Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,101
me speculatively.
I opened my arms up and she took the invitation. I held her tight, like she was a little girl and not a sixteen year old.
“I got you some flowers,” I said, letting her go and bending to retrieve the flowers.
“Thank you! They’re my favorite! How’d you know?” she asked, inhaling their sweet scent.
“Jared,” I said.
“Of course,” Karlie laughed, hugging her brother again.
We gathered our stuff to leave and I wrapped my coat around me.
Jared slung his arm across my shoulders, pulling me against his side so that I was protected from the icy wind swirling around outside. Snowflakes clung to my hair and lashes.
Karlie held her arms out to her sides, twirling around in the middle of the parking lot, her tongue stuck out in the hopes of catching a stray flake.
Jared chuckled at his sister’s antics but quickly scolded her, “You’re going to get hit by a car, Karls.”
“At least, I’ll die happy,” she remarked, pulling her hat low over her ears. “Don’t you just love the snow?” she asked no one in particular. “It’s so magical!”
Jared unlocked his car and Karlie hopped inside. Dan and Patsy had already disappeared.
Jared tugged me towards his body so that he was cradling me against his chest. Our breaths fogged the air, mingling together before drifting away.
He entwined our hands, cupping them between us for warmth.
“Are you staying here for Christmas?” he asked.
I nodded. “Of course. I don’t want to go to my mom’s, although, if she pestered me enough times, I would probably give in. But she called me the other day, she’s in the Bahamas.”
“That’s harsh,” the air hissed between his teeth.
“That’s my mom,” I shrugged.
“Come to my house,” he pleaded. “Stay the night, on Christmas Eve, and be there all day, with us. Dan and Patsy won’t come over until lunch or dinner time.”
“No, no,” I shook my head. “I already butted in to your Thanksgiving; I won’t do that with Christmas too.”
“Katy,” Jared said, pressing his forehead to mine and letting go of my hands to cup my cheeks. “It’s not butting in if I invite you. I want you there, always.”
I bit my lip, indecisive.
“I don’t know,” I looked down at the snow-covered ground.
“Please,” he gave me the puppy dog eyes that always made me cave in.
I pushed his shoulder. “Jared, you’re twenty-four years old, don’t give me that face.”
“What face?” he grinned, pulling me back to him. “Just say yes. I want my wonderful girlfriend to spend Christmas with me, plus, I can’t wait to give you your present.”
I smiled at that. “You got me a present?”
“Of course, kittycat,” he nuzzled my neck.
“Okay,” I finally, said.
“Okay?” he questioned, his lips lifting in a grin.
“Okay,” I nodded. “We’ll celebrate Christmas together.”
Jared whooped, picking me up and swinging me around.
My feet had barely touched the ground before he was kissing me passionately. I melted against his touch.
A car horn honked, making both of us jump.
“Karlie!” Jared growled.
I could see her laughing and mouth, “Hurry up.”
“She can be such a pest,” Jared shook his head. With a sigh, he said, “I better go. I’ll see you on Christmas Eve?”
“Yep,” I said, “I won’t be running away. You have nothing to worry about.”
He chuckled. “I love you,” he said, kissing me quickly.
I pulled away from his embrace. “You better go before she honks the horn again.”
“I’ll wait for you to leave, before I go,” he pointed to my car a few rows down.
“So protective,” I laughed at him, slinging my purse back up to my shoulder from where it had fallen to my bent elbow.
“I just like to protect what’s mine,” he chuckled as I walked away.
33
I PACKED MY OVERNIGHT BAG FOR JARED’S HOUSE AND DROPPED IT BY THE DOOR, next to Jared, Karlie, Dan, and Patsy’s Christmas presents.
I quickly scanned the room to make sure I wasn’t leaving anything behind that I might need.
My phone started ringing and I was half tempted to ignore it. With a sigh, I dug it out from the bottom of my purse. I swear, how did the stupid thing always manage to get to the bottom.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, it’s me,” Jared said.
I laughed. “Yeah, I know. My phone told me. You know, there’s this thing, called caller ID that most people know about and it happens to tell you who’s calling.”
“You’re mean,” he said. “Have you left yet?”
“I was just about to. Why? Did you change your mind? It won’t hurt my feelings if-”