“We still go a little harder than we have to,” I say, repressing a chuckle.
“Well . . .” Fred rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah.”
“I was going to make dinner and didn’t feel like it,” Mrs. Benson says. “So it’s a pizza night. What kind do you boys want?”
Widget runs in, closely followed by Seth. “Mrs. Benson, you’re amazing,” Seth says. He holds his hands up. “I didn’t just come in because she mentioned food. Widget needed a good belly rub and the timing worked out.”
“Sure,” Jack says.
“We don’t want to intrude,” Fred tells Mrs. Benson.
“We don’t want to berude, either,” Seth mock whispers, giving Fred a look.
Mrs. Benson laughs. “How about I just order an extra pizza, and you happen to have a slice or two?”
“Can that pizza have sausage and pepperoni?” Seth asks.
Mrs. Benson smiles and goes to order the pizzas.
Fred throws Jack’s hat at Seth. “Pick a name, you mooch.”
“You want pizza too, and you know it.”
We all draw names and stick the slips in our pockets. I resist the urge to look at my person when I read his name.Fred. I can work with that.
“What’s our budget?” Jack asks.
“Nothing crazy,” Fred says. “Whatever you’re comfortable with?”
We all agree.
“Before or after we meet the guys for the Friendmas hangout?” I ask.
“Friendmas is after real Christmas right? Let’s kick off school break with our mini Friendmas,” Seth suggests. “Next Friday. I’ll get us some grub, so Freddy boy doesn’t call me a mooch again.”
“We can go to my place,” Fred says.
“So we’ve got one week to get our Secret Santa gifts together,” Jack says, smiling. “Perfect.”
We settle in and all but demolish the pizzas when they arrive, hanging out and just having a good time, and it isn’t until I’m home, changed into pajamas and ready to sleep, that it hits me.
Christmas. Presents.
I fall back on my bed and close my eyes. I need more than a gift for my Secret Santa. How could I forget that? I haven’t actually given a Christmas present in a long time. Since we stopped making crafts for holidays in elementary school, I can count the number of gifts I’ve given on one hand. My parents always said not to get them anything, since they didn’t know where they would be and that ‘they would be the ones to pay for it’ anyway.
They might accept something this year, since we had that heart-to-heart at Thanksgiving, but it’s not them I’m worried about.
It’s not Friendmas, either.
What can I get for Jack?
How can I find a perfect gift for the boy who fundamentally changed my life?
No way I’m going to sleep now. Not until I think of something. I start one of my favorite playlists and get about halfway through before an idea strikes. My eyes shoot open.
Music. I can do something with music.
I stop the playlist and move to my desk, opening up my laptop. I have some research to do.
