First Kiss, First Love, First Heartbreak

Chapter 16

I put on my yellow hoodie that has the words Be Kind across the chest area. Then I take it off and put on my ugly Christmas sweater. I spray my citrus perfume and run to the living room where the Christmas tree sits. I'm welcomed into the living room with the smell of the tree. One of the best scents in the world! I sit on the couch, waiting for my Jere to get here. I hear the doorbell and run to the doo. I'm disappointed when I see Cole.

I open the door. "What?" I say keeping my bored face on.

"I want to apologize." I start closing the door, but he stops it before it shuts. "Livi, uh I mean Olivia, hear me out. I don't want you to take me back, I just want to ask for your forgiveness. I brought you cookie dough ice cream."

"You may speak."

"I'm sorry about Carolina. It was when we first started dating. I didn't think you were the girl for me. But after we went to Washington together, I had this sudden curiosity to get to know you. And it was the best thing I ever did." He pauses as flurries begin falling from the sky. "Knowing you and dating you, even just for a few months, made me a better person. I loved you. I still do, but I know you don't feel like that anymore, and that's totally okay. Just please forgive me."

I sigh. "I'm only forgiving you because it's Christmas, and I'm in a good mood." He smiles and walks away. He screams that I'm the best, and I say I know with a big smile.

I go back to the couch waiting for Jere to come. I sit impatiently. I shake my leg, then stop. I crack my fingers until none of them pop anymore. I hear the doorbell and run to the door, this time my Jere stands there with his hands in his hoodie pockets. I jump on him and latch my arms and legs around him. "Hey you." He says. I can't see his face but I know he's smiling. I lower myself and give him a kiss.

"I missed you."

"I saw you two days ago."

"I know." I say as I lead him into the house. I walk to the kitchen and pull out the cookies from the oven. The smell is delightful. "Oh! Merry Christmas, and I have your gift."

He smiles and sits at the light wooden table. "Merry Christmas, and your gift is in my car." He's smiling so much. Jere makes me happy, and his smile is contagious. I smile back and sit next to him as the cookies cool. "Oh, I have big news." I nod. "I'm not moving to Florida." I hear him but I don't process it. Not. Moving. Florida. My mind eats the words breaking down what he's saying. As soon as I figure it out, I jump in his arms.

I scream. "I mean it's awesome, but how come?"

"My mom said as long as I'm careful, she'll let me stay. I think she did it more for you than she did for me." I smile. Mrs.Taylor has always found a way to make me feel special. Her and Jere have always had that power. "I'll be right back." He stands up and walks away. I hear the front door open and close. There's a moment of silence. He comes back holding a Christmas bag with wrapping paper sticking out. He hands it to me, but I place it on the table. I walk to the fireplace, which smells smoky because of the fire Matt lit yesterday. I pick up his gift and walk to the kitchen. I hand him his gift as he hands me mine, again. "You open yours first." I say okay and take out the tissue paper. I gasp. He got me gray sweatpants, the same ones he's wearing now. I hold it and squeal. "That's not the only thing, check the pocket." I do and I find a beautiful emerald ring. I put my hand over my mouth. "A promise ring." I hug him and let him put it on my right ring finger. "A promise that we can walk through any storm together and walk out stronger as people and a couple. A promise that no matter what, I love you Livi, and only you. That's the only promise that I can keep in life."

"I love you, Jere."

"I love you too."

"Okay, now it's your turn. I mean it doesn't compare to yours, but I hope you like it." He opens it and smiles as soon as he sees it. I got us matching hoodies. "Now check the pocket." He pulls out a piece of paper from the pocket.

He smiles. "No way, you got Curvy Dog concert tickets!"

I nod. "Well we missed the last concert, so hopefully we can go to this... He cuts me off with a kiss. Then he picks me up and spins me around. He kisses my cheek about a million times. He puts me down, but we're still hugging. I love the warmth of his body. "I need to change."

"Why?"

"So we can match." He nods as he slips out of his shirt to reveal his hard abs. "You always just have to show off." He smiles and slips into his new hoodie. I walk to the bathroom and change into my new sweats and hoodie that I grabbed from my room. I walk out.

"Aw, you look amazing."

I grab his hand. "We look amazing." I correct him. He kisses my cheek.

"Best." He kisses my forehead. "Christmas." He kisses my nose. "Ever." He kisses my lips. I nod. "I love you Livi, forever. That's a promise."

"I love you too. And that's a double promise."

He laughs. "Oh yeah?"

I nod. "Mhm." He grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder and runs to the living room. He drops me on the couch and kisses me. "'Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect it.'"

"You never lost me, I was here," he points to my heart, "with you everyday and every second. And, I love it when you speak in quotes."

It really is the best christmas ever. I have everything I could ever want. Jere has always been the one for me, and no one can convince me otherwise. Especially not now. Jere is mine, and I'm his. And that's a promise. A promise I will keep forever. Jere and I will walk through a hurricane and come out like it didn't even touch us. And even if the hurricane does touch us, we'll come back stronger than ever. Because that's who we are. This isn't some teenage love. This is a love that not everyone has in their lifetime, and I'm one of the lucky few. I love him more than anything.

He's my soulmate!!