Page 123

“I’m going to use mine too. And we’ll probably still need to go to Hobby Lobby,” she told him.

He grinned. “Somehow I knew you would say that.”

Claire quickly went into her apartment, found her decorations, and brought them back to Noah’s apartment. She frowned. “Only three totes.”

“Only?”

“That is not anywhere near enough,” she said, matter-of-factly. Judging by Noah’s expression, even he had to admit three totes did not look like much.

“You’re intense.”

“You love me.”

“I do.” He smiled like saying it still felt new.

Then he leaned in and kissed her, soft and unhurried, like he wanted to savor the fact that they could say it now.

When he pulled back, Claire was still smiling.

“Do we need to go to Hobby Lobby now?” he asked.

“Probably so.”

They should probably have unpacked first. Instead, twenty minutes later, they were on their way to Hobby Lobby.

Two hours later, they returned to his apartment carrying ribbon, ornaments, lights, stockings, mugs, candles, and at least three things Claire knew Noah considered completely unnecessary.

As far as Claire was concerned, anything Christmas-related qualified as a necessity.

He had followed her through the entire store without a single serious complaint. She had even caught him smiling more than once.

“You know,” Noah said as he carried the bags inside, “I’ve always wanted someone to decorate for Christmas with.”

Claire looked at the mountain of Hobby Lobby bags. “Even like this?”

“I may have underestimated the financial consequences.” He glanced at the receipt. “How did we manage to spend $300?”

“It happens every time,” Claire told him.

He shook his head. Claire was already pulling ribbon out of one bag.

He smiled. “Let’s decorate.”

Within seconds, Christmas music was turned on, and Claire was loudly singing every single word. Noah carried the tree toward its usual spot.

“It would look better over there,” Claire commented.

Noah looked where she was pointing, then nodded. “You’re right.”

The tree was artificial but not pre-lit, which meant Noah once again had to fight with a tangled strand of lights. He managed to at least do it quicker than he did at his parents’ house.

In the time he did that, Christmas had already started exploding in the rest of his apartment. Garland, ribbon, decorative signs, pillows, blankets, mugs, dishes, rugs, stockings, candles, and the addition Noah seemed most pleased by: the mistletoe.

“That was quick,” he said.

Claire shrugged. “You underestimate how long it takes you to untangle Christmas lights.” She looked at the tree. “It’s pretty.”

“It is,” he agreed, “but we’ll get a real one next year.”