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Looking around Ryan said, “This place is fantastic, Kenna. You did a great job.”
I really did I loved my new place. It was a very similar layout to Chrissy’s apartment. Except I had higher ceilings. This unit had dark hardwood floors with light grey walls.
The Kitchen had cabinets that were also grey but about two shades darker with white marble countertops. The large island was a light blue with the same white marble tops. I did purchase white stools that lined one side of the island. Plus, I found a beautiful farmer’s table.
It was smaller than my brothers and sat six people comfortably. I had it painted the same pale blue as the island with white chairs. For the living room, I went with an L-Shaped sofa that was a darker grey but with white throw pillows and white blankets draped on the end.
The coffee table was a smaller version of the dining table that was covered with all the ornaments for the tree. On the wall across from the sofa was a beautiful, whitewashed brick fireplace, and above that was the very large television I had splurged on. Beside the fireplace sat my guitar and on the other side in the corner by the slider that led to the balcony was my tall tree.
“I see you still love Christmas,” Ryan said pointing to the bare tree that was waiting for decorations.
“Of course, I do. Remember how I used to be around Christmas time?”
Ryan’s mouth turned into a big smile, and he laughed. “How I could I forget? You made sure we were all there to decorate the tree and you would have Conor lift you up to put the topper on the tree. Then you would make us all string the lights on the outside of the house.
When we finished and came inside, you and your dad would always be sitting on the sofa curled up with hot chocolate. I always remember walking in and see you leaning into your dad his arm wrapped around your shoulders. God, he loved his little girl.”
Ryan smiled at me, and I smiled back because I used to love having that moment every year with my dad.
“Shit, Kenna, do you remember the year, I think, yes, it was the year before you left for college. Finn fell from the roof of the porch. The fucker landed in the bushes.”
We both started laughing.
Okay, I can do this,I thought to myself,I can be normal with Ryan.
“We had so many memories together.”
“That we did.” He grinned.
An idea popped into my head. “Help me decorate?”
I walk over to the coffee table, avoiding the pile of lights on the floor that I had tripped on a few minutes ago.
“I don’t know.”
“Come on, Ryan, it will be fun.” With a smile, he proceeded to put his coffee down. “Okay, you twisted my arm—both arms.”
The two of us spent the next two hours wrapping the lights around the tree, hanging ornaments, and draping shiny icicles off the branches.
“Oh, uhm, hey,” Ryan said. “I think we work ourselves into a corner.”
He was right, we had somehow gotten stuck between the tree and the wall while trying to wrap the garland around the tree.
With care, we placed each of the remaining ornaments on the tree, with me fixing the ones Ryan put too close together.
“Seriously?” He would roll his eyes every time I separated them. “What was wrong with that one.”
“Well, for starters, you can’t hang two of the same shape and color next to each other.” I started to think he was doing it on purpose to drive me crazy.
When we finished, we took a step back and admired our work.
“Where is the topper?” Ryan looked around the room.
I smiled and said, “Still in the box on the island.”
Ryan turned and walked over to the island. I couldn’t help but watch him as he walked over. The man always had a strut that made his ass move so nicely and, in those jeans he had on, I couldn’t help but stare.
When Ryan turned back with the topper in his hands, he smirked, making me think he completely caught me watching his ass.
