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"That was when I thought you'd be bringing some of your hot single friends."
Right. Before he found out that I hadn't made any friends. Except for these guys. And damn it, I was going to force them to have fun tonight if it was the last thing I did. "Ice skating. Now." I said it with way too much authority. It made it sound like what I was forcing them to do wouldn't be any fun at all. I pointed to the Rockefeller tree when no one moved.
They all groaned and pretending like I was torturing them. Was I? This wasn't the night they had planned.
"Are they going to hate me after this?" I asked James as we followed them toward the ice.
"Are you kidding?"
I looked up at him. "No? It seems like I'm torturing them."
"What? They're having a blast."
"They're literally groaning."
He laughed. "They're just messing with you, Penny. If they weren't having fun they would have gone back to the bar. When we left, Rob even said, 'if this blows, let's just head back to the bar.' But they're all still here."
I smiled. "Are you having fun?"
"I'm having the best Christmas Eve ever. Now let's get you in a pair of skates so I can watch that perfect ass of yours continuously fall on the ice."
"I'm a good ice skater," I said.
"Well I'm not."
I laughed as he wrapped his arm behind my back. I snuggled into his warmth as we followed our friends.
Mason was standing there watching Rob and Matt lace their skates.
"Aren't you going to join us?" I asked.
"Actually, I should get going. I have a couple errands to run."
"You sure, man?" Matt said. "It's going to be just like old times. We used to do this with my mom when we were little," he said to me.
Maybe I was the only one that saw it, but Mason looked sad. I knew he was fighting with his parents. I knew this Christmas was hard for him.
"I'll catch you all later," Mason said and started to walk away.
No Merry Christmas. No cheer at all. He just walked away. But he didn't get far before I caught up to him.
"Mason!"
He turned around.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you used to do this with your parents."
He parted his lips like he was about to say something, but then he closed them again. He didn't have to say anything. I knew he was hurting.
"Come to our house tomorrow for Christmas," I said. "James and I would love to have you."
"I don't want to impose..."
"You wouldn't be imposing. I know you like to look like you're made of steel, but I know you're all warm and fuzzy on the inside. And guess what? Earlier today, Rob made fun of me because I haven't made any friends in New York. But do you know what I told him? That I made friends with you."
He smiled. "But Christmas is for family."
"I left my family behind in Wilmington." It hurt to say out loud, but it was true. "But do you know what I've been learning? Friends are family that you choose. Come tomorrow. We can miss our parents together."
It was almost like he thawed in front of me. "Yeah, I mean...if you're sure."
"I'm sure." I wrapped him in a huge hug. "Merry Christmas Eve, Mason."
"Merry Christmas Eve, Penny."
This time when he walked away, he didn't look so sad. He even turned around and waved.
"What was all that about?" James asked when I ran back over to him. He already had his skates laced and was holding a pair out for me.
"I invited him over tomorrow. I hope that's okay." I sat down and started lacing my skates.
"Of course it's okay."
"I like your friends, James."
"I'm pretty sure they like you too."
I looked out at the ice and laughed as Matt pushed Rob. Rob fell right on his ass.
"Shall we?" James said and put out his hand.
I slid my hand into his and let him guide me over to the skating rink. New York was truly starting to feel like home. I even had this new amazing family. I smiled again at Matt and Rob fighting on the ice.
Whatever I remembered about ice skating was completely wrong. Because I landed on my ass almost as many times as James. Partially because I kept insisting on holding his hand, though. So whenever he fell, he took me with him.
"Race you!" Rob yelled.
I picked up my pace and quickly realized I didn't know how to stop. I did the best I could to slow down before colliding straight into James.
He laughed as we tumbled onto the ice.
"Ow. I think you're trying to break my back," he groaned.
I smiled and placed a soft kiss against his lips. "No, I like you in one piece, thank you very much."
A smile spread across his face. Pure Christmas joy.
"What?" I asked. I wanted to know what caused that smile. Because I wanted to see it over and over again.
"Penny, it's snowing."
Just as he said the words, I saw a snowflake land on his forehead. I looked up at the sky. Flurries were falling slowly. It felt like a Christmas miracle. Snow! It's really snowing!
"If it wasn't freezing, I could stay in this moment forever," James said.
I smiled down at him. "And why's that?"
"You. That smile on your face."
I swallowed hard. "I guess we need to get you some hot chocolate to warm you up." I lifted my finger and tapped the tip of his nose. "Boop." As soon as I did it, I was completely mortified. God, did I just do that? I just booped James Hunter on the nose. Who boops James Hunter on the nose?
"Did you just boop me on the nose?" he said with a laugh.
"Um, no. I think you imagined that."
He tickled my side as I tried to climb off of him and I slipped on the ice, landing beside him. "Fine. I booped your nose. I confess." I couldn't help but laugh.
"That was the cutest thing ever."
I didn't even mind him describing me as cute tonight. It was Christmas Eve. And Christmas Eve was always perfect. Besides, I didn't just boop James Hunter's nose. I booped my fiancé's nose. It was good that we were learning all the weird things we did.
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- Writer
