Morgan's POV

"Morgan! Morgan wake up it's Christmas!" Matty entered my bedroom yelling like a damn psycho.

"It's not Christmas Matty, so fuck off and let me sleep." I covered my head with my sheets and turned my back to him.

Annoying little monster.

I hate when people wake me up like that in the morning, it puts me on a bad mood and I hate waking up in a bad mood.

"It is!" I heard him ran off my room. "Mom, dad is it Christmas!?" He went after our parents-who are most likely awake.

Better him bothering them than me.

Maybe I just find my brother annoying because I didn't have one before and this is the first time I stay this much at home since my parents adopted Matthew... yeah that's probably why— well that and the fact that he's a six year old kid.

I was unable to fall back asleep so I took the covers off my face and grabbed my phone from my nightstand and checked my social media. I had some messages from Michael and others from Elizabeth. I opened hers first and was greeted by a picture of her in bikini—God what a good way to start the festivities. I sent her one of me on my bed doing a peace sign in return. Apparently she was now enjoying the sun and beaches all the way in Turks and Caicos.

Elizabeth makes me happy she really does. Just thinking about her brought a smile to my face. She was perfect in every aspect of the word—she's incredibly gorgeous, funny, intelligent, successful, knows what she wants and makes sure of letting you know. I don't have any idea how someone like her even gave me a second look or had any insterest in me.

Yet for some reason my stupid self doesn't seem to be able to reciprocate her feelings in that way—no matter how much I have tried.

Part of me thought coming here would perhaps help me clear my head and understand what are the kind feelings I have for her... but it did the opposite because ever since I arrived in town Elizabeth has been on the back of my thoughts many times.

"Morgan don't tell Matty to fuck off, he has been repeating the word ever since he came from your room." My dad stood at the door with a sleepy face—still on his pajamas.

"Sorry dad— but you know I get grumpy when I get woken up like that."

"I know Mor but is Christmas Eve anyway, you should get out of bed already we have lot of things to do for today, remember the family is coming over."

I groaned into my pillow.

"Fine."

My dad seemed content with my response as he left and closed the door on his way out. I'm glad he was the one to come upstairs instead of mom, she would've dragged me out of bed... literally.

My mom can be scary when she's dedicated enough.

Anyway, time to start the day I guess, God knows I will need a lot of patience today.

-

"Tommy you're a little bitch."

My cousin stared at me with his mouth agape. He was complaining about how some girl he was dating ruined his favorites shoes because she got too drunk and puked over them.

I don't know the girl but I like her already.

"They were Jordans!" He whined.

I rolled my eyes. "As I said, you're a little bitch."

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"You just keep proving my point every time you open your mouth little cousin." I took a sip of my glass of wine—trying to find patience in me and not smack him.

"I'm going to tell my mom." He pointed at me.

I flicked his forehead, "Grow up Tommy, you little bitch."

He began complaining and whining as he marched away from me—most likely to accuse me with my aunt like the whinny little snitch that he is. I can't stand him.

It's been an hour since my family gathering started and Hayley is yet to arrive. I texted her a few minute ago and she said she was still getting ready and will take a while. How long can someone take getting ready, my god.

When I was passing by the kitchen I was called by my mom making me sigh knowing this was probably because of Tommy.

"If this is about Tommy he had it coming." I said and leaned against the marble counter watching as she put the turkey on the oven.

"I know sweetie, don't mind him I'll just tell your aunt you're sorry for swatting him. But that was not what I was going to ask you." She turned around once she closed the oven.

"Then what is it?"

"You invited Hayley tonight, right?"

"Oh yeah, she's coming later—she's still getting ready."

My mom nodded. "She's a smart young woman, very pretty too...you know?"

I frowned confused. "Huh yeah, sure, she is."

"We get coffee every once in while she's a sweet girl and... single."

"Mom... are you trying to set me up with Hayley?"

She put a hand on her chest and gasped dramatically. "As a mother I would never dare to meddle with your romantic life."

I hummed, "Yeah mom, nice try."

"But is it working?"

"What? I can't hear you!" I walked out of the kitchen and back into the livingroom—dodging the kids running around the house in the process.

The doorbell then sounded and I told my dad that I'll open up when I saw him starting to walk over to do it. That must be Hayley since all of my family is already here.

I sighed and opened the door.

"Morgan."

I blinked once not sure if I was really seeing the person in front of me of hallucinating.

"Jason?" I asked, my old bestfriend gave me his million dollar smile and that seemed to knock me out of my shock. "Oh my God, Jason!" I jumped on him engulfing him on a hug.

"Hey Mor." He mumbled against my shoulder.

Seeing my best friend in person made all the worries I had when I heard he might be coming back home vanish. It just made me realize how much I've missed him and how badly I wanted to hug this gentle giant.

"I've missed you Jase. It's been a while." I said when we broke away from the hug.

"It has, too long actually."

I then remembered we were still standing on the porch of my house. "Oh right, come on in." I urged him inside the house as it was freezing out here.

When my dad saw Jason he immediately came over and hugged him. My dad and Jason always got along very well—he saw Jason as the son he never had before Matty came along. He was happy to see my best friend, it was evident on his face. My mom then joined when he noticed the tall boy with us and hugged him as well—both my parents loved Jason.

After my parents were done asking Jason everything about his life I was able to steal him away so we could now catch up—there was a lot to tell that's for sure. We talked to each other as if a day hasn't gone by—as if we never stopped talking and I was glad and relieved.

"So you are fucking your boss? Damn Morgan I never thought you would do something like that... nice." He high fived me.

"I know—but the problem is that she has feelings for me and—"

"You don't. That's tuff."

"What about you dude, any girlfriends?" I wiggled my brows.

Jason shrugged, "Nothing serious."

"Is it because of—"

"Don't even say the name... it's not." He mumbled.

Jason and Norah broke up during their second year of college. Apparently the distance and the responsibilities with college along with keeping a relationship was too much for the both of them so they mutually called it up. However Jason never got over Norah.

"There's something else I need to tell you about though—" I tried to change the subject but I was cut off by the doorbell ringing.

My mom got it this time and in came Hayley.

"Is that Hayley Duvall?" Jason asked confused.

"Yeah that's the thing I was about to tell you... Hayley and I are friends now so I invited her."

Jason's mouth opened in realization, "Oh... so should we go say hi?"

I nodded and stood up followed by my bestfriend.

"Looking good Hayley, but then again you kinda had too if you took almost three hours getting ready." I checked out the fitted white dress she had on.

She looked beautiful.

Hayley rolled her eyes. "Perfection takes time darling."

I chuckled and heard Jason clearing his throat and saw him looking back ans forth between the two of us.

"Right, Hayley remember Jason?" I motioned to my friend that was standing by my side. The confusion in Hayley's face told me that she in fact didn't even if we talked about him not long ago. "James."

Realization then painted her face. "Oh! Hi."

"Who the hell is James?"

"Anyways—let's go find something to drink and sit." I suggested.

"Sure." Hayley grabbed my arm and we walked to the kitchen—Jason giving me a weird look that I didn't understand.

-

Dinner went by smoothly and so did the gift giving. At some point of the night Jason's parents joined us and now almost every adult were drunk except for the three of us— well Jason was a bit more than just tipsy but Hayley were good.

Also Matty was more than happy with his Xbox and was upstairs in his room playing with our cousins.

We were in the middle of a chat when my mom came our way and interrupted us. "Sorry I'm going to have to borrow Jason for a minute." She said pulling my confused friend up and dragging to where some of my family and his mom were.

Hayley and I looked at each other in confusion.

I shrugged.

"Want to go to the back porch?" I asked as the inside of my house was pretty crowded. It snowed ealier but it wasn't right now so it wasn't so cold—plus the amount of beers made me numb to it at this point.

"Sure let's go."

I guided us outside and we stood on the railing of the porch putting our drinks on top of it.

"So did you like what I gave you?" I asked her.

"I did... I really needed a coffee machine, thanks Morgan."

"It's of professionals use." I added and she chuckled.

"Did you like what I got you?" She asked back.

"Are you kidding? It's the coolest gift someone has giving me, thank you again really." Hayley had got me a blue lightsaber just like the ones from the movies— except it didn't cut of course. Like the one from that Drake and Josh episode.

"I knew you would, you love all that nerd—space ninja shit."

I laughed at how she still called Star Wars that.

"I got you something else though." I said and Hayley frowned confused. I took the gift out of the pocket of my dress pants and gave it to her.

"You didn't have to..." Hayley said looking at the necklace in the small box with a gentle smile and soft eyes.

You didn't think I was seriously just going to give her a coffee machine.

"I wanted to. Want me to help you put it on?" I asked.

"Morgan this looks really expensive I can't take it." She tried giving it back but I shook my head and just took it so I could put it on her.

"Except that you will because I got it for you and I want you to have it." I walked around behind her and helped her put the necklace on. "There," I went back in front of her.

It was a necklace with a thin gold chain and a small jade gemstone with gold borders as it's pendant. The green of the stone reminded me of the color of her eyes when I first saw it so I just knew I had to get it for her.

"So... do you like it?" I asked again.

"It's the most beautiful thing someone has ever given me... thank you Morgan." Hayley green eyes looked up at me with a emotion I couldn't quite decipher in them.

I was distracted away from them when I saw something like a small leaf fall from the ceiling making me look up and chuckle.

"Would you look at that." I said and looked back down to see Hayley now staring at it.

"Mistletoe."

Who put that out here?

"Yeah," I confirmed and looked back up at it. "We can move some centimeters away i—"

I was interrupted by lips- incredibly soft and warm lips on mine. It didn't last long though—or for me it didn't seem to.

Hayley pulled away and looked at me with wide shocked eyes. "I— I should... I should go."

I don't know what came over me when I grabbed Hayley stopped her from leaving. Instead I moved us from under the mistletoe and kissed her—this time making sure it lasted longer.

All I knew at that moment was that I wanted to kiss her again and again badly.

So I did.

I kissed Hayley Duvall and she kissed me back with as much want.

-