Noah had just shrugged but didn’t offer an explanation. His actions spoke for themselves. Still what bothered him most now was that his actions didn’t mean anything if she still wanted nothing to do with him. He had to think of a way to convince her and do it fast because this was getting out of control. He hadn’t so much as held her hand yet and his carnal instincts were already claiming her as his.

Now more convinced than ever, he was going to have to come up with a way to give him a shot. He had to. If he didn’t the only other option was to remain friends but he knew now that would never work. He’d blow up the first time he ever saw her with someone else and it wouldn’t be pretty either. No way could a friendship withstand something like that and no way would he stick around to see it over and over again. The game had suddenly changed and Noah felt the urgency. Either he found a way to make her his or he’d have to make a clean break. There could be no in between.

They dropped off his bike at her house, showered, then drove to the tree lot in her car. She never brought up the guy at the gym again and Noah was relieved. He needed more time to prove himself to her before he told her how he really felt.

They walked around the lot and Noah watched as she scrutinized every tree, before deciding it wasn’t good enough and moving on. He wondered if metaphorically this was how she chose the guys she went out with. Everything had to be just right. Not just the look of it but the smell, and feel of it too. She also said she was looking for that special something and she’d know it when she saw it. After the sixth or seventh one, he’d lost count, he had to laugh. “What exactly is it you’re looking for?”

“I can’t explain it,” she said standing back taking the next one in from top to bottom. “It’s something about the way it makes me feel when I pass by it every day in my living room. My mom always said you’ll know it when you see it.”

“What if it’s not in this lot? How do you know you’re looking in the right place?”

“Oh no. This is the lot. This is the same lot where I always find the perfect one.”

“Well maybe that’s your problem. The perfect one for you could be somewhere else this year. Somewhere you’ve never even given a shot.”

She glanced at him and he held her gaze for a moment, hoping she’d picked up on what he was trying to tell her. She took a deep breath before walking around the group of trees she’d just scrutinized thoroughly.

“This is it,” she announced pointing to a tree that didn’t look at all special to him.

“Really? That was fast. Are you sure?”

She nodded but didn’t look away from the tree. Somehow, he expected her to be more excited about finally finding the ‘perfect one.’ She’d taken long enough.

“Alright.” He walked over to the tree and picked it up.

“You got it?” she asked as he walked by her. “You sure you don’t need help?”

“Nope. I got it.”

She paid for it while he tied it up on the roof of her car. On the way home, he told her about his next fight. “It’s next month. You’ll be there right?”

She winced but nodded. “I hate the thought of watching you get hurt. But of course I’ll be there. As long as it’s in the evening because I’ll be back at work by then.”

He remembered her mentioning that. He tried not to frown at the thought of her being around a bunch of college guys. “So it’s official? I know you said you wanted to but it’s a sure thing now?”

“Yep. I start on the second. Classes don’t start up until the following week but the administrative staff goes back first thing after the New Year. I have no idea what I’ll be doing. But I know the beginning of the year is a very busy time for us so I’m sure they’ll find something for me.”

Noah turned to her when he reached a stop light. Since driving with a tree on the roof made Roni nervous, he was driving. Her eyes had that twinkle in them he only saw when she got excited or happy.

“I’m just glad to finally get back to living again. I’m so grateful for Nellie. If it hadn’t been for her pushing, I might’ve never stepped foot in that gym.”

“I’m grateful for her, too.” Their eyes met and that twinkle turned into something else. Something like discomfort or worse fear.

“I mean if you had never gone to the gym I would’ve never met you right? I got a great new friend out of it and even a place to stay. You bet I’m grateful.”

She smiled and he stepped on the gas. The rest of the ride to her house was a quiet one. Noah took a deep breath. He was going to have to be careful from here on about the things he said to her, especially about his feelings for her.

CHAPTER 14

Noah took the tree off the car roof and carried it in the house allowing for little assistance from Veronica.

Between the two of them, they put it up in her living room. Noah turned on the radio and they began decorating. Veronica tried not to be too obvious about how nervous she was suddenly feeling being around Noah. He seemed just a little too content tonight. There was almost a gleam in his eyes, but after a few songs, she forced herself to snap out of it and enjoyed their decorating evening.

“Ooh and now for my favorite part.” She brought a small wooden step stool from the kitchen into the living room and placed it next to the tree. Noah smiled curiously as she took out a small bundle wrapped in tissue paper out of a box and unwrapped it carefully. The beautiful and very delicate crystal star tree-topper was as she always remembered it.