(49) Favorite Christmas Yet

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Sophia

As people get older usually the Christmas spirit that once kept them excited for months fades away. You're worried about getting everyone the perfect gift and making food that doesn't make grandma hate you and not what the actual holiday means. Your family grows and suddenly you don't get to see everyone anymore. For something so widely and wildly celebrated, so many people don't enjoy the day once it finally gets here. We spend so much time leading up to it making sure we have everything we need that we forget to enjoy the actual holiday.

But not me. This is my favorite day of the year not because I get presents but because I feel like I am actually a part of the family. I believe in Christmas spirit and nothing makes this day anything less than perfect.

I get to my brothers place early to exchange gifts with him. When we were little we woke up at 5 am and snuck downstairs to open gifts. Dad didn't even notice but it was like that up until high school. We got to be good actors when we opened everything in front of dad even though we've seen it all already. So I get there at the butt crack of dawn with some coffee in hand. We exchange gifts and just talk for a while. It was good to see he was staying true to himself even with the almost instant stardom he's found. I know a lot of pressure is being put on him. He just lost back to back games for the first time in his young career but he was still looking good. It was nice to have a little break in between the games where all he had to do is be my gross little brother.

Eventually Patrick comes and his family and my dad follows. My brothers place was popular for the parties. I was just excited that we could all be together. I know Patrick and I aren't dating or anything, but he is the most important person in my life right now. It means a lot that his family and mine want to be together and we can spend a holiday making new memories.

And this was Patrick's first Christmas without his grandpa. I wanted it to be special and I know how much my brother and I mean to him. To have everyone here together would be good for him, just to see that smile on his face makes it all the more worth it.

"Where's Olaf" he asks as I roll my eyes.

"Hank said the apartment is strictly no animals so Olaf is at home but I know that's his rule and not the apartments" I accuse.

"Animals smell bad. I don't want that little white streak leaving fur and cat litter everywhere" Henry defends.

"Why? He smells better than you and leaves less of a mess" I tease.

"Hey! I clean up nice" he claims as he adjusts his sweater.

"You still stink" I mumble.

Eventually everyone gets here and the place starts to smell good. Donna hooked us up with some food and I buy some desserts from local businesses because I didn't feel like baking. We sit around and talk while Christmas music plays. The boys find some basketball games to watch and I make myself at home with Patrick's sisters.

"How did Patrick's gift turn out" Erica asks me and I smile. I spent a lot of time figuring something out for him and I think it's pretty good.

"I think he's going to love it. Though I wasn't expecting him to give me a cat so the bar is pretty high. I've already brought Olaf over to his place to hang out and he's my last three Instagram posts. I love him" I insist.

"Him as in Patrick or him as in Olaf" Jess accuses.

I feel my cheeks turn bright red as my eyes nearly pop out of my head. My initial reaction is to deny but god, it's getting so hard to deny myself this. I know that it's not true. I love Patrick and that is not up for debate. What is up for debate is the kind of love we share.

"It's okay, you don't have to say it" Jackie assures me as I shake my head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't meant to not answer. It's just... I don't know what to say. We haven't really talked about what we mean to each other. I mean he tells me every day how much he cares about me. The feelings we have go deeper than the ocean. There's no one in this world I would rather be with at any given point. He's my best friend, he's my everything and I don't want that to change" I admit.

"I get it" Erica nods. "Relationships are complicated. There was a time where I couldn't get him to text me back. There's also times I can't get him off my back. I've learned with any relationship it takes time to understand each other. And sometimes things happen and everything changes. Like when we lost grandpa or when you guys went through your mom coming back. And those relationships that only get stronger through the hard times, they're worth investing in. Even if it's scary" she tries.

"I just want him to be happy, you know" I shrug.

"I promise you, no one makes him happier than you" Jackie smiles.

It comes time for the gifts and I hand Patrick a bag. He smiles like a little kid at Christmas as he tears into the gift. I got him a few things I knew he would like but the blanket was my favorite.

He pulls it out and it was quite huge. The blanket fits a California king bed and was about a inch thick. It gets cold in the winter out here, I know it'll come in handy.

I got a bunch of pictures of Patrick over the years put on there. I made sure there was a lot of him and his grandpa, him growing up at hockey tournaments with his family. His sisters sent me a bunch of pictures to choose from and of course I added some of my own. Him and I at Halloween and us on my first day covering the Hawks. Though our nine months together might not seem like much it meant the world to me and I hoped it meant a lot to him too.

"Oh Soph" he gasps as he looks at me over the blanket. He had tears in his eyes that melts his heart. He doesn't get emotional unless something means a lot to him and I'm glad this did.

"I know you didn't ask for this but like you said about our trip, the best gifts we don't ask for but it's something we might need" I explain.

"This is the best thing ever. I've never had something like this were I can look at it and smile. I see how lucky I am... how loved I am and it makes me feel invincible. So thank you" he says before pulling me into a hug. My fingers get tangled in his shirt as I close my eyes. This just might be my favorite Christmas yet.

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