Olivia and I walked into the mall together. The stores were all just barely opening, there were a few senior citizens lingering in the halls for their morning walk out of the cold.<\/p>\n
I moved toward Olivia and carefully picked up her hand, interlacing our fingers. Olivia smiled bashfully up at me and moved closer to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want a coffee or anything?\u201d I offered. \u201cDid you have breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did. I had vegan pancakes.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cNo milk, no eggs, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded. \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo in other words no fun at all.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cYou\u2019re right about that.\u201d She answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you want a muffin or anything?\u201d I offered. \u201cA coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm\u2026\u201d She thought for a moment. \u201cYou know actually, I think a hot chocolate would be wonderful right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled. Her smile was infectious. \u201cOkay. I was actually thinking of a coffee for myself, but a hot chocolate sounds good.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cOh, did you watch the news last night?\u201d She asked eagerly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, actually, I didn\u2019t.\u201d I mused. \u201cIs something good happening?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that depends on how you look at it\u2026\u201d She mused lightly. \u201cWe\u2019re supposed to get a very huge snowfall here in Tulsa. Like twenty inches or so.\u201d<\/p>\n
I raised my eyebrows. \u201cReally? Wow. When?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis evening some time.\u201d She shrugged lightly. \u201cThey said late afternoon or early evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow.\u201d I mused. \u201cI think that\u2019s a lot, even for Oklahoma.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled. \u201cI\u2019m excited actually. You don\u2019t get to see much snow in Tenessee very often.\u201d She laughed softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d I laughed softly.<\/p>\n
We found the coffee shop in the mall and I released Olivia\u2019s hand, moving my arm around her waist gently. This made it much easier for me to reach my wallet out of the back pocket of my jeans.<\/p>\n
Olivia glanced at a few of the baked goods and chatted politely with the cashier in a green apron behind the counter. She seemed interested in how they managed to make something called \u201cred velvet.\u201d To me it sounded like cheap porn until I realized they were talking about the cupcakes.<\/p>\n
I waited patiently, until finally Olivia smiled up at me.<\/p>\n
The cashier seemed to finally notice I was standing there, and asked what she could get us. I asked for two hot chocolates and handed over a few dollar bills before Olivia could even protest.<\/p>\n
I asked if she wanted one of the cupcakes and she shook her head, dismissing it as too early for junk food.<\/p>\n
I moved my arms around Olivia and hugged her, smiling. \u201cYou know, I just realized I never got a proper kiss this morning\u2026.\u201d I mused, watching her lips carefully.<\/p>\n
Olivia\u2019s perfect lips turned into a serious pout as she considered this. \u201cHmm\u2026 maybe we should sit down and talk about how we\u2019re going to fix that. We could develop a plan of action and maybe give it a try in about six to eight weeks or so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I tightened my arms around her. \u201cCute\u2026 very cute.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cI know, I thought so.\u201d She teased. She stood on her toes and lightly kissed my lips.<\/p>\n
My lips curved around hers, like they fit there all along. We were two pieces of the same puzzle joining together at exactly the right place.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly, lowering herself back onto her heels.<\/p>\n
I sighed contentedly and wrapped my arms tighter around her, pulling her to me. She rested her head on my chest her sigh matching my own.<\/p>\n
The cashier presented our two hot chocolates and I gave one to Olivia and picked up my own.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, so where to first?\u201d I asked Olivia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWherever.\u201d She shrugged lightly. \u201cI\u2019m not really looking for anything. You still need to do some Christmas shopping you said, so I think we should probably get that out of the way before the mall becomes a complete madhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d I mused. \u201cGood thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you leave it so late anyway?\u201d She asked me suddenly. \u201cI\u2019ve been done for a while now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. I was just working and everything\u2026 and of course I couldn\u2019t do any shopping when we were at PCA.\u201d I shrugged. \u201cBesides, I have no idea what to even get the people in my family. I feel like don\u2019t know them very well, and I\u2019m sure that feeling is mutual\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia frowned. \u201cWait a minute. You haven\u2019t done any shopping yet? None at all?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
I shrugged lightly. \u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh man\u2026\u201d She sighed. \u201cOkay, we definitely need to get started then. Who all do you have to buy for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, just my immediate family. My mom and dad. My two brothers and my two sisters. And of course, you.\u201d I shrugged lightly. \u201cNo biggie, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to get me anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already discussed this.\u201d I replied. \u201cI\u2019m getting you something.\u201d I playfully swatted at the backside of her jeans. She laughed, shaking her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I guess on the plus side there\u2019s a gift wrapping station. That\u2019ll definitely save us some time. And it looks like the donations are at least going to a good cause.\u201d She mused as we passed the piles of gift wrap and tables.<\/p>\n
\u201cAwesome. I\u2019m terrible at wrapping anyway.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly. \u201cDo you have any ideas at all?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I was thinking of just getting them gift cards. That way they can get their own gifts.\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n
Olivia frowned, making a disgusted face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Why? What\u2019s wrong with gift cards? Everyone loves gift cards.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, but they\u2019re so impersonal and generic. They require so little effort, and I think the effort counts\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, okay. I\u2019ll do it your way.\u201d I smirked. \u201cMaybe I could get a book for my dad, and clothes for Taylor. He loves clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee? Not so hard is it?\u201d She teased.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess not\u2026\u201d I mused. \u201cIt\u2019s still kind of a pain in the ass, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Zac I could get him a video games. He has an unhealthy obsession with video games\u2026 The girls I have no clue what to get them. I mean Avery is alright, she doesn\u2019t really talk to me much and Jessica is petrified of me. She won\u2019t even be in the same room as me. I mean I walk into the room and she scatters like a flock of birds.\u201d I shook my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cJessica was in the accident with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cShe still has the cast on her arm for another month. I asked if I could sign it the other day and she couldn\u2019t even tell me now, she just stared at me like I was going to hurt her and took off running to my mom.\u201d I sighed.<\/p>\n
Olivia frowned. \u201cWell that\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she\u2019s just too young to understand. And I think that when I actually apologize to her, she\u2019s too young to realize I made a mistake. I don\u2019t really know what to do anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd your parents can\u2019t talk to her?\u201d Olivia asked, the worried expression still clearly evident in her face.<\/p>\n
I shrugged lightly. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019m sure they don\u2019t see it as much as I do. I think I notice it more because I feel responsible and very guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia nodded sympathetically.<\/p>\n
I decided to change the subject to something a little lighter. \u201cHey, how about I buy you something from in there?\u201d I asked. I pointed past her to a Victoria\u2019s secret, where there were a series of mannequins wearing skimpy Christmas themed outfits.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed softly. \u201cNice. Nothing says Merry Christmas like crotch-less panties.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed a little harder than I should have, but her sentiment combined with the look on her face was hilarious.<\/p>\n
Her sarcasm faded into an expression of pensiveness. \u201cThat actually reminds me though\u2026 I may need to stop there later\u2026\u201d she mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cI whole-heartedly support that idea.\u201d I said eagerly.<\/p>\n
Olivia looked up at me. \u201cReally? You don\u2019t mind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot as long as you model something for me.\u201d I grinned.<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head laughing. \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
I grinned. Olivia looped her arm through mine and laid her head on my shoulder briefly. \u201cWhere to first? The bookstore?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I think it might be best if we start with the easier gift first.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Olivia insisted. \u201cI\u2019m excellent with picking out gifts.\u201d She beamed up at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, great.\u201d I mused. \u201cI knew I waited for the last minute for something.\u201d I grinned, swooping down and lightly kissing her again.<\/p>\n