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"There you two are" Owen’s words stopped the conversation in half a second

Rachel painted on a smile "I see you found cocoa and candy"

Owen stirred his hot beverage with a candy cane

Two kids ran past thear" Owen licked the candy and turned around

Rachel found Jason watching her, his smile a little less cocky, his eyes a little more serious "What kind of tree do you like, Owen?" he asked

"One that sood, then"

Thirtysure they didn’t have massive e their growth, and they finally had their tree

Jason atte Rachel bet was a co for him, but she refused "My hoh already"

He stood back and let her pay

Chapter Eight

The tree overtook the living room Owen’s smile outshined it all

It was past nine when Jason secured the tree in the stand and made adjustments to Rachel’s satisfaction Owen opened a box of unused lights and went to work

"We really can take it fro and stared

She rolled her eyes "Okay, fine Coffee?"

"That’s more like it I’d love a cup of coffee"

She disappeared into the kitchen; the sound of cupboards opening and closing e for help," Ohispered

"I can tell," Jason whispered back

"I’ve been trying to paint her rooer than a few hours when I’lanced at the stairs, had a sudden desire to see the inside of her personal space

"Everything in this house needed repairs and paint I helped a little before school started, but she’s done most of it herself You should take her out to dinner so I can surprise her"

The kid was save him props "I’ll see what I can do" He lifted his hand, palive you rinned, looked beyond Jason’s shoulder, and handed him his phone

Rachel walked back into the roo it in "So that’s how you do that?" he said to Owen, handing over the phone

Owen laughed "Yeah It came with the new update"

"I’ll have to try it out" Jason kept the ruse going

"With your broken phone?" Rachel asked, handing hiht"

She shook her head "Did you want creaar?"

He took a drink "Black is fine"

"Ha That’s what she said," Owen chi the tree

Jason didn’t catch the joke It er at his face "Black"

Jason’s laugh started slow and built "That was funny"

"How are those lights co"