.
“Oh, I’m all about grand gestures. The bigger the better if you ask me.”
“That doesn’t shock me one bit.”
“How about you?”
I shook my head. “Not so much. I’m more so a fan of the little things.”Like surprise Christmas pajamas.
“Andthatdoesn’t shock me.”
When that movie ended, we watched the one that followed as well. By the time the second movie was over, it could barely be heard over my growling stomach.
Jax shut off the TV, then turned toward me. “Since you’re clearly hungry, what do you say we each grab a book and head to the cafe? We can grab a bite to eat there and read a little bit, then head back here and read some more.”
This girlreallyknew the way to my heart. Did it really get any better than coffee, food, and books? There was only one problem. “That sounds amazing, but I really don’t want to take off these pajamas.”
“Then don’t. We’ll wear them to the cafe.”
I laughed, because I couldn’t believe she had really just suggested that. “You want to walk through New York City in our pajamas?”
Jax narrowed her eyes at me as if I was crazy, making me think maybe I had misunderstood what she said. “Of course not. It’s freezing outside. I want to Uber through New York City in our pajamas.”
“To the place where you work? You’re one of the managers. Is that really the best look?”
Jax shrugged as if it was no big deal. “It’s my day off. As long as I’m not breaking the law, it’s really none of their business what I do with my time.”
While I knew she had a point, I couldn’t bring myself to think that way. This was Jax’s choice to make though, and even though I felt a little strange about taking on the city in my pajamas, I hated the thought of getting changed even more. “Fine. Let’s do it.”
The ride to the cafe went smoothly, and I was surprised to find that no one really gave us a second look in our pajamas, except for Jax’s coworkers of course, but they simply made fun of her then moved on. Once we had our sandwiches and coffee, I pulled the book I was currently reading out of my bag, along with a few others I had brought along for Jax.
“This cover is beautiful,” Jax said as she picked up one of the Laurel Lake books my mom had designed the cover to.
“I’m glad you think so.” I tapped the cover. “My mom did that.”
Jax looked at me with wide eyes and a slightly agape mouth. “She didthis? I knew she was good when I saw your tattoo design, but this is a whole other level. Holy shit.”
I nodded in agreement, a feeling of pride settling in my heart. “She’s really amazing. That’s why I want her to design the cover for my book if I ever publish it.”
Jax put down the book and grabbed one of my hands with both of hers. “Whenyou publish it.”
When Jax talked to me like this, I really believed I could do anything. If she had this much confidence in me, I needed to have at least a little bit in myself. “WhenI publish it,” I repeated.
“Good girl.” Jax dropped my hand and grabbed the same book once again. “I’m definitely reading this one.”
