Chapter 34

Emilia

Today was everything. Not just the Christmas market and all it had to bring but spending that time with Liam, my feelings grew even stronger for him. Now, we're sitting on the couch with his siblings while we eat homemade pizza that Ann made and watching Christmas classics. The way everyone is joking together and laughing fills my heart. I always imagined what having a sibling would be like and this right here is exactly what I pictured. Eliza stands to clear her plate, Ryan sticks his plate out for her to take his and his empty drink, she rolls her eyes but takes it anyways.

"Let me help." I get up as she reaches for mine and Liam's plates.

"I could get used to having another girl around here." She shoots me a grateful smile before sticking her tongue out at her brothers. We head for the kitchen where Ann has started laying out a bunch of ingredients for whatever she's about to make next. I swear that she is superwoman, constantly having homemade meals ready for her family. She's the kind of mom I hope to be some day.

"Is it cookie time?" Eliza asks, placing the dishes from her arms and mine in the dishwasher.

"You know it is." Ann sings, pulling out a mixing bowl from the cabinet.

"Yes!" Eliza does a little shimmy.

"Would you like any help?" Both women turn to me with big smiles on their faces.

"Oh, yes! Make cookies with us Em. This is my favorite Christmas tradition." My chest squeezes at the ease at which these women welcome me into their traditions and their world. My nickname rolls off Eliza's tongue as if we've been friends for years. Everything about this house, these women, this family is warmth and kindness.

"Do you have any Christmas traditions Em?" Eliza ties on the apron Ann handed both of us.

"Um. Yeah. Well I used to. My grandparents always let me open a gift on Christmas Eve." I offer the women a small smile. Eliza returns a small smile of her own, Ann reaches out and squeezes my hand.

"Well, let's get to work ladies." I'm not sure what Liam has told them about my family, if anything, but I'm grateful they don't pry.

We spend the next hour mixing, rolling, shaping and cooking the dough. Baking a range of sugar cookies, gingerbread men and snicker doodles. When it's time to decorate, Ann sends Eliza downstairs to get the boys and Dean who migrated to the basement where they apparently have a game room.

"It's amazing that you're able to make this all from scratch and gluten free." I gesture to all the cookies and frosting she's laying out in piping bags on the table.

"It was a learning process but it's been a great way for Eli and I to bond." She smiles. It's so nice to hear a mother talk about enjoying time with her daughter. I feel a pang of jealousy but I snuff it out. Being jealous has never gotten me anywhere good so I choose to be thankful for the course my life has taken instead. It usually works but I have my moments.

"You're an amazing mom."

"You're so sweet." I see the glistening of her eyes but she blinks it away. "It was hard after their dad passed, I'm not sure what Liam has told you about that."

"He hasn't, really."

"It affected him a lot. They were so close, he wanted to be just like him." The same glisten appears in her eyes again. "He hasn't truly been the same since. Always trying to make everything perfect for everybody I think he forgets to make himself happy." I nod, listening. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees how he always tries to be the hero and the protector. "I think you're good for him."

I smile at that because he's good for me. I've always believed in love, despite my upbringing, but I let that hope fall to the wayside since my grandparents passed. So focused on school and working, securing this great stable future where I can help people. Liam reignited that part of me that hopes and that believes in love.

Before either of us can say anything else the door to the basement opens and all four of them come bounding into the space. Liam comes to me immediately, wrapping me in his arms from behind and resting his chin on my head.

We decorated dozens of cookies. Eliza's and Ann's looked incredibly professional, like they belonged in a shop, meanwhile Ryan and Liam's looked like they were done by first graders. Dean and I fell somewhere in the middle of knowing an adult made it but you probably wouldn't sell it in your bakery. I love listening to the siblings bicker back and forth and watching Dean and Ann get caught up in each other as they dance around the kitchen. I feel grateful that Liam gets to experience this type of family and that they opened their arms to me this season.

After decorating we all migrated to the couches in the living room to watch Christmas movies. I sat next to Liam, after about thirty minutes he adjusted us so my head was on his chest and the rest of me curled up into him. Ann and Dean left after the first movie to head to bed. The second one just ends when Eliza gets up, folding her blanket and says goodnight to us all, Ryan follows her lead and heads in the other direction.

I should get up, I'm exhausted, but I can't seem to find it in myself to move. Part way through the last movie I adjusted myself so I'm fully laying down, my head in Liam's lap as he plays with my hair. I contemplate just letting my body drift off to sleep right here, when Liam leans down pressing a kiss to my temple. I turn my head slightly to smile at him and he leans down again, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

"It's Christmas Eve." He states.

"It is."

"I have something for you." I look up at him, confused. Then fully sit up so he can stand. "It's your tradition, right? To do one gift on Christmas Eve?" He heads to the big tree and pulls out a small, wrapped box from behind some of the presents that have been left there.

"You remembered." I can feel my eyes getting glassy but I blink the moisture away. Liam's next to me again on the couch, brushing my hair out of my face.

"Of course. I remember everything about you." The heat hits my cheeks instantly. He places the small wrapped gift in my hands.

Carefully, I peel the tape and the paper back. Underneath the wrapping is a velvet blue box, I open it and a small gasp escapes me. Inside is a dainty gold necklace with the letter "L" on it. My eyes shoot up to meet Liam's, who are full of hope and something else I can't quite decipher.

"I know this is kind of presumptuous," Liam takes one of my hands in his. "Em. I like you so damn much. I've been trying to hide it, to shove it down so I don't lose you as a friend but I can't anymore. You make me feel everything. Last night I meant what I said, nothing about us has to do with a list or anything like that." The moisture in my eyes has returned and this time I can't blink it away, a few tears spill over and start to run down my cheeks before Liam swipes them away with his thumb. "Fuck. I didn't mean to make you cry. We can just be friends. If that's what you want. I'll take you in any capacity I can get."

"No." I choke out, trying to clear my throat so he really hears me. "I don't want to be just friends. These are happy tears. I like you so damn much too." His eyes begin to glimmer again, a smile spreading across his face.

"Does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." With that Liam stands, scooping me up in his arms and I can't help the giggle that escapes my lips. He carries me up to his room, stopping every ten feet to plant a kiss on my lips. We finally manage to get up the stairs and into his room, where he sits me down on the bed before climbing onto it right beside me.

"I have something for you too." I push up to my feet and walk over to my bag. I pull the wrapped gift out of my bag, handing it over to him. Unlike me, who unwraps presents carefully, Liam rips it right open revealing a framed photo of us from that day at homecoming. I have the biggest smile on my face and Liam is looking at me and I see it now, like Rosie said, he looks at me with stars in his eyes.

"I love it."

"You"re sure? I know it's just a picture but..."

"Baby stop. I'm serious. It means the world to me that you even thought about me."

"Of course I thought about you. I'm always thinking about you."

"Oh yeah? What do you think about when you think of me." He lifts me up, carrying me over to the bed, kissing me the whole time.