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“Thanks for the warning,” I tell him with a smirk. “I’m sure it will be a jolly good time.”
“That’s one way to put it.” He chuckles, then is called away by Smith, one of the guys who do monthly maintenance on the building. I go to the boxing area to wait for my second student. As soon as he shows up, we start with basic techniques, and the time passes quickly.
Eventually, my shift is over. After I disinfect everything, Tyler offers to give me a ride home. When we’re in the car, I check the time and see it’s just past six. Before he pulls into the driveway, I scan up and down the street for that Escalade.
“Tell her we’ll be over within the hour to help. Gotta get Gemma and the baby.”
“Sure will,” I say, grabbing my bag.
As I’m walking up the sidewalk, I hear the music blaring and Everleigh singing at the top of her lungs. Taking a deep breath, I enter, and she rushes toward me with a wineglass. Her other hand is holding something red and green.
“Archer! I got you a Christmas sweater!” By the squeal in her voice, I can tell she’s already tipsy. “You gotta wear it.”
Boxes upon boxes of decorations are stacked on the floor along with a massive tree. Sassy comes trotting into the living room, and I notice she’s wearing a jingle bell collar and reindeer antlers. Then I realize her sweater matches Everleigh’s.
“Oh, you poor thing,” I say, petting her head.
Everleigh playfully swats at me when I meet her eyes.
“So, putting this on is a requirement, I assume?”
“You bet your ass it is.”
“Okay, okay. Whatever makes you happy.” I shrug, aware that it’s gonna look ridiculous on me.
She chugs the rest of her wine. “It’ll make me the jolliest person on the planet other than, you know, Old Saint Nick.”
Laughter escapes me as I go to my room and change. I shake my head when I see myself in the mirror, but I also like that she wants me to be a part of something she loves so much.
Meeting her back in the living room, she hands me a glass, and I notice she got a refill for herself. “Thanks. Oh, Tyler said they’ll be here within the hour.”
“Did he mention putting on his sweater too?”
“Um. Actually, no.”
She cocks a brow. “He better not forget.”
“I doubt Gemma will let him.”
“Very true! Gemma always has my back.”
“How long have you two been friends?”
Everleigh grins over the rim of her glass. “We’ve known each other forever. But I think we became best friends in middle school.”
“That’s awesome. You guys are lucky to have each other,” I say. My high school friends forgot I existed as soon as I went to prison.
I take a sip, and it’s so sweet, there’s no way I’ll be able to finish it.
“We definitely are.” She smiles, then taps her finger across her ruby red lips. “What to do first? Want to help hang some mistletoe?”
“Sure. Where’s it goin’?”
“Above my bedroom door.” She hands it to me and points toward her room. I see a hook in place, and I assume she’s hung it there for as long as she’s lived here. It dangles above the doorway, and Everleigh stands next to me, then our eyes meet. The only thing that breaks our trance is Sassy whining at our feet.
“I’ll take her out,” I offer. “You’ve got to prepare for your guests.”
“Ha! Thanks. A true gentleman,” she says with rosy cheeks.
