I know a few hundred words a day is torture, but isn't it the sweet kind?
"Look," Edward says, lifting a fuzzy red stocking from the box. "It's mine." He reaches down and comes back out with another. "And here's Alice's. Maybe we can change it to Bella somehow?" His dark brows pucker as he scans the room.
I suspect he's looking for something to magically rearrange the glitter. I snort as I shake my head. "Stop." I look in the box and see two more inside. "These must belong to your parents."
He looks over, bobbing his head. "Looks like."
"I think we should hang them," I say, walking over to the mantle and holding the one that says Carlisle in place. "It'll add to the atmosphere in here."
"Works for me." He shrugs. "Let me go check in the shed and see if there's a hammer and nails."
He bundles up and heads out into the newly falling snow, the other two stockings tucked inside his jacket. I smile as I take in the room, inhaling the fresh green scent. The tree is twinkling off to the left side of the hearth. Garland lines the mantle, a string of lights adorn each window frame, and several holiday throws have been draped along the furniture. It isn't much, but with the addition of stockings hanging from the heavy wooden beam that anchors the fireplace, this place will scream Christmas.
I'm brought from my musings sometime later as the door flies open and Edward rushes in, slamming it closed and pressing his back against it. "Christ," he says, shaking off the snow. "It's really coming down out there."
I go to him, dusting flakes from his jacket. "Then, maybe, you should stay in here. We can worry about the stockings when it lets up."
He smiles then, his eyes twinkling. "Thank you for the concern, but I'll live. This, however"—he unzips his jacket and pulls the stockings from inside, holding them up proudly—"was worth it."
My eyes move to his hands, and there is Alice's stocking. Except, it no longer says Alice—sort of. Over the red glitter is a finger drawn BELLA. Not only has he defiled her stocking, but it looks like he used grease to do it. I'm horrified, but I'm also touched, so very touched.
I trail my gaze back to his, preparing to admonish him, but the hopeful, boyish glint in his eye stops me in my tracks. "I love it," I say instead. "I'll chew you out for your sister later."
"She won't care." He waves me off, moving toward the mantle. "If she likes you enough to invite you here, then she's not gonna care about a twenty-dollar stocking."
"We're neighbors," I say, thinking of how easily Alice gave up her cabin to a girl who's only a friendly acquaintance. "She was going to borrow some sugar and ended up witnessing the whole mess."
"She's always had a good heart," he says, smiling. "Your ex is lucky she didn't charge in and put her tiny foot up his ass."
I laugh at the picture he paints. "She focused on me instead."
"Looks like she made the right choice." His eyes rake over me in a way that makes every part of me tingle.
I sigh, warm and cozy from his gaze. "I suppose that's true." He turns back to the mantle and holds up my stocking, a staple gun in his other hand. I admire his firm tush for a moment before snapping out of the gooey mood. "Can I help?"
"Will you get the others for me?" he tosses over his shoulder.
We spend the next few minutes arranging them on the mantle. His parents end up on the left, while our two hang on the right. Mine isn't very appealing to the eyes, but it's the thought that counts, and Edward has proven himself as a thoughtful man.
"Wanna make a pallet and enjoy the Christmassy atmosphere?" he asks once we're done. "We could grab some snacks, make another batch of cocoa, and maybe play a board game?" He moves over to the entertainment cabinet and drops down to open the doors. "I'm not sure what we have, but there should be a few options here."
My first thought is that it isn't a very good idea, but his easy-going attitude sets my hesitance to rest. "Sounds fun," I say, pushing the coffee table back against the sofa to make a large empty space in front of the fire. "I'll do the cocoa and snacks, and you make us a cozy nesting site."
He pulls out a couple boxes and stands, turning to me with a smile. "It's a date, then."
A thrill runs through me, and I'm unsure if it's from fear or excitement, so I do what any rational woman would. I run and hide in the kitchen while I try to make sense of my crazy hormones.
Edward Cullen is driving me crazy.
I found an ornament at SeaWorld. It was kismet. Check it out on Fyregirl Fics on FB!
See you tomorrow :)
