Chapter 10
A few days later Taylor woke up early and decided to rudely wake up Christine by pouncing on her bed. “So are you ready to participate in the Hanson family New Years tradition?” he asked after he had successfully annoyed her.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“We, as in the older kids, take the little ones out sledding so mom and dad can get ready for the big party tonight” Taylor explained.
“That sounds like fun” she said.
“It is” he told her with a mischievous grin on his face.
“So let me guess, you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve for this one?” Christine asked.
“Hmm, maybe” he said indecisively.
“You are such a dork” she informed him matter of factually.
“Come on get up and get your warm clothes on” he said as he sauntered out of the room completely ignoring her last comment. Christine rolled her eyes. He was certainly in a mood that day. She’d have to find a way to repay him somehow.
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There were 9 altogether at the sledding hill, the seven Hanson kids plus Christine and Carry. The little ones were all having a blast riding down the hills, while Carry and Christine were busy making plans on how to attack their boyfriends with snowballs.
“So what’s you’re reasoning for doing this?” Carry asked as they made and hid their stash.
“Oh he’s just being a complete dork today. He woke me up at an ungodly hour this morning by jumping on my bed. Then he’s copping me this fake attitude just to make me mad. I feel the need to repay him some how” she explained. “What about you?”
“Yeah, about the same” Carry told her.
“Must be a brother thing” Christine guessed.
“They were like this last year. I’m glad I have someone to help me fend them off this time” Carry said.
“Look, here they come up the hill. Let’s get them,” Christine said.
On the count of three Christine fired a snowball in Taylor’s direction hitting him square in the chest, while Carry did the same to Ike. They both looked up, surprised, just in time to see more snow flying their way. An all out war was started.
For about the next five minutes a war was waged between the two couples until Christine ran out of ammunition. “Okay okay, truce” she cried out just before getting pelted by one last snowball of Taylor’s.
“Afraid of losing huh?” Taylor asked laughing and approaching her.
“Come here you” she said and pulled him into a kiss. Then as she was kissing him she reached into her coat pocket where she had some more snow stored. She took it in her hands and smeared it into Taylor’s face.
“Hey” Taylor yelled at Christine stepped back laughing. She turned and took off running down the hill. Taylor took off right behind her and caught up quickly. He tackled her and they ended up sliding and tumbling down the hill together running into a tree at the bottom with a thud.
“Got ya back” Christine said out of breath, but smiling nonetheless.
“Ugh, I can’t move” Taylor groaned ignoring her grin.
“I got you” she repeated. “Shouldn’t have let your guard down.”
“Oh shut up and get off of me” he laughed in spite of himself.
“Well I would, naturally, but I don’t think I can move either” Christine said. “I guess we’ll just have to stay here forever.”
“We’d freeze to death” Taylor pointed out.
“We’d die happy” she whispered and leaned down for a kiss.
“Ew, get a room” they heard Zac yell from the top of the hill. They looked up at him. “Come on lovebirds, time to go home” he said. Somehow they managed to pick themselves up and make it back to the cars.
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About an hour and a half later Christine and Taylor were back home in front of the fireplace drinking hot chocolate.
“Nice choice of outfits” Christine commented on Taylor’s leather pants. It wasn’t that she didn’t think he looked good in them, he had the perfect body, but she could never picture herself with someone that wore that much leather.
“I know you don’t like the pants, but it’s a party, I get to be a rock star tonight” Taylor justified. “Besides, everyone’s going to expect me to wear them.”
“Alright, I’ll let it slide this once” she teased. “But only because I like the combination.” Along with his pants he wore an icy blue undershirt and a black button up shirt on top. She had to admit that all that black was very sexy, and the little bit of blue made his eyes stand out.
“You look beautiful” Taylor told her. She was wearing a long black skirt with knee high slits up the sides and a red halter-top.
“Thanks” she said softly and began twirling his hair, still damp from his shower, around in her fingers. They sat together quietly for a long time staring into the fire.
“People are going to start arriving soon,” Taylor finally said with a sigh.
“Yeah” Christine agreed.
“They are going to wonder about you” he stated.
“What are you going to tell them?” she asked.
“I’m not sure yet,” he admitted just as the first doorbell rang. “I better go get that.”
“Okay, promise me you’ll come find me sometime?” she asked.
Taylor nodded as he stood up. “Love you” he said placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Love you too” she said softly watching him leave.
