"Hoodie 2" I Love You ✔ [On Hold]

Music Box

Carly's POV
"How the heck did you do that!? You beat me 4 times already!" Jared said loudly at Leo who beats him at another game, Leo was staring at him as he rambles on at how he is a good player and is suspecting Leo of cheating in the game which is the most idiotic assumption I have ever heard my cousin can sag out loud

I leaned sideways to Aunt Suzy who was making homemade pizza at the kitchen island "Does Jared always act this way or this is his once in a Blue Moon phase?"

Aunt Suzy looked up from the dough to her son who is frustrated in losing to Leo 4 times "Must be the once in a Blue Moon phase, he rarely gets angry over a game" she popped the other pizza that already has the sauce on it with the mozzarella cheese in the oven and started the small chicken timer

"Jared gets competitive over anything, he even made our relaxing fishing time into a fish-off. He caught 20 fishes in a matter of only 5 hours while I only caught 16" Uncle Bernard old to his wife while he is in charge of putting tippings at the other finished cooked pizza that is just waiting to be cooled down

Leo calmed Jared down and this time he purposely loses in one game and that didn't fool Jared a single bit, I walked up to the both of them and asked Leo if I could borrow the game console so he did. I sat on his lap and we started the game

Jared sucks in playing games that's for sure cause he was losing to me, he raised both of his arms up "That's it, I give up. Mom do you need any help?" He looked at Aunt Suzy

"Yeah I kinda need your help with the dough"

Jared stood up and left to go straight to the kitchen so me and Leo played a fighting game together and I won in the round, I leaned back to Leo's chest and I felt cozy in his embrace. It just felt right to be there, we finished the game and he won again

Uncle Bernard called us because the pizzas were all ready to be eaten, I ate about half of the pizza since they have made too many. The feeling of being full after you eat is a satisfying feeling to have

After we all finished eating we all hardly couldn't move since they were also very full,  to digest everything that we ate, me and Leo walked a little around outside the house. Living beside the beach can make the breeze user cold since Christmas is almost near, probably by next week

"Do you have any plans for Christmas?" I glanced up at Leo who was walking beside me in our little stroll, he puts up a thinking face then grinned "On the 21st will be the company Christmas party and by 25th I'll probably just celebrate Christmas at home with Mom and Kathrina" he puts one hand in the pocket of his jacket while the other held my hand

We stopped walking because I saw a glimpse of sadness in his eyes, I cupped one side of his face and caressed his cheek "What's wrong?"

He sighed "We still are not used to celebrating without him, he is always the life of the party that we held" Leo was pertaining to his late Dad "I mean, it is really hard to see my Mom and Sister be so sad in a joyful holiday but there is nothing at the moment that can make them happy" he added

"What was your Dad like?" I pulled him to sit on a bench that faces the sea and I let him lay his head on my shoulder, Kissing the side of his temple while pulling him in a comforting embrace

"He would usually make the most craziest ways to make all of us laugh, a well-respected person to all of his friends and colleagues, and a good Dad"

My hand went to massage his back a little and I have to look at my shoulder to properly face him "He is a great Dad from what I hear from your Mom, makes me want to meet him" my comment made him chuckle a bit

"I would not be surprised if he is the first person who will be thrilled to meet you, love, my Dad probably been over the moon that I have a loving girlfriend right now" he nuzzled his face at the crook of my neck while his arms slowly embraced me at my waist pulling me closer to him even though the gap between us is nonexistent

We were cuddling together on the bench and trying my best to make him feel that I'm here to comfort him, losing a good Dad is really a hard thing to feel. Heck. Even I would be super sullen if my adopted Dad would be gone in this world

"Hey love" he mumbled at my neck and I felt his warm breath hit my neck which made me shiver down my spine "Hm?"

"Remember the observatory that we went to back to our trip at the lake house?" He asked me, Leo raised his head, and our eyes were gazing at each other. I would never be bored at looking at his lovely eyes, I nodded to him

He pulled out the small music box from the inside pocket of his jacket and let it gently on my hand, I gasped in shock "You brought it?!" I checked to see if it is really the music box that we played back at the observatory

He beamed at my reaction "Yup, I also have someone fix the intricate designs of the music box so it doesn't seem all worn out anymore" he showed all the parts where they changed the design and renew the parts inside If the music box

Leo stood up in front of me and gave me his hand "May I have this dance?" He jokingly asked me, the stars from the sky behind him made his eyes twinkle

"Of course"