Free Playing With Fire (Sweet Secrets #3) by Taylor Henderson Page A

you love him.”
    She chewed on her bottom lip as she nodded. We drove the rest of the way in silence. When we turned onto John’s street, Mom said, “You’re right. I’m being irrational.”
    I held my forefinger and my thumb an inch apart as I said, “Just a little.”
    She let out a breathy laugh. When we got closer to John’s house, instead of stopping, she drove past it. “I’m going to go around the block.”
    “Don’t want our moment to end?”
    She nodded, her hands still clenching the wheel. “Just not ready yet. I will be in a bit.” She glanced over at me and forced a smile. “Are you nervous?”
    “No,” I answered a little too quickly. “Maybe just a little.”
    She pursed her lips. “I never even stopped to ask you how you feel about the move.” It was like her statement was a spoken realization. “I am so sorry, honey.” She reached over and patted my knee before returning her hand to the steering wheel.
    “It’s fine. I would’ve told you if I didn’t want to move. I’m excited. I really like John. Living at his house will take some getting used to, but we’ll get used to it in no time. Besides, I really love the twins, and I want to see them every day.” I’m also really happy that she’s happy, but I didn’t say it, not wanting to bring up any memories of how unhappy she had been until recently.
    Mom’s face lit up at the mention of Taylor and Cammie. “Yeah, I’m ready to live with them too. Like a real mom.”
    “You are a real mom.”
    She nodded her head. “I know. It’s just…it was difficult not being around during their early memories. I’m happy I can be with them now.”
    I smiled, leaning back in my seat. “Me too.”
    We rounded a corner and came back to John’s street. As we neared the house, Mom said, “I’m ready now,” and pulled into the driveway. We sat there for a while before we got out and began unpacking, just staring up at this house that was now our home. Spending the night here a few times was different than living here. The room that I slept in was now my room. I would have my own space inside this house, and I could invite my friends over. I would watch my little siblings grow up here, and in turn I would do some growing myself. A week from now I would be spending my first Christmas with my mom, John, and the twins.
    As I sat there, staring up at the single family home that held so much hope for my future, I wondered what it had in store for my mom and John. Hopefully it involved a bright future with a lot of happy memories.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 13
     
     
    Christmas carols floated throughout the house, along with the smell of freshly baked cookies. My mom and I got up early to bake sugar cookies and make a huge breakfast in honor of our first Christmas in our new home. Thanks to John, the living room had been cleared of all boxes a few days before and we were able to put up our tree and decorate it together last night. We were late for decorating, but we still had a good time doing it. Taylor and Cammie even participated. Taylor sat on the floor near the tree, chewing on a stuffed ornament, while Cammie spent her time drooling on our stockings.
    Now we were all sitting in the living room, preparing to open our gifts. John was holding Cammie in his lap and sitting on the couch, while my mom was sitting on the floor close to the tree with Taylor in her lap. I was next to her, with my laptop open in front of me.
    This was a Christmas of firsts. Not only was it the first time I was spending it with the twins and John, but it was also my first time not spending it with Lena and my dad. I really missed them a lot. Lena and I had come up with the idea that we should video-chat while we opened our gifts—that way we could be together in a sense.
    My laptop trilled as I called Lena. When she finally answered, I almost screeched in excitement. Her face took up the screen as she leaned in and shouted, “Merry