Learning To Fall

christmas

  "Damn," Michael curses as he messes up the wrapping once again, this time choosing to completely restart with a new, larger piece of wrapping paper. I stifle a laugh, leaning back into the comfortable couch cushions.

  "What's so funny?" Chimes in Calum, who was doing a much better job than Michael at wrapping Lucas' presents. It had been about fifteen minutes since I finished wrapping my set of presents for the boy, and though I offered to help both men declined.

  "Michael can't wrap to save his life," I tease, causing the newly blond-haired man to poke his tongue out at me. A giggle leaves me before I'm taking a drink of egg nog from my coffee mug.

  "Andy can't bake to save her life," Michael banters back. This causes the three of us to laugh loudly due to the truth of the statement, but the three of us are immediately shushing the others due to the fear of waking Lucas.

  This year, the five year old's list was quite hefty. So, the three of us decided to split it into thirds and cover our sections. Of course, being the procrastinators we are, we put off wrapping the presents all the way until Christmas Eve night. So needless to say, it was biting us all in the asses now. However, I wouldn't wish for anything else than spending late nights with two of my best friends wrapping presents for a child we all love and care for deeply.

  "Time check?" Calum asks, eyes peeking out over the top of a rather large box. I pull out my phone to read the screen.

  "It's 1:25," I reply, watching Calum lean his head on the box and hearing Michael's grunt. "Are you guys sure you don't want me to he-"

  "No, you're not allowed to help," Calum interrupts, dark brown eyes glancing at me from his place on the floor. I raise my hands in surrender, but the smile on my face doesn't fade.

  "You should get to bed," Michael insists instead. "I know you have that big Christmas dinner with your family tomorrow, so you'd be better off with getting as much sleep as possible."

  "Don't remind me," I sigh, running a hand through my shorter locks. "I love my grandma to death, but if she asks me about children one more time I'm going to lose my mind." I hear Calum laugh as I glance into my green mug.

  "It's the same with my family too," He chuckles. "But Mali's pregnant so maybe they'll lay off of it this year." The two of us glance at Michael, who's become rather silent.

  "How is it for you?" I ask, catching his attention. His green eyes study my face before answering.

  "I spend it with Luke's family, but by now they're basically family to Lucas and I. This year, Scarlett has been talking to me about coming to dinner though. She wants me to bring Lucas, too," Michael admits, having completely stopped wrapping by now. Both Calum and I stare at him in shock.

  "Why haven't you told us?" Calum asks exactly what I'm thinking. Michael looks down at his hands.

  "Because I didn't want you guys to tell me how stupid I am for actually considering it," He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I know that she left us, but can you blame her? We were young, and it was an accident. The two of us rushed into things too fast."

  "Yeah, but leaving doesn't solve anything. Look, I'm not trying to argue with you, and if you want to go then by all means do so. But I'm just concerned that you and Luke are gonna let her into your lives and you'll get hurt again. And maybe it's just me, but if someone leaves without reason, they don't deserve to suddenly jump back into our lives whenever they want," I reply, lowering my voice when I notice that I'm becoming far too passionate for one in the morning. Michael sighs.

  "If I don't try, I'll never know." He finally states, glancing over at me. Fair enough. I nod, returning to my mug to take a drink. It's silent for a while as the two men finish gift wrapping. After about thirty more minutes, the two finally finish. The two then join me on the couch, staring at the hefty amount of presents that sit under the tree. The three of us remain silent, though I know what we're all thinking the same thing.