“He’s my new little brother,” Izzie whispers as to not wake him up.
“He’s gorgeous,” I say to no one in particular.
I keep my eyes on Frankie for several more beats before looking back at Tris, something shining in the depths of his eyes I can’t quite place staring back at me.
Izzie’s giggling brings us both out of our stare off and he stands up before I wheel us into the kitchen. Her head dips back as we enter and all conversation halts as I bring us to a stop.
My gaze slowly moves over everyone; Charlotte and Edward sitting at the table drinking eggnog; Mel and Mick standing next to the counter watching as Nate prepares some food.
Clearing my throat, I wrap my arms around Izzie’s waist, almost using her as a shield. “Merry Christmas, everyone.”
Counting to three in my head, I let Izzie go so she can climb off my lap. Charlotte stands up, the chair scraping on the floor before she walks toward me.
“Merry Christmas,” she says, leaning down and wrapping her arms around my shoulders before she whispers in my ear, “You doing okay?”
“I’m getting there.”
I squeeze her gently, remembering the last time she came to visit me in the hospital. Sundays were a ritual for her. Every single time without fail she’d turn up at one in the afternoon, a plate full of food and a week’s worth of stories.
When she pulls back I’m immediately being pulled into another set of arms as Edward murmurs, “Merry Christmas,” before Mel walks my way and bends down to hug me.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” She pulls back and smiles softly. “You look radiant.”
“Thanks,” I manage to croak out, starting to feel overwhelmed by all of the attention.
I jump as Nate claps his hands, meeting my gaze. “Alright, everyone except my girlfriend out of the kitchen. We have cookie ingredients to prepare.”
I smile, grateful he can read me so well as they all exit. Izzie starts to follow them all out, but I reach my arm out, saying, “Not you. Go get Clay and tell him to come and help.”
“Really? Are we going to make cookies like we used to?”
“We are.” I grin wide as she fist bumps the air, running out of the kitchen and shouting for Clay through the house. Turning back toward Nate, I move forward. “Thanks for that. I was starting to feel a bit…”
“Smothered?”
“You could say that, yeah.” I laugh uncomfortably before Nate spins around, crouching down and getting the ingredients out of the cupboards by the lowered counter.
Izzie comes running back in seconds later, her hand encased in Harmony’s. “Clay doesn’t want to bake. He’s reading.”
“That’s okay.” Reaching out, I take ahold of Nate’s hand as he comes to stand beside me, giving it a gentle squeeze and looking up at him. “Do you want to take Clay’s place?”
“I’d love to!” He puts extra enthusiasm into his words for Izzie and she giggles before he rubs his hands together. “What’s first?”
“This last one’s for you,” Maya says, handing over a present to me. She’s sitting in the same place I normally do every year: beside the tree, handing out the presents with Izzie’s help. Watching the both of them, I realize this is what our Christmases will be like from now on, and the wide smile on my face couldn’t be wiped off even if I tried.
The floor is full of discarded wrapping paper with presents surrounding all of us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many in one room before. I take in a deep lungful of air, the smell of the turkey hitting me full force and making my stomach grumble.
Taking the small box from Maya, I look down at the tag, seeing Nate’s writing on it. His green eyes meet mine from across the living room where he’s sitting next to Clay who’s got a stack of new books next to him, neatly piled high. Clay’s gray-eyed gaze flits to mine before batting away and I frown. He hasn’t spoken to me once since he’s been here.
Looking away, I swallow against my dry throat before peeling open the paper carefully. I stare at it in confusion when a key is revealed, not understanding what it is. I move my gaze back up to Nate. “A key?” I ask, confused.
He grins and stands up, taking ahold of the handles of my chair. “Let me show you.”
I frown, confused as he pushes me through the living room and down the hallway. “What? Where are we going?”
“Will you ever learn to like surprises?”
“Not in this lifetime,” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest and hearing several footsteps following behind us. Turning my head, I take them all in: the people who have become my family and made this day more than I ever thought it could be.
He turns me around, pushing through the door that leads to the garage backward. My eyes widen as I see Mel’s smile, the kind of smile only a mother gives one of her children.
“Do you know what it is?” I ask her.
Her brow raises and she makes a zipping motion across her lips. I see where Nate gets his love of surprises from.
I feel his breath fan across my neck before he says, “Ready to have your mind blown?”
A very inappropriate reply is on the tip of my tongue, but when I meet Mel’s gaze again, I keep my mouth shut, holding in a bubble of laughter before nodding.
He knew exactly what he was saying.
He spins me around, jumping back a step and stretching his arms wide like a magician’s assistant after he’s done a trick.
“What’s that?” I ask, taking in the blue car I’ve never seen in the garage before.
He motions toward the key in my hand. “It’s yours.”
I look at the key, then at Nate, then at the car, and back to the key again. “But…” I lift my head, showing him the confused expression in my eyes. “I can’t drive…” I wave my hand in the direction of my legs, silently signaling them. “On account of not being able to feel the pedals, you know?”
“So little faith,” he replies, shaking his head. “You said you hated being driven around and lifted in and out of the car all the time. So this is an adapted car.”
“Adapted?” I whisper, almost to myself. “You bought me a freaking car?” I stare at him, wondering if this means he thinks the paralysis is permanent. Has he given up hope in me being able to walk again?
“Not exactly. It’s on a lease for six months since I didn’t see the point in buying you a car for it to eventually become useless.”
His last words ring around in my head on repeat, and I realize he hasn’t given up on me: he’s still trying his hardest to give me even more independence.
“Nate,” I say, my voice soft as I wheel closer to him. When I get within two feet, he crouches down, resting his hands on the side of the chair, his teeth showing as he smiles at me.
My stomach dips as he leans forward and everything disappears: the people all standing behind me, the car sitting in front of us.
All my focus is on him, the one person in this whole world that hasn’t left my side; the man who cares so much he put up with me not saying more than two words to him at the hospital, changed his home, and rented me a freaking car.
My breath catches when his lips meet mine, softly at first before he shuffles forward, placing his hand on the back of my neck and tensing his fingers.
His tongue swipes along my bottom lip, and I don’t hesitate to open up for him, moaning at the sensations rolling through me.
“Get a room!” Maya shouts, but even then he doesn’t pull away, instead he continues to completely consume me, leaving me wanting—needing—more when he pulls away slowly.
“I love you,” I whisper, raising my arms and cupping each side of his face with my small hands.
He wraps a hand around mine and turns his head to kiss my palm. “That makes me the luckiest guy in the world.”
“Merry Christmas,” I finally say, swallowing against the emotion in my voice. “This has been one of the best.”
“The first of many,” Nate adds with a smile.
“The first
of many,” I repeat, my gaze not able to move from his green pools that have captivated me like nothing else ever has.
How did I get this lucky? How did I find this man and manage not to push him away fully?
“Wanna take your car for a spin before dinner is ready?”
“Hell yeah, I do!” I push forward, opening the door that has a handle for ease of use before turning around and seeing everyone still standing there, smiles stretched on their faces as they watch us.
It’s right then I realize it doesn’t matter if I never get to use my legs again because these people will support me and be there for me unconditionally, no matter what.
Maya’s huff sounds around us for the fifth time, her fingers flying over the screen of her cell. I discretely watch her and the show we’re watching at the same time, my attention not on either thing fully.
“Ugh.” She slams her cell down on the sofa, crossing her arms over her chest.
Worrying my bottom lip, I wonder if I should ask her what’s up. She’s been staying here for the last two days without Mel and Mick because they’ve gone away on a trip, and right now we’d normally all be in bed. But it’s New Year's Eve, so it means we’ll be staying up well after midnight to see the new year in.
My gaze runs across the windows, pure darkness surrounding us on the plot of land, and I see our reflection in the glass: Maya on the sofa, me next to it in my chair.
I can’t help but take an extra long look out there, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. Was that a shadow moving?
“Amelia?” Maya asks, and I see her inch forward, her face turned toward me in the reflection.
“Yeah?” I turn my head away from the window, giving her my full attention.
“How do you…” She chews on the side of her lip, her gaze batting around the living room before settling back on me. “How do you know when a boy likes you?”
My eyes widen at her question and I stutter, not knowing what to say or do. Is it my domain to give her boy advice? What would Nate think? No, screw that line of thought: Nate would want her to be boyfriend free until she was thirty. I suddenly realize although Maya is close to her family, she can’t exactly talk about boys with them.
Picking up the control, I pause the show on the TV and finally say, “Well… normally they like to be around you more, or give you secret looks.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Is this about a particular boy?”
She shuffles on her seat, resting her chin on her hand as she gazes at the fire. “There’s this guy—” I chuckle because there’s always a guy. “He messages me all the time and we study in the library at school together. When it’s just me and him, I feel like he likes me likes me. But as soon as we’re around anyone else, it’s like I don’t exist.”
Tilting my head to the side, I run my finger over my bottom lip in thought. “Tell me about him.”
“His name’s Jake and he’s the captain of the football—”
“Ahhhh,” I say, knowing exactly what’s going on here. “So he’s a popular kid?”
“Yeah.” She nods, her lips turned down in a frown. “And I’m… not in that… clique.”
“Okay. So from what you’re telling me, he likes you but doesn’t want everyone else to know.” I pause for a beat. “I probably shouldn’t be saying this because, you know, I’m an adult, but meh.” I shrug, leaning forward. “Give him a taste of his own medicine.”
“Huh?” She frowns in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“When he wants to talk to you alone: ignore him. If he really likes you he’ll realize to get your attention, it can’t be in secret.”
Her eyes watch me for several seconds before her lips lift into a grin. “That’s a brilliant idea!”
“I know,” I reply, feeling like I just solved all of her problems but knowing this will be the first of many guy problems she’ll encounter.
A door banging shut gains my attention, and when I turn my head, I see Nate walking down the hallway. The light in the living room illuminates his face, showing his red cheeks as he rubs his hands together for what must be warmth.
“Coats and gloves on, ladies! It’s showtime!”
My gaze skirts from Nate to Maya as she jumps up off the sofa, putting on her gloves and grabbing her coat.
“I don’t know about this, Nate,” I voice, my concern obvious. All of the horror stories I’ve heard about people having their hands blown off from bad fireworks flashes through my mind.
He walks over to the coat rack, taking down my coat. “It’s perfectly safe, I promise.”
“He’s right,” Maya comments. “He does it every year.”
“You do?” I ask as Nate hands me my coat and I push my arm through the sleeve before leaning forward, pulling it around my back and around to the other side.
Nate then hands me my gloves before he says, “Every year for the last six years anyway,” with a sad look on his face before he shakes his head, his grin returning. “It’s a shame my parents couldn’t be here, they love watching the fireworks.”
The mention of his parents has my mind wandering back to the phone call I had with mine earlier, specifically my dad. “Talking about parents. Mine called me today.” Meeting Nate’s gaze, I raise a brow. “I talked to my dad.”
“And?”
“I think he’s finally accepting it.” I shrug, playing it off like it isn’t a big deal, when in fact it is. My dad is the most stubborn person I know. “They’re coming to visit in two weeks.”
“They are?”
“Yeah. I said they could stay here, if that’s okay?”
He smiles. “Of course it’s okay, but you don’t need my permission. This is your home too.”
I reach out, taking his hand and squeezing it as warmth travels throughout my whole body. “Thank you,” I say, meaning more than just letting my parents stay.
He tilts his head in acknowledgement and I let go of his hand, spinning my chair around and heading toward the kitchen to watch the fireworks from out on the patio.
“Where are you going?”
“Outside.” I raise my brow, looking at him like he’s lost his mind. “To watch the fireworks.”
He and Maya look at each other and she giggles before pointing at the ceiling. “We’re going up to the roof.”
I turn my gaze to Maya and then back to Nate who’s smirking like something’s hilarious. “Okaaay, and how do you propose I get up to the roof—wait, the roof? You stand on the roof?”
“Yes, the roof.” He motions for me to follow him and Maya down the hallway and toward the door leading to the garage. “Come on, negative Nancy.”
“What?” I gasp. “I’m not being negative! You’re about to go stand on the roof, Nate. The freaking roof!”
I follow him and Maya, not understanding any of this. I wish for once he’d just explain it all instead of waiting to show me.
“I’m well aware.” He turns and braces his hands against the sides of my wheelchair. “I wouldn’t take you or Maya up there if it wasn’t safe, and I wouldn’t set fireworks off if I didn’t know what I was doing. It’s New Year’s Eve, just enjoy it.”
Rolling my eyes, I let out a puff of air. “I didn’t say you don’t know what you’re doing, but the roof, Nate?”
“You’ll see,” he replies, following Maya through the now open door leading to the garage. But when he opens a door to the left I never realized was there, I frown.
“And how do you suppose I get up there, huh? I’m not letting you carry—” I’m cut off when he moves and I wheel through the second door. My eyes go wide at what I’m seeing: a spiral staircase with a stair lift attached to the side of the wall. “What the…”
“With this.” He pauses. “Come on, we have ten minutes until midnight. I’ll take your chair up for you.”
I stare at him, wondering what the hell is going on. When did these stairs appear? And more importantly: why didn’t he tell me he has a stair lift? My mind whirs with so ma
ny questions, wanting to ask him why he goes onto his roof and what he uses it for. But he’s right, we only have ten minutes until the clock strikes midnight, so I move forward, lifting out of my chair and onto the stair lift.
Nate presses a button on a remote on the side of the chair and then I’m moving, Nate following behind me with the chair.
“This is like being on a ride!” Laughter bubbles out of me at the sensation and then it comes to a halt at the top.
He squeezes past me and sets up my chair. “I won’t lie, I’ve been up and down on it a few times. You know... just to test it out.”
“Of course you have.” I snort, moving from the stair lift back to the chair. “You’re such a child sometimes.” I look at him, smiling softly. “But I love that about you.”
“And I love that you love that about me.” He stares at me for an extra beat before motioning to the open door I can feel the cold air blowing through. “After you.”
I push forward, coming out onto the roof, my breath leaving my body in a whoosh. My eyes take everything in through the muted lights only illuminating small portions of it. I see a small patch of green farther down, and what looks like a golf tee set up next to a cupboard one of the doors is open on, showing me his golf clubs.
Looking to the right, I see an outside sofa set, a table in the same weaved dark-brown style complete with some kind of awning over it I presume will protect not only from the sun but rain too.
I finally turn back to Nate, seeing him crouching down in front of something not far from his golf tee. Standing up, he focusses on me before he dips his gaze down to his watch, motioning for me to move closer to the middle of the roof where Maya is standing.
Coming to a stop next to Maya, he stands on the other side of me, taking ahold of my hand. “Why haven’t you ever brought me up here?” I ask, confused as to why he’d leave it this long before showing me something so amazing.
He shrugs. “I was going to bring you here on one of our dates before…” His eyes flash before he shakes his head and grins. “Tonight is the perfect time to introduce you to the roof.”
Fighting Our Way Page 39