Chapter 31

I spent the next few days with Jagger. We cuddled a lot and did couple type things. We both had an understanding that with her living so far away, that it is being more than what we were at this moment in time.

When she kissed me it felt nice but didn’t feel like commitment. It felt like freedom. She would smile down at me and stroke my hair after she kissed me. It felt nice to be wanted.

It was almost my birthday and I know that Jagger wanted to spend it with me. However with it being Christmas, it just wasn’t possible. I compromised with her that we would spend the day after Friendsmas together and then hang out the next day for my birthday. I got Quinn this year for Friendsmas. I already knew exactly what I was going to get for her. She had her eye on a pair of boots when we went to the mall over Thanksgiving break. I had to have Baylen sneak a peek in her shoes for her size and mom picked them up for me. I am very excited to see her face when she opened them this week.

It would be weird having our first Christmas with Keegan and the rest of his family. I know that our moms wanted us to get used to our blended families, but it was still uncomfortable, especially because it's the reason that Keegan and I broke up. They were all staying the night at our house Christmas Eve. My dad said no chance were he and Alison coming but they would be here bright and early on Christmas Day. I think Quinn and Baylen under one roof was enough for dad to put the kibosh on that idea. Mom didn’t seem worried about Kee and I though. But I mean, they really did not have any reason to worry. Kee was with Isadora and I was playing the field with Jeff and Jagger. Jeff actually gets to come to Friendsmas since Jagger gets my time for the day after.

I hadn’t spoken to Keegan since the awkward moment we shared the other night. I think we almost kissed, but was uncertain. I was definitely being pulled towards him by our chemistry. But I couldn’t be sure of the reason he was going to kiss me. Especially since he had just kissed his girlfriend in front of me twice that night.

The evening of December 24, will be one that I always remember. Mom had gotten us all matching pajamas. She set up her tripod to take photos of us all as a family. I stayed away from Keegan. I knew this all made him resent me and I didn’t want to go back to not being friends. We made cookies and had a gingerbread house contest. The teams were myself and Kelsie, Kailie and Baylen, my mom and Keegan. Ms. Kyren took pics with my moms camera since the teams weren’t even if she participated. Kailie and Baylen won by a landslide. Bay was always so crafty. He and my dad always made stuff together, even now. He was also an engineering major.

Everyone gave me my birthday presents on Christmas Eve, so that I could have my own special day. It was nice having them all there for this. Ms. Kyren got me a new phone. My cracked phone must not have been appealing to her. I got clothes, make up and hair products. But what made my jaw drop was the velvet box that I opened. It contained a New Orleans Saints Jersey that read BREES on the back, a clear Saints purse and two tickets to their game on Sunday! I was so over the moon. I knew immediately that this was from my dad. Though this was my 8th Drew Brees jersey, I still got excited every time.

“Oh snap Squirt! I call dibs on the second ticket,” Baylen shouted, grabbing at them in my hand.

“No way! I’m taking dad. He is a bigger fan than any of us, so fat chance,” I said, pulling my tickets away from his grasp and tucking them back inside of the beautiful velvet box.

“Dad and Alison are actually already going, Brees. That ticket is for you to give to whomever you’d like,” my mom reassured me.

Oh wow! Now I guess I had a decision to make. Who should I take? Jeff or Jagger? Maybe I will just take Baylen. I didn’t want to think about it right now, so I started to clean up. I couldn’t help but notice that Keegan didn’t get me a gift this year. I gave him one and I guess that’s all that mattered. He was being his normal self and we had actually been talking a lot lately via text, up until the other night. It was great to have my friend back. I wonder if that almost kiss is why he didn’t get me a gift.