25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Evie

The doorbell chimes, and my heart races. Jamie sent a text five minutes ago saying he was on his way.

I slip on my coat, take one last quick glance at my reflection, and grab my purse before opening the door.

Standing before me in a charcoal gray wool coat and a black scarf is Jamie. When I look up at his face, I notice a small smile lifting from the corner of his lips as his hazel eyes take me in.

My breath hitches, and a matching smile creeps across my face.

"Hi." His husky voice washes over me.

"Hi," I echo. My stomach tightens, and I just stand there staring at him.

This isn't exactly a date; it's just Jamie picking me up for a tree-trimming party at Jessica's. It will most likely include a game of Trivial Pursuit if Jess has anything to say about it. It's nothing we haven't done before, and yet my mouth is dry, and my pulse is racing.

He leans in and gives me a soft kiss. When his lips touch mine, my knees go a little weak, and my stomach flutters.

"You look beautiful," he whispers softly against my lips before pressing them to mine again. "Ready to go?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." I smile, and I start to walk away from my front door when Jamie's voice grabs my attention.

"Do I need to lock the door?" I turn to find him with his hand on the doorknob, and a mischievous glint in his eyes as he waits for my response.

I chuckle, realizing that I completely forgot to close the door behind me. "That would be good, wouldn't it." I roll my eyes, a bit embarrassed.

He pulls the door closed for me just as I return. I put the key in the lock and turn.

"All ready," I say, my voice a bit higher pitched than usual.

I start to walk down the steps again when Jamie suddenly comes in front of me, blocking my path. He puts his hands on my arms and my entire body zings from the touch.

"Evie, look at me." I lift my eyes to his and see a softness there that has my heart wobbling. "Why are you nervous? It's just me."

I let out a deep breath and sigh, resting a hand on his arm before laughing. "I don't know."

A crooked smile crosses his face as he slides his hand down my arm to capture mine before entwining our fingers together. He turns his body a bit and gently pulls me toward his car.

The tightness in my stomach loosens, and I feel the tension fall from my shoulders.

"You have nothing to be worried about. It's just our families who are going to mercilessly tease and grill us for the first ten minutes or so after we walk through the door."

"Jamie!" I gently smack him on the shoulder. "You're not helping."

He chuckles as he opens the car door for me. "Well, it's true."

"I hope not," I say as I slide in, and he closes the passenger door.

"If they're anything like Sean was, we are in for a long night." He says as the car comes to life with a purr.

"What do you mean?" My eyebrows shoot up. "Sean gave you a hard time?"

"He was merciless! Oh, and the entire town probably thinks that we're engaged."

"WHAT?!" My eyes get as wide as saucers, and my mouth drops open.

Jamie chuckles and turns to face me. "I think I'll let your brother explain that story to you."

His eyes are dancing, and I can tell he's pressing his lips together to keep a full-blown grin from breaking out. I let my eyes run over his face as the corner of my lips lift. Then, a chuckle breaks through.

"I'm not sure I can guarantee my big brother's safety tonight," I joke as Jamie starts to pull away from the curb.

"I look forward to seeing the battle go down." Jamie laughs. "One thing I've always enjoyed is watching the O'Connell siblings squabble."

"That rarely happens," I scoff, and he laughs.

"I know! Which is why it's so much fun to watch when it does ."

We walk into Jessica's house to Jingle Bell Rock playing and everyone singing the chorus. I can smell cinnamon and pine wafting through to the foyer. I feel Jamie's hands at the neck of my coat as he helps me to take it off.

I feel my heart start to race as I realize that Jamie and I will be seeing our families for the first time as an official couple.

Funny how kissing him in front of the entire town didn't make me this anxious.

He hangs up both of our coats, then comes to stand behind me and wraps his arms around me.

"Ready?" He kisses the top of my head, and I nod. "Then let's go."

He grabs my hand and smiles at me as we walk into the living room.

"Evie!" Jessica shouts from the table as soon as she sees me. She takes a bite of one of the many hors d'oeuvres to choose from. Also on the table is a charcuterie board, chips, and cider. "Sean tells me you're engaged!"

"So I heard." I laugh and shake my head as the tension in my body fades. This is my family and our closest friends. Jamie and I together isn't a surprise to them. I turn to glare at my brother, who is sitting on the couch with my mom, getting the popcorn garland ready. "Want to tell me what that is all about?"

I watch as everyone's gaze bounces from me, Jamie, and then to Sean.

Sean throws his head back and laughs. "Steve was pretending that he couldn't hear what I was saying about you and Jamie being engaged at some point in the future and took it to mean you're engaged now. I think he's excited to get another wedding invitation."

"What?!" Everyone except Jamie yells. If I was an outsider looking in, I might laugh at each person having the exact same expression, mouths agape and eyebrows raised.

"Sean. You didn't." My mother laughs as she lightly smacks my brother on the arm. "Can't you just let them enjoy dating for a little bit?"

"Speaking of dating," Lenny chimes in. "You are dating, aren't you?"

I feel the warmth of Jamie's body as he steps behind me and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. I rest my hands on his arms, lean into him and nod.

"Yes, we are dating." A smile stretches across my face.

"It's about time," Mark and my dad say at the same time.

"I was starting to wonder if you would ever find the courage to ask her out, Jamie." Mark slaps his son on the shoulder.

"Right?" My dad grins. "I don't think we could've handled you looking at Evie like a love sick puppy much longer."

I feel heat creep up my face just as Jamie tucks his head in my shoulder.

"I'm gonna die of embarrassment," he mumbles, his breath on my neck sending little tingles through my body.

I shake my head and giggle at his reaction. It just hits me that this is the first time Jamie is bringing someone ‘home'.

"This is what you get for never dating anyone seriously."

"Hey," he scoffs at me and rubs his chin on the side of my neck, tickling me. "Maybe I was just waiting for the moment you realized you were in love with me."

I freeze at his words, and he rests his chin against my neck and I can feel his steady, warm breath on my skin. I turn in his arms and move my hands up his chest and around his neck. "How long have you been in love with me?"

The intensity in his eyes has my knees buckle and my stomach swoop. If he wasn't holding me up, I'm pretty sure I'd melt into the floor. He slowly leans his head toward mine and whispers. "Maybe my whole life?"

"Maybe your whole life?" I gasp, pulling my head back.

"Maybe." He nods, cupping my cheeks with his hands and pulling my face closer to his.

Just as his lips are about to touch mine, I hear Sean scoff.

"No maybe about it."

I can feel Jamie's laughter just as he places his lips on mine, warmth spreads throughout my body and just for a moment everyone fades away. I lean my body into him and let myself enjoy being kissed by the man I love.

"Are we ever going to start decorating this tree, or are we just going to watch Jamie and Evie kiss?" I feel my lips lift and a chuckle escape as I hear my dad's pointed question.

Everyone laughs, but right before I let go of Jamie, I lean in, kiss him on the cheek and whisper. "Thank you for waiting."

Before I can walk away, he whispers in my ear. "I thought I would be waiting forever."

I go to smack him on the arm, but before I can, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me soundly.