Page 45 of Accidentally in Love

Avery got out of her car with a box in her hand, and I rushed over to help her. She scowled at me. “I can lift a box, Nol,” she argued, but the debate died on her lips when she looked up at my brightly lit-up house. “Oh… Oh! You put up Christmas lights?”

Her eyes sparkled as the reflection of the lights hit her just right. The way her entire face lit up in delight struck me in the chest.

“Nolan, did you do this for me?” she asked in surprise.

I grunted in response.

“But you hate Christmas.”

I took the box from her and walked into the house. I smiled when I heard her gasp. “Oh, Nolan,” Avery whispered.

We stored the boxes in the guest room until we figured out how to merge all of our stuff. She still needed to figure out what to do about her apartment, but she didn’t feel like dealing with it today.

Gem and Dec made excuses to leave as soon as possible. I pretended not to notice the kissy faces they made behind Avery’s head. Dicks.

Avery put her hands on her hips and gave me an annoyed look as soon as the door slammed behind our siblings.

“What?” I asked as I rubbed a hand through my beard nervously.

“You know what.”

I sat down on the couch and pulled her into my lap. She shifted around but cuddled into me like she fit there.

“What?” I asked again.

She gestured to the room and the decorated tree in the corner. “Nolan. You hate Christmas.”

“But you love it.”

“You didn’t have to do this. You do too much for me.”

I placed a hand on her baby bump. “Let me, okay? I want to take care of you.”

She grumbled and slid off my lap.

“Where are you going?”

“To make dinner.”

“Avs, you don’t have to.”

“I want to. Let me take care of you too.”

I nodded and let her cook for me.

I had to admit it was nice of her. She browned some beef in a pan and made tacos. She didn’t let me help, even when I offered to dice the tomatoes or grate the cheese. It was quick and easy, but nice. I didn’t even know I had this stuff. Being a bachelor usually meant I ate a lot of takeout or pub food at the brewery. It wasn’t the best diet, another thing I needed to work on, especially with the baby coming. I wanted to be healthy for my baby, and I had to take better care of myself, for Avery, and our unborn child.

“When are you going to the brewery?” she asked as she cleared the table.

“Why don’t you rest, and I’ll do the dishes?” I offered instead.

She waved me off. “No, I got it. When do you have to go?”

“I’m gonna take the night off.”

Her eyebrows rose high. I never took nights off from the brewery.

“When was the last time you did that?”