Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 30~Abbie's Christmas Wish

Elise's POV

Since tomorrow was Christmas Eve, Jimmy and I were doing last minute present wrapping. They were mostly all the presents he bought, and his excuse was that he was just too 'preoccupied' with teaching Abbie to play drums, helping her with homework, and going to the studio. But really, I know he was just too lazy. So, I agreed to help him with it, because I had a few that were Abbie's for Christmas Day that I haven't done yet. I brought them with me and had to sneak them into the house after she'd gone to bed last night, because otherwise she'd see them, as curious as she is.

We didn't have to worry about Abbie catching us wrapping any of her presents, or anyone else's presents, because she'd gone to spend the day with Ella and Isaac at Brian's house, so poor Brian gets the little monsters for a day. Sabal will just sit there and let them torture him, I know that for sure.

Jimmy and I were in his bedroom, with piles of unwrapped presents sitting at the foot of his bed. We had the wrapping paper rolls laid out in front of us, ready to be used, with two things of tape at hand and two pairs of scissors.

I kept thinking about the things he said the other day. On the first day I arrived here for vacation, I think he was flirting with me in his own way when he said that he liked me more than cookies. I won't lie, it made me blush, the way he said 'you' so softly and sincerely, and my heart skipped a few beats. And then yesterday morning, after he'd forced his way into licking my face, he wrapped his arms around me and we pretty much snuggled until we fell asleep. He was so warm and soft, though! I couldn't help it! But after we woke up, and had to get up, I found that I didn't want to get up. I'd have rathered that we stayed there and I could just lay in his arms all day, next to that warm body of his.

It's kind of strange, I've been feeling... weird with him lately. For the past three months it's been this way, ever since that day he ran his fingers through my hair and told me that I looked beautiful, when I'd been staying with him after breaking up with Mike--whom I haven't heard from since that last call to him at work. But when I say I've felt weird with Jimmy, I mean that he does or says something and my heart starts pounding really hard against my chest, my cheeks flare up and I just want to smile as widely as I can. He makes me laugh and it feels like he really cares about me. I've found that sometimes I get nervous around him, just having him near, like I'm going to say or do something stupid in front of him, though that never really happens. I've consulted Camryn about it, and she says that it sounds like I have a crush on him. I've also talked to Sabal, whom I've become close friends with, and she said practically the same thing. I don't know... could I have a crush on him? Maybe, I'm not really sure. I know that I didn't feel this way with Mike, and if I really liked him, then does this mean I like Jimmy even more without even really knowing it? I'm so confused.

"Alright, this one's next." Jimmy said, grabbing the next item. We've been wrapping presents now for over an hour, and we only had three or four left. I set it on the paper and we got to work on wrapping it.

I still had no idea about the girl he said he'd thought about dating when I asked him if he'd wanted to date again since Jasmine's death. He said it was just that one girl, and when Jasmine passed, he said he'd only date the girl if he thought she could be the one. So she must be pretty special to him, then. Even if I did have a crush on him, which I'm not saying that I do even though Abbie insists on it, I wouldn't even have a shot because I assume he's still in love with her, though I haven't heard anything about her since then. Maybe I should casually ask him about her.

"Jimmy?" I began as I finished taping the wrapping paper and passed the gift to Jimmy to put a name tag on it while I got started on the next one.

"Yeah?"

"Do you... do you still like that girl you told me about? The one that you didn't know if she loved you back?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Absolutely, with all my heart. Why?" He replied, looking over at me.