Grace Notes

Chapter 69

Lola's POV-

My dad made everyone breakfast the next morning-French toast with extra vanilla, which was my favorite ever since I was a child. Everyone seemed to enjoy it just as much as I always had. So everything was going as fine as it could be until my dad brought up the tradition I was hoping he would forget about. Of course, I was unlucky enough that he thought it would be even better with both my exes here. And that was decorating the Christmas tree. Every year we would do it the day after Thanksgiving while listening to Christmas music. And to make it worse, both Grayson and Harry seemed to be fairly onboard with the whole plan, so the next thing I knew, we were up in the attic rummaging around through piles of dusty boxes.

The only one we found quick enough was the nine foot plastic tree we'd had since before I could even remember. It was so old that you could tell exactly which part of the tree faced the window because it was faded to the point of a yellowy beige on just that one side. A good portion of the fake needles were also gone, leaving some stems depressingly bald, and there were random patches that were missing a full branch altogether just from wear and tear.

I knew I was going to be mortified as soon as that bit showed. Obviously, that box was too heavy, so I carried down the big carboard box of ornaments. Since my dad and Harry had the tree, Grayson grabbed the box of lights, that were mostly, if not all, broken.

Once we were all downstairs, I connected my phone to a Bluetooth speaker and put on my Christmas playlist. It had all of my favorites in it like Mele Kalikimaka and Run Rudolph Run. The guys had already started pulling out the Christmas tree, and I could already see the disgusting part. I knew Harry saw it, too, because he was analyzing it. I guess he didn't know why is was discolored like that.

"That side faces the window" I told him.

"Huh?" he looked over at me.

Rolling my eyes, I walked over and twisted it around.

"Why does it look like someone barfed on it?" he whispered in a low voice.

"Sun damage. It's my childhood tree" I pursed my lips.

"Ohh that makes sense" he gave a single nod.

"Does anyone want some hot chocolate while we decorate?" my dad asked. "I'm happy to make some!"

"I would love some" Harry cast him a grateful smile.

"I'll take some" Grayson added.

"Lola?"

"Hot chocolate sounds amazing" I agreed, trying to pull out the next tier of the tree.

"I'll be back in a jiffy with them, then" my dad smiled before leaving the room.

"I've never seen a tree like this before" Grayson said.

"You've never seen a fake tree before?" I asked bitterly, still struggling.

"Not one that looks like this"

"Guys, stop making fun of my tree, okay? Every watched the Christmas Charlie Brown?"

"I don't think it's quite that depressing" Harry reached down and helped me pull it out. "But it's pretty close"

"You're annoying" I mumbled, watching him hook it into the bottom tier.

"The last one should be the lightest" he peered over his shoulder at me. "Want to put that one on?"

"Why are you even suggesting that when I clearly can't reach that high?"

"I can pick you up if you want?" he suggested, but with the glance towards Grayson, I could tell that he was simply trying to get a reaction from him.

"Or you can just put it up yourself" Grayson snapped.