Page 106 of Broken Butterfly
“I drove that thing here. The least you can do is let them feed me, woman,” Fallon complains.
“Alright. Food first, trip to the Fields later?”
“Pop up, sexy.” Ryder motions for me to jump back on for a piggyback so he can carry me inside. As soon as Ryder secures my legs around him, I give him a dozen kisses on the neck and cheek because I’m so happy. My phone dings and I grab it one-handed out of my back pocket while keeping the other hand wrapped around Ryder’s neck.
ScaryGuy: Fam wanted to wait for us to get back before decorating the tree. They’d like for you to be here.
I really need to change his screen name. I quickly go into my contacts and edit his information.
Me: Tell Freda I’d love to. Fallon just got here.
Jayson: Fuck it. It’s Xmas. He can come too. I promise to be on my best behavior.
Me: I just got my car back! Ahhhhh! So freaking happy!
Jayson: U r such a diva daredevil.
Me: Let me check with the guys about later and I’ll text u back after breakfast.
Jayson: Miss you, Liz. Merry Xmas Eve, princess.
Me: Merry Xmas Eve to you too.
Oh boy. I guess my time is up. Today will be the day I tell Jayson I’m engaged to Ryder.
Chapter 31
“Hurry up, slowpokes! I told Jayson we would be there at four.” I’m trying my best to get Ryder and Fallon out the door but apparently the football game on television is more enticing. Grabbing the remote, I shut the TV off.
“Hey!” the guys whine at me, even Randy who is sitting back in his big old rocker recliner. I hand him the remote and kiss the top of his head. “All yours, Pops.” I wink at him.
“Dinner will be ready at eight.” Faith pokes her head out of the kitchen where she, Jamie, and Brea have been baking all afternoon. I helped clean and prepare the turkey for tomorrow’s Christmas supper and shredded the collard greens which are now slowly cooking in a large pot filled with chicken broth and six long bacon strips. I also snapped green beans for the green bean casserole and diced Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples to soak in bourbon overnight for the apple crumble pie Faith and I will be making in the morning. There is nothing better than a good old home-cooked Southern meal, and my taste buds are already watering over the feast we will eat tomorrow for Christmas with the Jamesons.
“Think Jay and Jules will have the game on?” Fallon asks as Ryder helps me slip my coat on.
“I think you can count on it. Now, git.” I shoo the two men out the front door and we’re on our way.
“Did you just Southern sass me?”
“You bet your sweet dandy I did,” I say with my best Southern drawl. That has Ryder kissing me while laughing at the same time.
“I love your sassy mouth.”
I peer up at Ryder with heated eyes. “Then you’re in for a treat later tonight,” I tell him, which causes him to suck in a sharp breath and kiss me longer this time.
Fallen Brook Drive has transformed into a Christmas fairytale. Homes are decorated with lights, yards are full of holiday décor, Christmas-themed inflatables, and kids full of excitement that Santa will be visiting tonight. I loved growing up here. I loved having my three best friends—Ryder, Jayson, and Julien—living on the same street as I did. This street holds a lot of great memories of our youth, like us playing freeze-tag while riding our bikes, even if I would fall off my bike and skin my knees every time; my dad and Ryder teaching me how to drive; and long twilight walks with Hailey or Jayson. Nostalgia greets me with a warm embrace as we walk. I keep expecting to feel anxiety or apprehension as we near my childhood home, but I don’t. Not today. Today, when I walk up to Jayson and Julien’s, my old house standing empty beside theirs, I’m going to focus on the good things, the good memories.
One hundred feet from our destination, the old oak tree catches my attention. Instead of the white fairy lights adorning its branches, flashing multi-colored lights have taken their place, creating a kaleidoscopic effect against the sides of the two homes that bracket it. Jayson must have done that. I look to the left of the oak at my house.My house. But it looks different. Newer. A fresh coat of paint in a pale yellow adorns the outside and is accented by deep, navy blue shutters at every window. The front door is painted the same shade of blue as the shutters. The roof is new as well, the shingles a dark blue to match the shutters and door.
“Merry Christmas, kitten.” Fallon takes out a thick envelope from the inside pocket of his long wool coat and places it in my hand.
“Fallon, what did you do?” My question isn’t accusatory; it’s filled with wonder.
“I fulfilled your wish.”
I open the envelope and quickly peruse the stapled pieces of paper. Just like I feared, Fallon bought my house. Wait, it’s not just Fallon’s name on the documents, Ryder’s name is listed as well.
Because I’m slightly speechless, it takes me a second to force out, “You both bought my house?”
