Chapter 25
GINGER
“Ican’t believe it’s warm enough for us to be out here,” Willow says. “I’ve missed our firepit nights.”
“It’s a Christmas miracle!” Reed declares to the sky, like he’s summoned the weather himself.
Jordan chuckles beside me, that deep rumble that lights me up inside and makes me smile.
Hell, pretty much anything he does these days elicits a smile from me.
God, I’m really in love with him. Just admitting that to myself sends my nervous system into a tailspin.
My heart’s racing, my hands are shaking, and I swear I’m overheating.
“Hey.” Jordan touches my leg. “Are you okay?”
I nod, breathing deeply through my nose. “Yeah, too many layers. It’s warmer than I thought.”
“It’s the furry bench covers,” Willow says.
“I found a lady who custom makes them,” Nina tells us proudly. “Toasty buns are life changing.”
“My buns are always hot,” Reed remarks.
“Actually, Drew has the best ass in your family,” Willow fires back.
“Thanks, Will.” Drew beams. “I finally beat my brothers at something. I guess all that gym time finally paid off.”
Reed’s mouth opens briefly and then snaps shut. “You’ve been checking out my brothers’ asses?”
“Not in a creeper way, but if their asses are in front of me…” She shrugs.
Reed scoffs. “I’m appalled.”
“No, you’re a hypocrite,” I say, jumping to Willow’s defense. “You check out our asses. I’ve seen you. And I’m not judging, but you can’t lecture Willow when you’re guilty of the same crime.”
He grumbles but doesn’t argue.
“And to think, all this time, I believed my ass was the best,” Travis says flatly.
The deadpan delivery sends us all into hysterics. By the time we calm down, Reed is wiping at his eyes. “Man, firepit night hits differently when Travis is funny.”
“I’ve always been funny,” Travis replies, perfectly serious, and we lose it again.
Jordan nudges his knee against mine. “Are you good now?”
I lean into him. “Much better.”
Nina eyes us over her mug of hot chocolate. “You two are disgustingly cute, by the way.”
“Thank you,” I say, with zero shame.
“How’d it feel telling the parents and grandfathers?” Drew asks.
Jordan shifts on the bench. “It was a little nerve racking, but it’s good to have it out in the open.”
“You were very matter-of-fact about it,” Nina says.
“I was trying to be clear.”
“You were sweating,” Reed adds.
Jordan points at him. “The dining room was overly warm from all your hot air.”
“It was seventy degrees,” Drew chimes in. “And you were sweating.”
Jordan mutters something that sounds suspiciously like “I hate you all,” but he’s smiling. Feeling my gaze on him, he turns his head and hits me with the full force of his brown eyes. He squeezes my thigh, his thumb brushing slow circles that send a warm buzz spiraling through me.
“Stop being so hot,” I whisper.
He lifts an eyebrow. “What am I doing?”
“Breathing. Existing.” There isn’t a single moment he’s not attractive to me. Even when I was irritated with him, I always had a soft spot for him. Now he’s taken over my whole heart.
Willow clears her throat loudly. “Okay, enough, you two. My black heart can’t take watching anymore.”
“Yeah, no lovey-dovey shit allowed within ten feet of me,” Reed says.
“You’re three feet away,” I remind him.
He immediately scoots farther down the bench. “And I’m moving.” He nearly slides off the end, but Willow shoves him back.
“Sit your ass back down before you fall into the flames.”
Reed eyes the fire. “Would that improve my ass? I’m asking for research purposes.”
“No,” Drew says. “Besides, Willow already declared me the winner.”
Willow raises her mug toward Drew. “The buns don’t lie.”
Jordan’s breath warms my ear. “For the record, you have the best ass here.”
I inhale sharply. Nina glances over and raises a single brow. I bite my lip, trying and failing to hide a smile.
“You can’t say things like that in public,” I whisper back.
He smirks. “We’re in my brother’s backyard.”
“Even worse,” I hiss. “Family.”
He chuckles under his breath. “Fair point.”
Eventually Nina herds us inside the house to exchange gifts. Drew plays Santa, handing out packages until wrapping paper is flying everywhere.
“Aww, Ginger, I love this,” Nina says, lifting the ornament that says “Our First Christmas Together.”
I smile. “I couldn’t resist.”
Willow eyes Reed. “So where’s this amazing gift you promised me?”
He disappears behind the tree and returns with a giant, shiny red box, setting it down on the floor in front of her. “Merry Christmas, Will.”
Willow eyes the box like it might explode.
“Go on, open it,” Reed urges.
She tears at the paper, revealing a nondescript brown box. “Should I be scared?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
He shakes his head. “Not at all. It’s not even embarrassing.”
The two of them have a history of giving each other prank gifts.
“Well, that’s a first.” Tearing the box open, she reaches inside and pulls out another box. She gives Reed a look.
He shrugs. “I couldn’t make it too easy.”
“How many more boxes?” she asks.
“That’s top secret information,” he answers, smirking.
“If there’re more boxes inside, I’m gonna kick your not-as-good-as-Drew’s ass,” she tells him.
“You’re gonna feel bad for saying that when you see your gift,” Reed tells her.
Willow pries the box open and then gasps. She looks up at him with wide eyes. “This is for me?”
He nods, grinning. “Yep. It’s custom made.”
She pulls out a longboard, running her hand over the maple wood.
“Check the bottom,” Reed says.
She flips it over, then covers her mouth with one hand. Shaking her head, she stares down at the design for a moment before looking up at Reed with glassy eyes. Setting the board on the couch, she jumps to her feet and throws herself into his arms. “It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
He holds her tight. “I’m glad you love it so much.”
I tap my foot against Jordan’s. When he glances at me, I whisper, “See?”
“Maybe.”
When Reed and Willow separate, she swipes a finger underneath both her eyes. “I can’t believe you got me a present that made me cry.”
Reed fist pumps. “I told you it was good.”
“Can we see what the bottom looks like?” Nina asks.
Willow picks up the board, revealing the design that replicates the tattoos on her arm. “Isn’t it amazing?”
“I can’t believe it’s so accurate,” Nina says.
“I know. This is seriously the best gift ever,” Willow says, smiling at Reed.
We continue to open presents, and when we’re done, we all agree it’s time to call it a night. Jordan and I walk hand in hand to his house. Once inside, we shed our jackets and scarves.
“Want to open presents?” he asks.
I nod excitedly. “Of course I do. The wait has been torture.”
He laughs and leads me to the couch before he turns on the fireplace. He collects the gifts and sets them on the coffee table before sitting next to me. “You first.” He slides a medium-sized box in front of me.
The package is heavier than I expect, which rules out chocolate. Jordan watches me with that half smile that always melts my insides. “What is this?” I ask.
“Open it and find out.”
I tear away the paper and then smile. “A remote car starter! I love it!”
“Now you can warm your car up before going outside.”
“That’s going to be amazing. I’ve wanted one forever.”
“But you never splurge on yourself,” he points out.
“Yeah. You know me pretty well.”
“I do. I already made arrangements for the installation with Willow, so you just need to find a time that works for both of you.”
I lean over and press a kiss to his lips.
“Thank you. Now it’s your turn.” I push a large gift bag toward him.
He reaches into the bag, moving tissue paper out of the way before he pulls out a Patriots hoodie.
He holds the olive-green material up in front of himself.
“It’s the Salute to Service one I’ve been wanting. Thank you. I love it.” He grins.
I’m glad he likes it so much. It took me a ridiculous amount of time to pick one out.
He hands me a small package. “Don’t forget this one.”
I rip the paper away, exposing a black jewelry box. I send him a questioning glance.
He smirks. “It’s not a diamond.”
I laugh. “I wasn’t thinking that.” I lift the lid. “Oh, snowflake earrings! How cute.”
“They’re white gold because I know you don’t like yellow gold.”
“How do you know that? I’ve never told you.”
“I’ve always noticed things about you. I just didn’t let on.”
I switch out my earrings and pull both sides of my hair back. “How do they look?”
“Perfect. They reminded me of our snowball fight. I think I started to fall for you when you tackled me and kissed me.”
“That’s so sweet. I love that you put so much thought into them.” I wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him from the side. He hooks an arm around me and kisses the top of my head. When we part, I touch my earrings and smile as I remember that night. “If I remember correctly, you ambushed me.”
He grins. “It was a necessary strategy to get my lips on yours again.”
“Well, it worked brilliantly.” I hand him another gift bag. “Your turn.”
“Okay,” he says, plucking tissue paper from the top. He reaches inside and removes the brown leather belt. “How’d you know I needed a new one?”
“I’ve noticed things about you too,” I say, winking.
He runs his hand along the length. “This is great quality leather.”
“Turn it over.”
He flips it and starts laughing when he notices the message printed on the back.
I licked it, so it’s mine.
Love, Ginger.
“It is yours,” he says.
“Good. I plan to keep it that way.”
“Me too.” He takes my hand, thumb brushing gently across the back. “We haven’t been together long, but I’ve loved you as a friend for years.” His voice softens. “And now I love you in the deepest way, G.” He leans closer, his eyes staring intently into mine. “I really love you.”
Tears sting my eyes. “I love you too. So much.”
He nods. “So much.”
Our lips find their way together. The moment his mouth touches mine, all the emotion we’ve been keeping inside pours into our kiss. Every knot of fear in my chest loosens as I finally stop holding back. I fall fully and freely, because he’s mine and I’m his.
His hand slides to the back of my neck, warm and sure. The kiss deepens, slow and sweet, and I angle closer, wanting to feel every inch of him. My heart beats wildly, not from nerves, but from knowing this man is my home.
His thumb sweeps my cheek tenderly, sending a shiver down my spine. I breathe him in like air, and the world shrinks to his lips, his hands, and the soft sigh he lets slip against my mouth.
When we finally break apart, I’m breathless, overheated, and smiling so hard it’s borderline painful. I rest my forehead on his shoulder, not ready to let go.
Loving him feels inevitable. Like arriving at the place I was always meant to end up.
I lift my head, meeting those brown eyes.
“Yeah,” he whispers, brushing his nose against mine. “So much.”