Chapter Twenty-Eight

        “Move it just a hair to the right.”

Emma Jean was curled up on the couch issuing orders. After moving back in with Noah the night before, they’d had dinner and gone to bed early. They had a whole week’s worth of missing each other’s touch to make up for. They’d both woken up early that morning, but since it was Saturday, neither of them had anywhere they needed to be. Emma Jean made breakfast, which they had eaten naked, because Noah couldn’t keep his hands off her. Not that she was complaining. But one thing she did complain about was the fact that the Christmas tree was not decorated, and Christmas was only three days away.

Noah finished hanging the ornament and hopped down off the step ladder. “What do you think?” he asked, admiring his handiwork.

She had helped him in the beginning, but there were some sections of the tree only he could reach, so she directed him from afar, and he did the manual labor. Now, the only thing missing was the topper. “Looks great, but what are we putting on the top?”

“Well, we got both a star and an angel, because if I remember correctly, somebody  couldn’t decide.” He gave her a cheeky smile.

“It was a tough choice! They’re both pretty!”

“Yeah, well, you’re going to have to make a decision because they won’t both fit. So, what’s it gonna be, sunshine?”

She chewed her lip and she studied both tree toppers. “Mmm...star, I think.”

“Star it is.” He made one more trek up the ladder and placed the silvery star on top.

Climbing back down, he plugged in the string of lights before curling up on the couch next to her.

“We have to go shopping.”

“Yeah,” he muttered.

There were no presents under the tree yet, but she planned to rectify that that afternoon. She hadn’t bought a single present so far, and she suddenly had people in her life who actually deserved them. Plus, she felt like she had some things to make up for.

***

        A few hours later, Noah’s SUV was brimming with gifts for Emma Jean’s parents, Tally and Luke, Tucker, and Fiona. The only person she had left to shop for was Noah, and she was beginning to panic when nothing caught her eye. She was about to text Tally for suggestions when she saw it. It wasn’t fancy, and it wasn’t expensive, but it was perfect. She sent Noah into a nearby coffee shop under the guise of wanting something to drink. She quickly ducked into the small country store and made her purchase before he returned. Then she texted Tally and prayed that she had what Emma Jean needed to complete her gift.

        They spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on Noah’s living room floor wrapping everything and placing it all under the tree. When Noah suggested they order take out for dinner, Emma Jean scrambled to find an excuse to visit his sister when his phone chimed with a text.

        “Actually, hold that thought. Tally wants to know if we want to come over for dinner. What do you say?”

        She smiled. “Perfect.”

***

        “I have that thing you asked me about earlier,” Tally whispered conspiratorially.

        “I knew you inviting us over for dinner wasn’t a coincidence.”

        Noah and Luke were in the living room nursing a couple of beers in front of the football game while Tally and Emma Jean cleaned up the post-dinner clutter in the kitchen.

        “Well, I didn’t have to invite you over for that. I can just email you the digital copy. I invited you to dinner because Noah said you guys were back together, and I just wanted to see you for myself. Make sure you’re doing okay.”

        For once, Emma Jean didn’t get annoyed at being asked after. Instead, she felt grateful that she had people in her life who cared so much. She no longer felt like those around her saw her as weak. Now, she knew they saw her as strong, and just wanted to be there to support her. “Actually, I’m great,” she said with all honesty.

        Tally’s eyes roamed her face before she broke out in a brilliant smile. “You love him.”

        “Yeah.” She did. She loved him more than she thought could be possible in such a short amount of time. “He’s everything.”

        “He is pretty awesome,” Tally agreed. “Runs in the family.”

        Emma Jean giggled at Tally’s exaggerated wink. “You’re such a dork.”

        “Hush. You love me.”

        “Like a sister.”

        Tally’s eyes widened comically. “Sisters,” she drawled with awe. “We could actually be  sisters someday!”

        ‘Woah, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Emma Jean warned, holding her hands up as if to ward off the sheer excitement that Tally was about to burst from.

        “Oh, it’s gonna happen,” Tally declared.

        “We’ll see.”