Chapter 14 Davis
DAVIS
My wife was in shock.
In fact, Nora, Haley and Rae all seemed to be in disbelief as they filtered into the house. Maddy took Jaime from Haley, smiling at her brother. Colson stepped forward and took one of the twins, and I pulled Rae into my arms, hugging both her and Ben.
“What is this?” Her eyes searched the room, likely seeing a variety of familiar decorations.
Leading the women farther into the house, and around the fully decorated Christmas tree, I began to explain.
“Last night the three of us met up after Liam called us.”
Everyone’s gaze swung over to the boxing legend standing in the back, dunking a cookie into a glass of milk.
Smiling at his wife, he finished off the treat before clearing his throat.
“Gunther called me about the storefront, Haley. I was the one who said no to leasing it.”
A red tint invaded Haley’s cheeks as her eyes narrowed on her husband.
He held up his hands. “I tried to play it off like you were just eager to open a second location. I remembered he’d purchased a winter cabin up here, because he enjoys coming to visit, so I asked if he was using it. When he said no, I asked if we could stay here for the weekend.”
“So, you guys getting lost all this time?” Rae hedged, swinging her gaze from Liam to Colson to me.
“We were setting up the final touches,” Colson said.
Nora touched his arm and glared. “The glitter from last night?”
He smirked and gestured to the garland wrapped around the banister.
“We took down every single decoration from the gym, Davis’s store and your design storefront,” Colson explained, pulling on Nora’s hand.
“You what?” Rae balked; her gaze wildly searched mine for understanding.
“The competition is officially over. We’re meeting in a neutral location that doesn’t belong to any of us, and we’re celebrating our friendship. Merry Christmas, may this be the first of many tree hunting traditions that end in a weekend-long camping trip.”
I pulled my wife into my chest and kissed the top of her head.
“I love you, but the competition was tearing you apart.”
Nora smiled, gazing up at Cole, and then around the room. “We already decided to forfeit in the car.”
“I was so freaking worried about you guys.” Haley hit Liam in the stomach, which made Rae turn and hit me as well. “I worked so hard on that store, so did Tyson. How could you just undo all that work?”
“But it’s all here, babe.” I gestured up and around the cabin.
It looked like a Christmas wonderland, with all the various decorations.
Red, white and green lights glowed from the massive, twelve-foot tree.
Twinkle lights were hanging in various crossed patterns along the banisters and pitched roof.
There were gingerbread houses, an inflatable Frosty the Snowman, and reindeer that had motorized movements.
Soft carols played from a few Alexa speakers, and the entire house smelled like cinnamon.
Maddy, Mila and Seraph walked out of the kitchen with mugs of steaming liquid, stopping right in front of Nora.
“Look, we found cocoa bombs.”
Nora burst into a sad sort of happy laugh, where tears welled in her eyes.
Haley and Liam were now kissing, and I led Rae away from the group, kissing the side of her neck.
“I promise you, Rae, no matter what this life of ours looks like down the road, I’ll do whatever it takes to be enough for you.”
She turned, looking somewhat surprised. Facing me, she cradled my jaw in her hands.
“You are enough for me.”
I stared down, seeing the girl who used to follow me when she was a teenager with acne and braces.
The one who used to reserve my seat at the diner with laminated stickers, and the one who asked me to just see her that time when I was at the gas station.
Deep down I knew I was enough for her, but I also knew why she had thrown this competition together.
She was worried about being left behind.
My eyes glistened with happy tears as I smiled back at her, then turning her palms, I kissed each one.
“I know that I am, but I also know that you’re afraid of losing Nora and Haley. You’re afraid of losing your place in their lives now that they’re connected in a way that we can’t ever fit into. But I know Nora, she loves you as if you’re her blood, you will always be her sister.”
“I was just worried that they would vacation together because they’re a real family, and we’re just the friends, but I talked to them in the car, and I feel better about it.”
“They love you,” I whispered, pulling her closer.
Smiling up at me, she whispered back, “they love us. They’re our family, and I see that now. Thank you for bringing me back and thank you for this. For giving us a new tradition to celebrate that belongs to all of us.”
My lips found hers again, then suddenly, we were being called in for Christmas charades, and carols.
While the snow fell outside, together with our best friends, we celebrated Christmas on the top of Mount Macon.
And it was the start of something perfect.