Mine Would Be You (99)

He nods proudly, and pulls me in for a hug, slipping the box into my hand in the meantime. “Welcome to the family, Jackson.”




Nina



This is already the best Christmas I’ve ever had.

My parents’ house is full of life and the smells of all our favorite foods and almost every person that means anything to me. Basketball is on in the background on the TV, and everyone is loud and talking and laughing, and I love it. The best part, or two best parts, are Jackson is here and it’s snowing, on Christmas. Which almost never happens.

The house is decorated completely but tastefully with carefully string lights and the Christmas tree in front of the big window in the living room. I take a sip of the drink Dad made for today, I think a whiskey and cranberry recipe he found online, and surprisingly, it’s pretty good. Everyone is still spread around the living room, I think, but I stand in the kitchen with my mom and Mrs. Ross as we get ready to put out the buffet spread of food.

Biscuits are covered by foil, the buttery smell filling the space along with the ham that my mom just took out of the oven and my dad’s chili on the stove, with bacon bits on the side and shredded cheese. My mom also made rice and beans, and there’s more, of course. It’s a complete mixture of all our favorite things, and it’s perfect.

I’m pulling out plates when Jackson and my dad enter the kitchen from the living room, laughing about something quietly before Dad comes over and helps me reach the dishes I can’t. He places a kiss on my cheek as he does before doing the same to my mom as he tries to steal a bite of food and she swats him away.

I avoid eye contact with Jackson on purpose as I move throughout the kitchen. I can feel the familiar pricks against my skin of him watching, and my cheeks warm as they always do. I don’t last long with my little game because all I want to do is look at him, and when I do, he grins widely, both dimples popping, knowing he won whatever this was. Smoothly, he nods his head slightly and wriggles his fingers by his leg, and I walk towards him in response.

“Are you having a good Christmas?” I ask as he leans against the door frame.

His eyes twinkle. “I am. Are you?”

I smile. “The best.”

“Because I’m here, right? I thought so.”

I laugh at his cheesiness, hating how much I genuinely love it. Before I can say anything, Harper and Mateo walk by. “You two make me want to vomit—in a cute way. Kind of,” she mutters, and I roll my eyes as Mateo takes it a step further. He hits Jackson over the back of his head gently, and Jackson responds with a quick slap to his chest, and the laughter bubbles out of me.

I look back at him as they enter the kitchen. “You kinda deserved that.”

He snorts softly, blowing out air. “You secretly loved it.”

I reach out and take his glass out of his hand and take a sip, as mine is sitting empty on the counter near the biscuits. “I’ll never tell.”

“You don’t have to. I know you.” Jackson’s blue eyes shine with lightness and humor, and I can’t help but let the smile out. I take another sip of his drink. “But come on, the snow from this morning has been sticking, and it’s beautiful.”

I squeal excitedly and practically jump up and down as I set his drink on the kitchen table. “The snow is sticking, so we’re going outside,” I yell to anyone who even cares to listen, and Jackson laughs as I drag him down the hallway.

Of course, he makes me pull on my coat, the new one he bought me for Christmas, and it falls past the length of my long sleeve sweater dress. I slip on the old fuzzy boots I always leave here over my stockings as he zips up his own coat. Jackson pulls open the door, and I’m surprised to see just how much snow has fallen in a few hours. Not enough for a snow angel or anything crazy, but the snow is heavy and soft and perfect for snowballs.

I grin, pulling him down into the empty street as the snow falls around us. When I turn back around, his hands are in his pockets, and he’s just grinning at the snowflakes landing on his blond hair, his slightly red cheeks, and his nose. They dust his skin softly, falling over his freckles, and he looks happy.

I can’t help but stare because last year, Jackson Ross wasn’t a part of my life. Now, I hope that he’ll never not be a part of my life. Because everything is better with him. Life is brighter and warmer and exciting, and it feels endless with him.

Jackson Ross is my all-time, the only one I want to do life with, ever.

He looks down, turning his smile to me, and my heart beats quickly in my chest. “It never gets old.”

I cock my head to the side.

“The snow. Even though I’ve been here for years, it never gets old. It’s always exciting.”

“Yeah, I feel that way about a few things.” I grin because it’s like he read my thoughts, even if he doesn’t know it. I crouch down quickly and ball up snow in my gloved hands.

“Nina, don’t you dare.”

I wiggle my brows. “Oh, come on, don’t be a party pooper, Jackson.”

Before he can stop me, I fling the snowball at him and watch it hit him square in the chest. He shakes his head and laughs, and before I can prepare, he’s running towards me through the snow, and I squeal, turning quickly, trying to get away. Easily, he catches me and is wrapping an arm around my waist pulling me back into his chest. His other hand comes up filled with snow, and he plops it on the top of my head.