'Tis the Season

Chapter 9: Next Year...

Chapter Nine: Next Year...

As promised, Carson stopped when we were about ten minutes away from our destination so that I could buy myself a dress that I assumed based off his attire would fit the occasion. I wasn't able to do much in terms of fixing my hair and makeup, but thankfully since I had braided it fresh out of the shower it dried curly enough that it gave an impression I had put some effort into my appearance.

Along the rest of the drive, I learned that his whole family is very close with the Sanderses. Every year, they have a small get together for the holiday and at the end of the party they draw names for a Secret Santa.

As lovely as it sounds I find myself stuck with a pit of nerves in my stomach knowing that I'm about to meet his family. I've met my boyfriends' families before, but Carson and I aren't even official yet. We've literally had one date.

Maybe that should make me feel calmer, like I'm getting introduced to them as more of a friend than a significant other, but Carson feels like so much more. I want him to be so much more.

And I really want his family to like me, I know they're very important to him and that makes their opinion of me important to me. Plus, the extent of their knowledge of me so far is that I'm about to come crash their party and last night I slept in a hotel room, drunk, with their son. I haven't prefaced our introductions in the best light.

Nevertheless, I summon the courage deep within myself to take Carson's hand and enter the adorably decorated bungalow style house he grew up in.

Immediately I'm entranced by the soft glow of warm lights and the scent of sugar cookies drifting through the air. There are Christmas knick-knacks everywhere, garland strung along every wall, and tinsel glimmering from each angle of the place.

"Carson, you're back! And you must be Naomi, oh we have heard so much about you!" A shorter, plumper, and feminine version of Carson tackles me into a hug. I can definitely see where Carson gets his skills from on that front, I immediately feel relaxed and welcome.

"Hi, it's so nice to meet you too," I smile as we pull away from the hug.

"Oh, Carson's girlfriend. We were all wondering when we would get to meet you," a boy who looks absolutely nothing like Carson rounds the corner. My instinct is to assume that he must be somehow related to the Sanders, but Carson rubs the side of his neck and hesitantly introduces him to me as his brother.

"This is my younger brother Connor. Please, Naomi, for the love of all that is good do not listen to a word he says about me right now. He'll scare you off faster than I can get you to actually become my girlfriend," he tells me and I chuckle, shaking Connor's hand.

Connor throws Carson a disgusted look. "You haven't even made it official yet? Damn, you're slow. Naomi, if you need someone who moves at a faster pace with things to satisfy you, I would be happy to oblige."

I laugh a little awkwardly. "Thanks, but I'm more than happy moving at the pace I am with Carson. Besides, he'd have pretty big shoes to fill." Carson bites his lip and wraps an arm around my waist before guiding me into the living room.

"Hey, Naomi. Is Madeline here too?" Everleigh asks, jumping from her spot on the couch and giving me a tight squeeze before peering behind us.

"No, she's not, I'm sorry." Everleigh doesn't seem too disappointed, but I don't know if that girl could frown if she tried.

"That's alright, I'm glad you and Carson are going out. He hasn't ever had much luck with girlfriends." Carson lightly shoves Eve out of the way as he rolls his eyes, and hurriedly introduces me to the rest of the Sanders family.