Free Our First Christmas by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith Page A

“Smarty, I know you want to go out.”
    “Levi, I actually don’t want to. I just want to be with you. It’s still snowing, so why don’t we order some food and it just be you and me tonight?” I rub his arm.
    “ My bag is in the SUV. Let me grab it while you order some pizza.”
    I give him a quick kiss. “Deal.”
    I call in the pizza and head back to the bedroom to change into my pajamas. I grab a pair of sweats and a Penguins t-shirt. I’m washing my face when Levi throws his bag onto the bed and pulls out a pair of flannel pants. I stare as he removes his shirt. I’m sure I’m drooling. One thing I love is Levi’s hockey body.
    “ I can feel you staring, Smarty.” He doesn’t even look at me, but I know he has a smirk on his face.
    I nervously giggle and finish washing my face. Levi comes up behind me as I’m drying my face and wraps his arms around me.
    “May I ask you something?”
    I turn around in his arms. “Of course.”
    “Tomorrow, when I head home for break, will you come with me?”
    “ What? You want me to come home with you for the whole break?”
    “ Yes, I want you to stay with me and spend Christmas with Dad and me. I know that we just got back together, but I don’t think I can handle being away from you.” He rests his forehead on mine.
    “ Levi, I’ve never been away from my family during the holidays.”
    He nods and pulls back to looks at me. “I know and I understand if you say no, but I want you there. I know Dad would love it too.”
    I love Levi and Victor, and I would love to spend the holidays with them. On the other hand, my dad and mom will flip out if I tell them I won’t be home. Plus, I’ve never spent the holidays away from them. But I know that I’m going to have to some day. Like when I have a family of my own or when I go away to law school. They need to get used to the idea. I feel more welcomed at Victor’s anyway, and I want to be with Levi.
    “ Yes.”
    “ Yes?” Levi looks a little shocked.
    “ Yes, but I need to pack and you have to carry all my bags.” I grin at him.
    “ Deal, Smarty.” He leans in and kisses me.
     

Chapter Two
    Levi
     
    Presley decided to hold off on telling her parents until today. Last night was about us. We ate the pizza and watched a movie. It was quite perfect too. We fell asleep in each others arms in the living room. Honestly, I can’t ask for much more than that. I’m just glad to have her back. Even happier now that she’s spending Christmas with me and Pops. We’ve just left to pick up Pops from the hospital and Presley is calling her parents. She glances at me nervously, the phone pressed to her ear.
    “ Mother, hello,” she says. “Yes, I’m fine,” she answers after a pause. “Well, that’s what I was calling about. I’m not coming home this year.” Her eyes squeeze close and I can faintly hear her mother talking rapidly. “Yes, Mother. I know, but-” I reach over to take her hand, but she doesn’t really acknowledge me. “I’ll be with Levi and-” Mrs. McCarthy cuts her off again and even though I can’t really hear what she’s saying, I know she’s pissed.
    “ If it’s going to be too much trouble, I can take you home,” I whisper, but Presley glares at me. With my eyes back on the road, I see her square her shoulders from the corner of my eye.
    “ Mother, it’s not like we’re going to spend every single Christmas together for the rest of my life. It’s only the first time and I really want to spend it with his family.” My family? It’s only me and Pops. “Look, I’m sorry, but we’ve already left. Everyone will be fine without me anyway. Bye,” she adds quickly before her mother can say anything else. Presley groans and leans into the seat.
    “ Everything okay?” What a stupid question. People only ask when they know that it’s not. Almost as if we’re giving the other person an opportunity to lie and say that it is okay, when it obviously isn’t. If it was, we