Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
I turn to look at him. “It would have happened regardless.”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have been as prepared, and chances are, not dressed up, and wouldn’t get to walk around with my favorite cheerleader and the best referee in Tennessee,” he jokes.
“It was fun. I took so many pictures.” I make a mental note to upload them to get developed. Over the last several months, my camera roll is pretty much the Camden show.
“Good. We’ll have to top this next year.” He winks, and my belly flops at his words as excitement washes over me. It’s the kind of excitement that makes you want to jump headfirst with your eyes closed, hoping for the best. However, it’s too late for that. My heart is already split in the middle for the two of them. Father and son stole it, and I don’t want it back.
Thinking that far into the future gives me hope. Things are going great with us. I still haven’t told him that I love him. Not because of how I think he’ll react, but I just… I don’t know if I’m being honest. We’re just us right now. We’re enjoying life, time with each other, and time with Camden. We’re in a good place, and I don’t want to risk rocking the boat, even if I don’t think that would happen.
It took us a good while to get Camden down after everyone left. We gave him a bath, which he loved, and I think it was the fourth story before his eyes finally closed. He was fighting it. He had such a fun time tonight, I think he was afraid he might miss something else.
Baker hits the switch next to the gas fireplace in the living room, and the room lights up in a warm glow. After turning off the overhead light, he sits next to me on the couch and pulls me into his arms.
“Today was perfect,” I whisper into his embrace, my voice melting into the warmth between us as the firelight dances across the wall.
“It was. The kids enjoyed it.”
“You mean the big kids, right?” I ask him. “We all had a blast.”
“We did,” he says, leaning in to kiss my temple. “I haven’t dressed up for Halloween since college.”
“I don’t think I have either.” My eyes glance around the room. “Where do you put your Christmas tree?”
“What?” He chuckles.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to change the subject, but it’s that time of year, and I was just curious where you put it.”
“Well, since Cam was born, I pay a company to come in and set up a tree, and I usually have them put it in that corner.” He nods to the right of the fireplace. “They come and take it down after the first of the year. Before that, it was just me, and I didn’t bother with putting one up.”
“What?” I sit up to face him. “Really? That makes me sad.” I can just picture a single, lonely Baker in this big house without a tree.
Reaching out, he tucks my hair behind my ear. “Don’t be sad, baby. I was in my condo all alone and gone so much with the team. Then Cam was born, and I bought this place. I knew I needed it for him, both the house and the tree, but I was exhausted all the time, so it was easier to hire it done.”
“So, you don’t own a tree?”
“Nope.”
“Decorations?”
“No again,” he replies.
“Some of my favorite memories are decorating for Christmas with my parents. We’d put on Christmas music, bake cookies, and put out all the decorations, including the tree.”
“Yeah, we did, too. My mom always had a Christmas movie playing on the TV.”
“Yes! You have to have the Christmas movies.”
He smiles softly. “We should do that. I think Cam would love it.”
“Really?”
He chuckles. “Yes, really.”
“Can I help?” I ask, bouncing in my seat.
“Baby, I said we. We should do that for Cam. That’s you and me.”
“When?” I ask.
“You have my card. Buy whatever you think we need, and we’ll pick a few nights or a weekend when I’m home and we’ll get started.”
“Eeep! This is going to be so much fun. I know my mom has some Christmas cookie cutters I can borrow.”
“Just buy us some.” He rests his palm against my cheek. “We’re making traditions, right? We’re going to need them again.”
Leaning forward, I press my lips to his. “You just made my entire year,” I tell him. “Camden is going to love this.”
“I think my girl is going to love it, too.” He grins.
I shrug unapologetically. “Maybe.” I wink before settling back against his chest. “My grandparents—my dad's parents and my mom’s parents—have passed. They’d come over and spend the night on Christmas Eve, then be there to open presents Christmas morning. I was an only child, so I was spoiled. By Santa, of course.” I smirk.