A Love Rekindled (The Game of Love #1) (12 page)

Renee
got out of the car as buckets of tears poured from her eyes.

“
This
is my dream car,” she said. “I wanted to save up and get
a car just like this one day. I can't believe you guys did this for
me. Thank you so much.”

She
gripped Jessica into a huge hug.

“
I
was just as surprised as you,” Jessica said. “Luke is the
one that did this.”

Renee
let go of Jessica and looked at Luke.

“
You
did this for me?” she said, as he nodded. “Why? You
shouldn't have done this.”

He
walked over to her and hugged her.

“
You're
my sister too. Remember how you used to hang around with us all the
time. We are all family. You needed a car. I wanted to make sure you
had one that you liked. Look at me,” he said, as he lifted her
chin. “You gave up so much to help take care of this family.
You were here for them. You gave me my family. You are one of us, and
I am going to make sure you have what you need. We love you, Renee.”

Renee
hugged him so tight. Luke looked up at Jessica, as tears streamed
down her face too. I love you, he mouthed to her.

Jessica

The
next couple of weeks went by fast. Lucas was back in school and
having all of his friends sign his cast. Jessica worked during the
day and Luke cooked dinner. She was surprised at how well he could
cook. The three of them spent their evenings in front of the
television or a board game together. Luke would make it back to his
bed before he fell asleep each night.

Jessica
woke up early and decided to make a great breakfast for the guys. It
was Saturday morning, and she was off work for a week. She was so
excited to spend some time at home. Luke wanted to go on a trip for
the holiday, but she just wanted to stay home and relax. She went to
brush her teeth and laughed as she looked around the bathroom. Luke's
stuff was all around her. His shaver, combs, cologne, and clothes.
When she walked through the living room to the kitchen, she saw his
shoes, laptop, books, and other personal stuff scattered around. She
felt uneasiness around her. He promised Lucas he would stay until his
cast was off and he was better. In a few more weeks, Lucas would be
just fine, and Luke would leave. Jessica didn't want him to leave.
She had longed for him all those years. The thought of him going,
broke her heart. She let out a huge breath, as she tried to snap
herself out of her funk. Jessica wanted to enjoy every moment she
could with him. Just as she reached up to dry a tear that had slid
from her eye, she felt huge arms slide around her waist and jumped.

“
What
are you thinking about?” Luke whispered in her ear.

“
Nothing,”
she said.

“
Jessica,
what are you thinking about?” he asked again, as he spun her
around to face him.

She
buried her head in his chest.

“
Lucas'
arm will be better in a few more weeks,” she said.

“
That's
a good thing,” he stated.

“
Yes,
it is. You told him you would stay until he was better,” she
said. “I just got you back. I don't know if I will be able to
let you go again.”

She
knew she was getting serious on him and didn't want to scare him.

“
Plus,
I kind of like having someone cook for me,” she said, as she
smiled.

Luke
laughed and kissed the top of her head. He pulled her tighter to him.

“
I
will never let you go. There is no way you are getting rid of me. I
told him I would stay until he was better. I know we have to do what
is comfortable for him. He just met me, and I don't want to overwhelm
him. I don't want to leave. If I could, I would be here every second.
We just need to give him time. I will probably be here so much,
you'll want me to go home,” he said.

“
That
will never happen. I want every moment I can possibly have with you,”
she said. “Invite your mom for Christmas.”

“
What?”
he asked.

Jessica
walked over to get eggs and began to cook.

“
I
want all of us to be together for Christmas. I always have Renee
over, but we need your mom here too. It is time for me to come clean
with her and accept how she will feel towards me. Lucas needs her,
and I know she will love him. Even if she hates me, I know she will
be good to him.”

“
She
won't hate you. I told her I have a surprise for her, but she has to
give me time,” he said. “She knows I have been over here
lately. My mom always loved you. She thought of you as her daughter,
when we were in school. It won't take her long to forgive you. She is
going to spoil him. I'll call her later today. She's happy that I am
here for the holiday. I know she'll be excited to spend it with you
too.”

Luke
tried to help Jessica make breakfast, but she told him to go and
relax. He had been cooking every day. She loved coming home and not
having to make dinner. It gave her more time to spend with Lucas.
Luke sat down on the couch and turned on the television. A few
moments later, Lucas walked out and sat next to him. They turned on
cartoons and laughed at the silliness on the show. Jessica stood in
the kitchen doorway and watched them. It made her feel so good to see
them together. She wanted that moment to last forever.

There
was a knock at the door, and Jessica ran to grab it. Renee was
watching Lucas for the day, while they went Christmas shopping. She
was just in time for breakfast. Jessica hurried back to the kitchen
to finish the food. Renee helped her set the table and they all sat
down to eat.

After
breakfast, Luke and Jessica got ready and left. She was so excited
that he was going with her. Every year she had to Christmas shop
alone. Jessica was shifting in her seat and moving around a lot.

“
Who
is more excited Lucas or you?” he asked.

“
I
am just happy that you are shopping with me. We are buying his
presents together. It feels amazing,” she answered.

“
How
do you think I feel? This is the first time I get to shop for him. Do
you know what it is going to look like under that tree?” he
asked.

She
could feel her mood drop and knew he must have sensed it too.

“
Hey,
this is exciting for us. Look at me,” he said, as he waited for
her to look at him. “We are going to have a blast today.”

They
both laughed as he pulled into the parking lot of the toy store. He
hurried around to open her door and joked about how many carts they
would need. They spent hours going through every aisle of the store.
He stayed right next to her and leaned down to kiss her every few
minutes. She could tell he was having as much fun as she was. Luke
had learned enough the few weeks before to know what Lucas would
like.

The
buggy was piled high and over the top. She laughed as Luke put a
football on the top of the pile.

“
What?
He has to have a football,” he joked.

They
paid for their stuff and fit it all in the trunk of her car. Luke
decided it was lunch time and he was hungry. They had lunch at a
little restaurant. Jessica felt like they had never been apart. Their
conversation always came easy, and they slipped right back into
treating each other
the
way they had before he left. She noticed that he made sure to always
touch her, even if it was just a little kiss on the forehead or a
slight rub on the arm. She loved him so much.

After
lunch, he wanted to go to the mall. He had not bought enough for his
mother, and they needed to get something for Renee. They walked
through the mall, holding hands and laughing at each other. Luke
picked things out for his mom, and Jessica shook her head no each
time. He finally told her to pick something out. She pulled him into
a jewelry store and went to look at necklaces. A few minutes later,
they had their gift.

“
What
are we going to get Renee?” he asked.

“
A
car was enough from you,” she said.

“
That
was not her Christmas present,” he said. “It doesn't have
to be huge, but I want to get her something.”

They
went from store to store and stopped for ice cream in between. It was
getting late and they had still not found anything for Renee. They
went back to the store Jessica knew Renee loved and she started to
look at clothes. Luke told her he had to run back to a store for
something and would be back. She kept shopping for her sister and a
little for herself. What was taking him so long, she wondered? When
he finally came back, he laughed when he saw the huge pile in her
arms. He ran up and grabbed the clothes from her.

“
Are
you sure all of this is going to fit her?” he asked.

“
Some
of it is for me,” she answered, with a smirk.

“
Oh,
I see,” he said.

They
walked up to the cashier and Jessica pulled out her credit card. Luke
reached in front of her with his.

“
You
paid for all the toys. I am paying for this stuff. Some of it is
mine,” she said, as she tried to pull his hand back.

“
No,
I am paying for it. The gifts are from both of us,” he said, as
he took her card out of her hand and put his on the counter.

She
shook her head. They paid, grabbed all of the bags, and headed back
to the car. On the way home, they picked up pizza for dinner. Jessica
was so happy that their day had been so much fun. She reached over
and put her hand on his leg as he drove.

Luke

When
Lucas was asleep and Renee went home, Jessica helped Luke bring the
presents in the house. They spread everything out onto the living
room floor in piles of who they were for. Luke took a small bag to
his room and then went back. Jessica turned some Christmas music on
low and made them each some coffee.

For
hours they wrapped the presents in all different wrapping paper.
Jessica only wanted to get a couple of different designs, but Luke
wanted to get a bunch of designs. He wanted Lucas to look under the
tree and see a variety of paper. This was his first year of playing
Santa, and he wanted to do it right. They put all of the gifts in his
closet and plopped down on the couch. Luke could not believe how long
it took to wrap that many presents.

Jessica
leaned against Luke's chest, and he put his arms around her.

“
How
have you done this alone all these years?” he asked her.

“
I
wasn't able to buy that many presents. Lucas only got two or three
things. We have never had a Christmas like this before,” she
said.

“
My
mom said she will come for Christmas dinner,” he said. “She
seemed excited that she is going to get to see you.”

Jessica
sat quiet, with her head on his chest. He could hear her breathing
even out and knew she had fallen asleep. He rested his head back
against the couch and fell asleep.

Luke
jumped when he felt someone close to him. He opened his eyes, to see
Lucas looking at him as he laughed. Luke laughed and held an arm out
as Lucas crawled against him and put his head down. They both fell
back to sleep. Luke woke up to Lucas and Jessica against opposite
sides of his chest. It was perfect. He smiled a huge smile and
sighed.

It
was Christmas Eve and they spent the day making cookies and watching
Christmas shows together. Renee was over and was spending the night.
She woke up every Christmas with Lucas and he was always excited
about it. She read him a bedtime story and slept next to him the
whole night.