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"He always liked it growing up. I don't know what to tell you."
God. I was over-thinking it. I was over-thinking everything. "But it's not just that, Rob. I know he's getting me the world's greatest gift. And I have no idea what to get him." I grabbed a mug out of the cupboard.
"Head."
I almost dropped the cup, but caught it before it smashed against the granite. "That's not what I'm talking about," I hissed as I gently placed it against the counter.
He smiled. "Well, I'm telling you. He just wants head."
"That's not..." I sighed and leaned against the counter. "That isn't even a gift."
Rob put his hands against his chest. "I knew you were the woman of my dreams. If you're just handing out blowjobs, I'll take one."
I hit his arm. "Stop, Rob. I'm being serious. What do I get him?" I grabbed two more mugs out of the cupboard and pulled out the cocoa mix.
"And I'm being serious. Every guy wants head as a present. Always. It's literally always the answer."
I shook my head. Rob was so freaking unhelpful. "Is there something that he's always wanted?"
"Head."
"Not helping." I pulled the hot milk off the stove and poured it into the cups. I had just started to mix the cocoa in when James stumbled into the apartment with the tree over his shoulder.
The mixture of freshly cut pine and hot chocolate made any sense of our apartment being un-Christmassy evaporate.
Rob put down his beer, lifted up his hot cocoa, and blew on it. He started walking past James, not offering any help with the tree. "Penny wants to know why you hate Christmas, Mr. Grinch." He slapped him on the stomach with his free hand and then collapsed on the couch.
Rob. "I didn't...that wasn't..." my voice trailed off. Because I did. And it was. I cringed.
James set the tree down in the foyer and ran his hand through his hair. "I don't hate Christmas, Penny."
"I know." I rushed over to him with the cups of cocoa. I think I know. I offered him one of the cups, hoping it would distract him. I wanted to sing carols and decorate the Christmas tree. I didn't want to talk about the past. Even if he did hate Christmas, I could make him like it. I knew I could. I just needed time.
He brushed off his hands on his wool coat and grabbed a cup. "I don't hate Christmas," he repeated. The mug effectively disappeared beneath his big hands.
"Look around, man," Rob said from the other room. "Where's all the Christmas garland? And stockings? And strings of lights?"
Not helping, Rob!
James gave me a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm sorry that I've been so busy, Penny. I know getting Hunter Tech off the ground is taking up a lot of my time, but..."
"James it's okay. All I wanted was the tree. And now we have the tree." I looked down at the beautiful, lopsided tree. "Oh, shit."
"What?" He looked up from his mug.
"I forgot about the tree stand. We can't put it up without a tree stand."
James looked down at his watch. "I'm not sure what stores will still be open. Maybe Ellen has..."
"We're not calling Ellen about this." I loved Ellen. I loved Ian. But I wasn't used to having help. And every time James asked them for something it made me feel like I was letting him down. How had I forgotten about the tree stand?
"The game is on!" Rob shouted from the other room.
"I'll pick one up in the morning, okay?" I said. "And then when you get home tomorrow we can set it up. Just the two of us."
"That sounds perfect."
We walked together into the living room and joined Rob on the couch. He had already kicked off his shoes and made himself at home.
"Everyone's already talking about New York's hottest couple heating up the freezing cold city." Rob flashed us a picture on his phone from a tabloid.
It was of me standing on my tiptoes, kissing James on the nose. The tree was on the roof of our car. It was actually a really great photo. The only thing wrong with it was the caption under the picture: "Professor James Hunter and student caught fraternizing once again." I nuzzled into James' side. I was just going to pretend that the headline Rob made up was what it had really said. I never thought I'd get used to the tabloids. But maybe I finally was. Although, it was so unnerving that I hadn't even seen the paparazzi.
"Do you get alerts about us or something?" James asked.
"Of course," Rob said. "How do you expect me to keep up to date with you two when I live in boring old Delaware where nothing happens?"
"You could move back."
"Yeah. I guess I could."
I smiled to myself as I listened to their exchange. One day, I knew Rob would move back to New York. When he was ready to have some roots. But I couldn't imagine it being any time soon. Until then, I enjoyed his unexpected visits.
I took a sip of my hot chocolate and rested my head on James' shoulder. We didn't need a Christmas tree or any fancy decorations. I was perfectly content just being next to him.
2 Days Before Christmas
I pushed my cart through the aisle of the hardware store. Decorations of all kinds lined the aisle. I had already been here once, right after Thanksgiving. I had picked up tons of ornaments and lights. Tonight, we'd finally be putting them to use.
I stopped my cart by the Christmas tree stands. How I had forgotten one of these? Honestly, I knew the answer. Growing up, I never had to think about it. We just had one. But I was an adult now. I needed to start thinking two steps ahead. I lifted up one of the stands and examined it. I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for. It seemed good enough.
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