Chapter 17

Seventeen

Did anyone find a missing pink phone at the holiday festival, likely out of battery power? We have also received reports of lost costume pieces, a found wedding ring, and two backpacks. Please contact the office if you lost an item or found something that might belong to someone else!

MERRY

I didn’t want my night with Nolan to end. So naturally, I did what any sane person would do and woke him up extra early. In fact, I was showing restraint because I laid awake a good thirty minutes, coming up with a plan, before I gently shook his shoulder.

“Why do you have to be a morning person?” Nolan glared at me in the dim early morning light. My bedroom faced the patio and some bushes, and I’d never bothered figuring out curtains for the small space.

“I’m a surfer, bro.” I adopted a fake California accent. “All the best waves are at dawn.”

“There’s waves all day, every day,” Nolan said reasonably. Well, reasonable for someone who’d never surfed. “Please tell me you’re not taking me surfing in the middle of the night.”

“It’s almost morning.” I waved a hand before getting out of bed and fetching him a pair of my swim trunks I thought might fit. Sensing an outing might be happening, Barney hopped around, tail wagging. I flipped on the small light on the dresser before Barney or I whacked something. “And close, but no, not surfing.”

“Those look suspiciously like surfing shorts.” Blinking at the light, Nolan frowned.

“They’re the best I could do, Mr. Fashionista.” I stuck my tongue out at him as I pulled on a pair for myself. “And I did think about sneaking into the hot tub and skinny dipping, but I figured trying for that might be pressing our luck.”

“We’re sneaking into your apartment complex’s hot tub?” Nolan perked up at this thought as he finally roused himself enough to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Yep.” I made myself look away before I gave in to the temptation to drop to my knees in front of him and get the morning started a different way. “The deck for the hot tub has a cool morning view, and then I’m taking you to breakfast before I have to pick up the boys.”

“You generally pick good breakfast spots.” Nolan yawned.

“You’ll like this one. Ken Kekoa always gives me two vouchers for weekend brunch at the resort where he works his second job as a holiday gift. Thought we could use them.”

“Oooh, a fancy brunch.” Nolan put a little pep in his step as he followed me out of the bedroom.

“That’s the spirit.” I stopped by the coat closet to retrieve two hoodies since it was still rather nippy out. Barney, who could be as impatient as Nolan at times, stamped and snorted at the delay.

“Speaking of spirit, how is Christmas less than a week away?” Putting on my hoodie, Nolan gave another big yawn. And man, I liked him even more in my clothing, all casual and adorable.

“I know. Don’t remind me.” I pointed at the stacks of unopened delivery boxes in the closet. “I’ve got the presents, but I hate wrapping.”

“I love to wrap.” Nolan rubbed his hands together, likely due to the chill and his enthusiasm. “Can I help?”

“Absolutely.” I was down with any activity that got me more time with him before Christmas, but I also wanted the help. “You can wrap all but yours.”

“There’s one for me?” Nolan got all cheerful as I dragged him away from the closet and into the morning air. Barney led the way on his leash, unconcerned by the crisp air.

“It’s a cheesy present,” I warned as we made our way around the building and up a small hill to the spot with the pool and hot tub. There was a fence with a locked gate, but I had a key because I did occasional pool maintenance for my landlord. “Don’t expect much.”

“I’m charmed whatever it is.” He waited for me to open the gate, then followed me to the hot tub, making a show of tiptoeing like we were thieves. Knowing better than to attempt swimming in the hot tub, Barney flopped down on a lounger. Nolan tested the water with a single toe. “Oh, I’m supposed to invite you and the boys to Cara’s annual Christmas Eve open house.” He slipped into the hot tub before adding, “My parents will be in town. You could meet them.”

I switched on the bubbles before joining him in the hot tub. “Is that a please come, Merry? Or is it a this will be awkward, but Cara asked?”

“It’s a please come.” He offered me an earnest smile. “I know we said we’re only…together this month, but the holidays aren’t over yet. Give us Christmas Eve.”

“Okay.” There wasn’t much I could deny him. “Christmas Day, we’re headed to North Shore to my family. You’d be welcome, of course.” I added the invitation all casually, but in actuality, waking up with Nolan on Christmas morning was a sudden addition to my personal bucket list. “But sounds like you’ll be on parent duty.”

“Yes.” Nolan made a face. “And they are boring and stuffy, but they’re mine. And only here a week. Will you be back for New Year’s Eve?”

“ Should I be back?” I countered.

“Cara’s neighborhood does this annual party. The girls have been talking about it all month. There’s food and dancing.” Nolan’s face lit up in the early dawn light at the mention of a party. “You and the twins could come.”

“Well, for the chance to dance with you, I’ll be there.” The surfing around New Year’s on North Shore was legendary, but for the chance to dance one more time with Nolan, I could put my grumpy self in an actual shirt with buttons and brave the neighborhood party.

I pulled him to me, his back to my chest so he was using me as a pillow, and we relaxed in the hot tub, watching the world start to wake up.

Inevitably, though, Nolan had to speak. “Do you have a Christmas wish?”

“I’m too old for wishes.” I kissed his neck, pretty sure he was fishing for present ideas, and I wasn’t about to help him out there. “And my only New Year’s resolution is to try to be more optimistic like you.”

“I’m touched.”

“Yeah, you are.” I swept my hands up and down his torso and thighs under the water.

“But I still don’t know what to get you.” Making a mournful noise, Nolan pouted.

“Maybe you’re my present this year?” I suggested, but Nolan’s pout deepened. “And I’m an only kid. I got spoiled enough growing up. I don’t need anything.”

“All right.” Nolan’s tone was all cagey, and his eyes had come alive with sparkles like he’d had some sort of brainstorm.

“You have a terrible poker face.” I tickled him lightly under the water. “Don’t get me anything.”

“I won’t,” he lied, and I let him.

“Is there a role you’ve always wanted to play?” I asked to distract him from thoughts of presents. Also, I was reluctant to leave the warm tub and rejoin the rest of humanity. As long as I had Nolan in my arms, everything else could wait.

“Hmm.” Nolan made a thoughtful noise. “The one that gets me a Tony?” He chuckled, then turned more serious. “I don’t know. I always say I want this leading role or that one, but some of my best experiences have been in a supporting part. And obviously, my first love is musicals.”

“Obviously,” I teased.

“There are certain numbers I’ve always wanted to sing. I guess that’s my answer. Not a specific part, but that sort of once-in-a-lifetime solo that becomes an iconic Broadway moment.”

“Good answer.” I swallowed hard because he wasn’t ever finding that on Oahu, and now, I didn’t know why I’d asked.

“But isn’t that what every actor wants? To be a legend?” Nolan shrugged against me. “Most of us, though, settle for making a living if we’re so lucky. How about you? Did you ever want to be a professional surfer?”

“No.” I huffed out a harsh breath. “Okay, that’s a lie. Before the twins, yes, I dreamed about that all the time. Dad and Grandpa supported me, and I was rising up the amateur ranks. Full-time doesn’t happen for many surfers, but the idea was to make enough at the shop and doing lessons that I could continue to compete.”

“Maybe you’ll return to it someday like your grandpa did?”

“Maybe.” It was my turn for the melancholy shrug. “But I’m happy being a dad. Life gave me a different wave to catch, and I’m okay with that.”

“That’s a great way to put it.” Nolan stretched his head back to give me a kiss, which I turned up the heat on until we were at risk for more than simply sneaking into the hot tub. Nolan straddled me as we made out in the hot tub, but what little common sense I had left spoke up.

“Race you back to my bed before brunch?”

“Absolutely.” Beaming, Nolan hefted himself out of the hot tub. “And if we hurry, there will be enough time for me to do some present-wrapping for you.”

“You sound almost more excited for that than the sex.” I followed him into the still-chilly morning air and collected Barney and his leash in short order.

“Both.” Nolan offered me a quick kiss before taking my hand. “I’m excited for both. Christmas is coming, and so are we.”

He giggled at his silly joke, and I couldn’t help but join in. I lived for his puns and good humor. However, inside, I was secretly dreading Christmas because it meant we were that much closer to the end of the month.