Love Under The Christmas Tree

When the moment eventually came for me to pick Emily up at her friend's house, Johnny kindly offered to go with me. I was glad he did actually, because all I wanted was to keep him with me for as long as possible. Besides, maybe seeing him would dissuade Emily from uselessly trying to negociate with me to delay her return home by a few days, just like she did every single time I allowed her a one night sleepover. 

Just like I had previously predicted, I didn't need to ask my daughter twice to say her goodbyes to her friend and follow me to the car once she caught sight of who had come with me. The effect Johnny had on her was truly amazing, he could literally bring her to do anything, no matter how stubborn she could be sometimes. I had never seen her like that with anyone else before. On the contrary, she was usually rather distant with strangers and very uncomfortable around them. But with him, it was the total opposite. She obviously liked him a lot, and I have to admit she wasn't the only one in that case because I liked him a lot too.

On our way back home, I was entertained by Johnny and Emily's conversations. She had insisted on him sitting in the back seat with her which he had accepted with no further talk. He really had to be extremely patient with children, because although she hadn't stopped speaking since the second I had started the car, he didn't look like he was getting tired of it or anything. 

"And how was school today ?" Johnny asked curiously after my little angel was done telling him all the great things she had done with Lizzie and her parents. 

"It was good. The teacher made us play a little game. She wrote twenty words on the board and we all had to read them aloud. And in the end, the one who took the least time to read all the words was the winner" she recounted, excitement evident in her tone.

"Sounds like a great game" he stated "Who won ?"

I smiled slightly at how interested he sounded about the whole thing, taking a quick look at him in the rear-view mirror afterwards.

"I did" Emily replied proudly.

"Wow ! I believe congratulations are in order then" he cheered, giving her a high five.

"Thank you. Oh, can you help me do my homework when we get home ?" she pleadingly reqested.

"Sure princess."

I didn't react but my heart melted at what he had just called her. Though still focused enough to drive safely, I zoned out for a moment, imagining what my life could have been like if my first love had been someone like him instead of a jerk. Well, I guess I'll never have the answer.

♡♡♡

Johnny kept his promise and helped Emily with her homework as soon as we made it to the apartment. Not wanting to disturb them, I went straight to the kitchen and began making dinner for the three of us. 

The night went on and Emily ended up going to bed, giving me and Johnny some time alone. We sat on the couch and talked a lot with the TV playing in the background. 

"Would you like some more coffee ?" I questioned in the middle of the conversation, noticing Johnny's cup was empty. 

"No thanks, I'm gonna go anyway. It's getting late and I don't want you to oversleep tomorrow and forget to go to work again because of me" he responded, chuckling softly.

"I won't foreget this time, don't worry for that" I assured, letting out a small laugh. "You don't have to leave yet you know, I'm not even tired."

"Liar" he said jokingly "You've been yawning for two hours at least."

I giggled slightly at his remark, looking to the floor. He was right. In reality I was fighting not to fall asleep right here and then, but the thing was I didn't want him to go. 

"You got a point" I admitted, smiling as I briefly met his gaze. My expression then became more serious "It's just...that I want you to stay."

Our eyes locked and we remained mute and motionless for a few long minutes, until Johnny grabbed the sides of my face very gently and leaned closer to me to capture my lips with his. We kissed very slowly and sensually, deliberately taking our time to fully enjoy the moment. It wasn't the lustful kind of kiss which  turns into make out sessions or more in no time, it felt more like we were trying to express something through it. I couldn't really make out what it was though.

"I would've offered you to stay the night but I don't think your aunt would be too happy about that" I muttered when we parted, stroking his cheek with the pad of my thumb. 

"My aunt wouldn't be too happy ?" he frowned in slight confusion.

"Yeah. I mean, you traveled all the way here to spend the hollydays with her, not her neighbor."

"Well, I can't help it if one of her neighbors happens to be a gorgeous young woman now can I ?" he retorted in a flirtatious tone that caused my cheeks to heat up. "Besides, I'm not some 15 year old kid, it's not like I gotta ask for permission to go out. She probably already figured I like you anyway."

"You got a point" I sneered before pausing a minute. "My offer still stands then."

♡♡♡

Johnny ended up staying. We shared my bed, and cuddled all night. No need to specify that Emily was the happiest when she saw him the next morning. That's when I started feeling bad actually, for unconsciously getting her hopes up about the new father she dreamt of by letting Johnny into our lives a little bit more every day. He had become such a big part of it, how would she react once he's gone ? Even I...How would I react ? I couldn't even imagine.

I gulped at the thought, realizing only now how hard I had fallen for him. I needed to take some distance from him if I wanted to limit the sentimental damages in the end. Experiencing one heartbreak had been enough, there was no need to repeat it.