so, do we like each other or not? // JENLISA

Chapter 33

As they moved through December, Lisa started noticing a surge in the number of gifts Jennie bought for her. Lisa was usually cooking whenever Jennie got home, and when she turned to say hi to her, Jennie would be standing in the doorway with a package in her hands and a shit-eating grin that told her just how pleased she was with herself that day.

"Jennie," Lisa sighed, putting down the wooden spoon. "I told you to stop this."

"I know you did, but I chose not to listen to you," Jennie said, walking forward and pressing the gift into Lisa's hands. Lisa rolled her eyes automatically, ignoring the fact that any time Jennie appeared with one of these, her heart lifted up just a little bit higher.

She peeled off the wrapping and found a new cover for her iPhone inside. It was clear plastic with a pattern of dozens of little pastries on the back.

"You really shouldn't have," Lisa said, although she was already grabbing her phone and clipping the case onto it.

"I know. But you drop your phone roughly six times a day and I know how much you love bear claws," Jennie said. She was beaming as she watched Lisa smooth her hand over it. "Do you like it?"

"I love it," Lisa said, leaning forward and kissing her cheek. "You're going to run out of ideas for Christmas presents pretty soon, though."

Jennie scoffed. "I've had your presents planned for weeks."

"You have?" Lisa asked. This was something she'd only just started thinking about, and already she'd run up against a brick wall – what the hell do you buy someone who already owns everything?

"I have, and I don't expect anything in return," Jennie said, going over to the stove and stirring the sauce that Lisa had abandoned. "Besides, I don't want to be presumptuous and assume you'll be spending Christmas with me."

"Right. Because I have so many other places to go to," Lisa said. Hope was filling her up though, because she hadn't wanted to be presumptuous and assume she'd be spending Christmas there either.

"Oh. Well, then," Jennie said, tilting her head. She was trying to sound casual. "Would you maybe be open to celebrating with us?"

"I would love to. If you're willing to have me," Lisa said. Then, "Wait, who's 'us'?"

"Me and Lucas," Jennie said. Her fake nonchalance was getting harder to maintain now that a smile was creeping over her face. "He's asked to spend it with me this year."

"He has?" They'd never discussed this before, but Lisa could tell from Jennie’s barely contained joy that it must be a huge deal.

"For the first time since the divorce. His father was furious, but it's official," Jennie said, and she looked so damn excited that Lisa couldn't help but pull her into a relieved hug.

"That's amazing," she breathed. "And, hey, I won't be offended if you'd rather it was just you two. Seriously. You must want to spend some time together."

"Of course I do. But you should be here too," Jennie insisted. "It will be my first family Christmas in three years."

Her heart skipping over the word 'family', Lisa asked, "Who have you celebrated with since then?"

Jennie shrugged. "Sometimes friends. Sometimes my mother. Last year I told everyone I had other plans and then I just went to work all day."