Taivon: Book Three of the Cantrell Brothers Series

Chapter Forty

She easily had enough for the purchase. Her books were a success, after all.

When they got back to his house, he brought the tree inside, not even needing her help, which was pretty impressive, considering that it had taken two guys to lift it and put it on top of his vehicle.

“Here's the p-plan,” he said. “I do th-th-th-the lights, and you do th tr-tree. Sound good?”

“Don't you want me to hold the ladder?”

Taivon shook his head. “It should be fuh-fuh-fine. Snow wuh-will hold it.”

“Okay, but be careful. And make sure to dress warm.”

“Yes, Ma.” He laughed before heading to his bedroom.

A few minutes later, he came back, with his thick Carhartt jacket. He put on that knit cap that made him look absolutely adorable, with the soft fabric pulled over his forehead.

“Be safe.”

Taivon leaned down to give a quick peck on the lips and then went into the garage. She could see through the windows as he positioned the ladder, a study in stern concentration, and unstrung the lights. She waved. With lights in between his teeth, he waved back.

Looking down at the decorations all piled onto the couch, she began to open up the boxes, starting with the tree lights first. They had gold, white, red, green, and blue – a whole mishmash of color that would look beautiful in his living room.

It wasn't too difficult. She plugged them in, then wrapped the lights around, starting from the bottom and working upward. The hard part came when she was too short to reach any higher. She had half the mind to call Taivon to string them up for her, but after she got a chair and slid it in close enough, it got easier.

The ornaments came next. Her and her sister had always been in charge of decorating the tree at home, so she figured her spacial skills were up to par. Either way, she tried extra hard, wanting it to look perfect.

She didn't know how long she worked with the poking needles or the glossy ornaments, but her arms were getting store from reaching up so high and her toes felt numb from standing up on them too long.

Her phone started to vibrate in her pocket. She checked the number. “Taiv?”

“Hey,” he said, laughing a little. “I k-k-k-kinda need some help.”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing wr-wrong.” He paused then said, “Th-The ladder just fuh-fuh-fell, and I'm st-stuck on th-the roof.”

She was out there within the minute, laughing as she put on her jacket, one of his hats, and an extra pair of boots that were much too big for her. Sure enough, as soon as she was in the backyard, she saw him casually sitting on the roof, hands under his butt.

“Hi.”

She smiled. “Hey. How's it going?”

“Wuh-Was good, but yuh-ya know.”

After picking up the ladder from the snow, she held it up. He came down easily, jumping off at the fourth rung with a heavy thud, right next to her. The next thing she knew he was holding her in his arms, swinging her around wildly.

“You saved me!” He laughed.

When he put her down, Alix grabbed him by that knit cap of his and pulled him down for a kiss. Their lips connected, and he just responded to her touch, like always. It was just too bad that their was snow on the ground, because she so would have done him right then and there.

She pulled away, licking his jaw before looking up at the lights. It looked really good so far, and it was only day time. She couldn't wait to see what they would look like tonight, all bright and shining during a calm winter night.

“It looks good, Taiv.” Alix spared a glance at the ladder. “Are ya sure you don't want me to stay out here, just to hold the ladder or something?”

He shook his head. “Tr-Trust me, Alix. I guh-guh-got it. Besides, I wuh-wanna see th-th-that tree.”

“Okay.” With one last kiss to his cheek, she went inside and got back to work on the tree. A few times, she pricked herself with the needles, but other than that, the ornaments went on smoothly. She re-arranged everything until it looked perfect. She was just about finished when the back patio door opened, and Taivon walked in.

His cheeks were red, probably wind-burned from the cold outside. His breaths were visible for a second before disappearing in the warmth of the house. Just like this morning, she couldn't take her eyes off him. He took off his hat and gloves and hung up his jacket.

His eyes widened when he saw her, first looking at the tree then back down at her. “Perfect.”

Alix could feel her own cheeks turning red. He walked towards her and once again, picked her up. His hands felt so, so cold; she couldn't help but gasp as he cupped her face in those icicles and looked down at her, right into her eyes with his beautiful hazels. He had one of those small smiles on his face.

“Th-Thank you, Alix.”

She didn't think this was at all about her kick ass tree decorating skills but rather had to do with the piece of paper in that box. He was too happy, though. Bringing it up now would ruin his good mood, and she hated to see him down.

“Hey, you're the one who braved the cold and hung up the lights.”

He kissed her, lightly on the lips. “Th-The tree looks guh-good. You look guh-good. I'm hungry.”

“Then let's make something.”

“Ya know wuh-wuh-what I haven't had in a long t-t-t-time?” he asked. After she shook her head, Taivon answered, “Lasagna.”

Probably because it had too much cheese – she'd seen him eat cheese like once – and because lasagna was usually made with white noodles. Lately, he'd been less strict with his whole dieting thing. Yeah, he still worked out shit tons, but he wasn't up at five in the morning anymore. Instead, he slept in with her and worked out later in the day, usually right after he finished up in Yellowstone. He was still in tip-top shape, just more chill about it.

“Then let's make some lasagna.”

They went into the kitchen where she checked his cabinets for some noodles. Whole grain pasta twisty ones were all she found. Bags and bags of those. The next cabinet only yielded more disappointment. Protein powder. Natural oats. Some type of green tea. He was such a weirdo. But he was her weirdo.

“Looks like wuh-we'll have t-t-to guh-go shopping again,” he said, his head poked inside the refrigerator.

Just like this morning, they got their jackets on, hopped into his car, and drove to a store. It was just like a regular store, nothing fancy, and it smelt like baked stuff. She looked on her phone at the list of ingredients. Within fifteen minutes, they had all the necessary items.

As they passed the baked goods aisle, he literally gasped, “Ooh, brownies. C-C-Can we m-make brownies?”

She put two brownie boxes, a container of confetti frosting into the cart, and quickly went over to the dairy section. Knowing him, he probably didn't have any butter at his house, either. Her lovable weirdo.

“I c-c-can't even remember th-the last t-time I made br-brownies,” he told her, on the way back.

“Well, prepare your tastebuds, Taiv. 'Cause I make a mean batch of brownies.”

About an hour and a half later, they were eating piping hot lasagna and munching on frosting-covered brownies, sitting outside on about four layers of blankets, looking at the Christmas lights.

Seeing him so happy like this almost made her forget all about that piece of paper.

Almost.