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“What the hell?”
“I got us a Christmas Tree.” Brody poked his head through the only open spot there was and smiled his ridiculous smile.
I couldn't help but laugh. “This is going to have to stay outside for the night, I haven't got any idea where the stand is or if I even have it anymore.”
“Nope, I got one of those too, Cass. We're bringing this monster in. Now, if you can just grab the base and pull it in, we should be all set.”
I bent down and picked up the trunk of the cold tree, and together, we pulled and pushed it through the door. Once inside, we laid the tree down on the floor and shut the door. Brody quickly set up the stand, and we managed to get the monster of a tree set up right in front of the front window. The tree basically covered the big picture window when it was standing up.
“Think you got a big enough tree?” I giggled, looking it over.
“I guess I kind of went overboard, but they only had a couple left, so it was this one or a Charlie Brown tree. There was no way you weren’t having a tree this year, Cass.”
The smile faded from my lips. The last good Christmas had been before Jackson died. Then after Brody left, I swore off the holiday. The only reason I even had anything in the storefront window was the town made it mandatory. As I stood looking at the tree, my vision started to blur.
Brody stopped pulling the last of the wrap off the tree and looked at me. “What’s wrong, Cass?”
“I was just thinking I don't know how many decorations I have anymore. I kept a few, but I haven't unpacked half of the boxes I moved here with. Plus, Christmas just sucks now.”
“So, we get a few things, it's no big deal.” He dropped the twine on the tree in a pile on the floor, grabbed me, and pulled me into his chest. “It doesn't have to suck anymore.”
I wrapped my arms around him, breathing him in. Why did he always have to be so warm and smell so fucking good?
“I know, I say that every year, and every year a new reason seems to arise, and I want the holiday to go away and never come back again.”
“Well, this year it's not going to be that way.” He held me, running his hands over my back. “I tried to wait for you tonight, so we could go and pick this tree out together, but you weren't home when I had to leave to pick my truck up from Ray’s.”
“Don't worry, it's probably better you went on your own.” I pulled my body away from him and looked into his eyes, “I would have chosen the Charlie Brown tree, anyway.”
Brody smiled and went back to removing the twine from the tree.
“I have some wine. Do you want a glass?” I asked, watching him.
“Absolutely! I'm just going to get changed. Pour me some.” Brody headed off down the hall, and I went to the kitchen to grab another glass.
I had just sat down and was waiting for Brody to return when I heard another knock on the front door. Walking over, I pulled the door open to find Ray standing there.
“Hey, sexy,” he said, taking me in. He leaned in to kiss me, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“Ray! What are you doing here?”
“I told you I wanted to see you before I left, something wrong with that?”
“No, I just figured you would be leaving tomorrow.”
“I am, but early, so I thought I would come by tonight.” He stepped inside and looked at the huge tree. “I thought you didn't want a tree, Cass.”
“Well, if you read my message, you would have seen I asked you to take me,” I huffed. “Brody got it tonight on his way home.”
“I see,” he said through clenched teeth.
“What's the problem?” I said, reaching to take his hand.
He looked into my eyes but said nothing. He placed his hand in mine and pulled me against him. He was about to lean in and kiss me when something behind me caught his attention. His expression changed instantly.
“Ray? What is it?” He didn't answer, just kept his focus trained on something behind me, his grip getting tighter on me. I turned to see what it was he was looking at. Brody stood in the hallway entrance in nothing but a pair of black sweatpants.
“I see how it is. You wanted to come home tonight so the two of you could play house, is that it?”
