Underneath The Mistletoe-JB (DONE)

4

Finally finishing up some work stuff on your laptop you shut it off and make your way downstairs. "Woah, what's with all the wrapping paper?" You ask seeing the many rolls of wrapping paper on the couch and the shopping bags of what you assume are gifts. "These are all the gifts for the rest of the family. Jay comes soon, then Eddie and Trey...we want to get this all out of the way before they come." Your mom says and Mark shakes his head bringing the box of tape, scissors and sharpies. "Let me get a cup of coffee and I'll help you guys out." You laugh. "Anyone want one?" You ask. "Me, please!" Mark answers before you walk into the kitchen. You quickly make cups of coffee for yourself and Mark. "Here, no sugar just creamer." You hand the hot mug to Mark. "Thanks." He nods as you sit at an empty spot on the floor near the tree and fireplace. "Where are Pops, Nana and Junior?" You ask your parents as you grab a roll of wrapping paper after placing your coffee near you on the hardwood floor.

"Buying Christmas presents and some stuff for Christmas dinner." Your mom says. "Christmas dinner already?" You ask as you wrap a toy that was most likely for one of Marks nephews who were younger. "It's a big one this year so mom wants to be ready and make sure she they don't forget anything." Mark replies. "Can't argue that, who is this gift for by the way?" You ask wrapping the last piece and grabbing a sharpie to write a name. " Dylan, all the toys in that bag are for him. I've separated the gifts for each person by bag." You mom says and you nod writing the name on the gift and setting it to the side to put under the tree later.

 "So, how was lunch with Joe?" Mark asks out the blue almost making you choke on your spit. "Um, it was nice. We caught up and Pete and Dina seemed real happy to have us there, felt like old times." You inform them. "Did you two reconcile? I still don't understand what really happened between the both of you that you two were acting so awkward with one another the other evening." Your mom says. You really didn't want to tell her any details about that but you just decide to just leave out the whole hooking up with Joe part. "Joe kind of just stopped talking to me when he went to LSU. I would call him and text him and he just ignored me so I stopped reaching out to him. Felt like I was chasing him." You shrug. "That's not very nice, you were always there for him growing up. I'm surprised you even went to this lunch he invited you and Junior to." Mark says handing my mom a piece of tape. "I didn't want to hold a grudge, much less around the holidays but um, he sort of invited me to this holiday dinner his team is having." You say nervously, knowing they could feel a certain way about it now that you told them the real reason why you and Joe stopped talking. "Oh? like...a date?" Your mom smirks looking up from what she was wrapping. "Yes and no, it's nothing romantic, purely platonic. His mom was suppose to go with him and she can't make it so, they asked me to fill in her place." You shrug. "So it's a date!"

"I thought he had a girlfriend?" Your mom and Mark say in unison. "It's a friendly date and they...are no longer together but you guys can't tell anyone! I don't think that's public information as of right now and the last thing I need is drama with Joe." You inform them. "We have no one to tell, your secret is safe with us but, we need to go buy you a dress. You know that right?" Your mom smiles ear to ear. "I don't want to make a big deal about this, it's his night. I'm just going for moral support." You shake your head knowing where she was coming from. "You still need to look nice, maybe Joe can introduce you to some single football players." Mark nods. "Just say you want free football tickets." You chuckle rolling your eyes. "It'd be nice to go to a game, I'll admit that." he says making you and your mom laugh. "I'll go tomorrow to the mall and see what I can find. I have to go shopping for gifts anyway." You nod. "I hope you two can have a good time." Your mom smiles at you. "Me too." You sigh still not being able to wrap your mind around this.

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"What about this one? It's red, warm and looks longer than the last one." Your mom holds up a red bodycon off the shoulder sweater dress. "That could work, I'm not trying to stand out or anything but I don't want to be under dressed either. " You nod. It was the next day and you were shopping for a dress with your mom. Which wasn't ideal because she was thinking this was something like a high school prom and it was annoying you just a tad bit. Making your way to the dressing room, you try on the dress and take pictures of it to send it to Sammi and Jay for their input. You told them you were going to a holiday dinner but not that it was with Joe. You knew they wouldn't stop bothering you over it so you thought you'd tell them after the dinner.