Everlasting

Chapter 57

I wake up to the sound of shuffling around, instantly I search for Hardin with my hand, wanting him to make the noise go away. Except he's not in the bed.

With a low pitiful groan, I drag my eyes open and sit up, only to freeze when I see a bright red Santa hat sitting on top of Hardin's head.

Is he having like a early mid-life crisis? I immediately presume, either that or he really does enjoy Christmas.

"What are you doing?" I ask him, my voice full of sleep, I wipe my eyes and frown at him.

"Merry Christmas!" He beams at me like a crazy person, that hat jingling every time he moves. What the hell have I signed myself up for?

"Merry Christmas." I grumble, falling back against the pillows.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a grinch." Hardin comments, and I feel the covers slowly being pulled off of me. I couldn't be bothered to fight it, so I let him take the covers.

The bed dips around my legs. Opening my eyes again, I glance down, seeing him crawling up over my body. What is he doing?

"If you don't leave this bed right now, I'm going to cash in a check." Hardin whispers in my ear, so temptingly sinful that I almost laid there just so it would happen.

"Alright." I mutter, sliding from underneath him and getting off the bed.

I immediately brush my teeth and wash my face, trying to wake myself up a little. Hardin stares at me from across the room, I could feel how impatient he is today, so I didn't jump in the shower like I usually would.

Figuring I can just stay in my pyjamas a little longer, I brush my hair and head back over to him.

"What do people even do on Christmas?" I ask him curiously.

"We take pictures." He comments, already prepared with his phone.

Smiling, I climb onto his lap and let him take some pictures of us. I don't particularly care that I've only just woke up, if he wants to take pictures then so be it.

"I got you something." Hardin tells me, and due to him giving me gifts before, I know that he's most likely gone overboard.

He opens up the closet and begins bringing out arms full of wrapped presents, the presentation isn't so pretty but I didn't care, I love that he tried.

"Hardin that's not something, that's a whole store!" I laugh in disbelief.

He piles the presents on the bed, like a mountain of Christmas people surrounding me at all angles. Eventually, he stops bringing presents out and I immediately exhale in relief.

"I feel awful! Like I literally got you three things-"

"That sex check book is like a good month of pure happiness." Hardin cuts me off, playfully winking.

I open my mouth to whine more, until I heard his words.

"A month? Hardin, there's like a hundred pages in that thing." I breathe.

Hardin just smirks at me, silver eyes bright with mischief. In his Santa hat, shirtless, and wearing the grey sweats that I specifically told him he couldn't wear around me back in New Orleans.

I advert my eyes instantly.

"Can you grab the grey duffel bag please." I ask, pointing to the bags that I have yet to empty out. Tomorrow, I'll definitely do it tomorrow.

Hardin grabs the bag and places it on the bed. Reaching over the presents, I unzip the bag and take out the neatly wrapped presents. All medium sized boxes, three of them as I said.