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Winking, he replied, “I paid attention to the things you’ve said.”
I tried to remember if or when we ever had a conversation about my favorite color, and nothing came to mind.
“Do you have hooks for the bulbs?”
Wes handed me a box and I opened it and started to put hooks on the bulbs.
Handing me a beer, Wes sat down on the floor and grabbed some of the white ornaments. It was then I noticed this was the first time I’d ever truly seen him so relaxed.
I softly cleared my throat and said, “I’m sorry I just left and didn’t let you explain anything.”
Wes set the box down. “That morning I was going to tell you I didn’t want to stick with our plan. That I didn’t want Mandyback…I only wanted you. I think a part of me always wanted you. It took me a bit but I realized that I’ve been attracted to you, Clare, since the first time I saw you.”
My eyes went wide. “I didn’t think you liked me.”
He laughed. “Maybe that was me pushing you away because you made me feel something I hadn’t ever felt. It scared me.”
Tilting my head, I regarded him. “You were mean to me because you liked me? Are we in second grade?”
He chuckled again. “They do say guys take longer to grow up.”
His hand rubbed at the back of his neck as he looked at the tree, then at me. “I loved every second we spent together, Clare. From you taking care of me when I was sick to making pasta together. And that night, when I held you in my arms, I knew in the depths of my soul that I wanted to fall asleep every night for the rest of my life with you in my arms. I wanted to tell you all of that that morning before Mandy showed up. I didn’t kiss her, Clare. I swear I didn’t. And I pushed her away the second she started to kiss me.”
“I know,” I softly whispered.
“Why did you not answer any of my calls or texts, then?” Wes asked.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and drew in a slow, deep breath. “The whole reason I agreed to do that plan of yours was to spend time with you. I kept telling myself I was going to get hurt, but being with you was worth it. I heard all the things Mandy was saying about me, and I guess I thought maybe she was right.”
Wes stood, reached for my hands, and pulled me up. “I never meant to hurt you, Clare. That is the last thing I would ever want to do. I hope you know that. And nothing she said was true. I’m the one who isn’t good enough for you, sweetheart.”
I tried to speak, but no words would come out.
“I’m sorry I was an idiot, and I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face. Or maybe I did, and I was too much of a coward to acknowledge it.”
Smiling, I replied, “You were an idiot.”
Wes tossed his head back and laughed. “Let’s get this tree decorated. I need it to be ready to go for later.”
“What’s later?” I asked.
With a grin that made my insides melt, he replied, “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Wes ended up putting on Nat King Cole’s Christmas album as we decorated the tree. We took a break and ate the delicious roast, then quickly got back to decorating the tree. When we were finished, we both stood back and stared at the beautiful creation we had made.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered as Wes turned off the lights, then turned on the tree.
He took my hand in his and drew my back to his front as we looked at the Christmas tree. “It is beautiful.”
I dropped my head back against his body and closed my eyes. Being so close to him felt so right.
“I need to do something,” Wes said, putting his hands on my arms and turning me so I faced him. He pulled out his phone and tapped on it a few times, then set it down.
When I heard the first few chords of the song start, my knees about buckled under me. Wes drew me to him and held me as we danced to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” under the glow of the lights of the Christmas tree.
A soft sob slipped free as he drew me closer to him and we danced, neither of us saying a word.
Wes drew back and started to sing the song to me, and I knew right there I was head over heels in love with him. Hereached up and wiped my tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
