You were CJ’s best friend since you were babies, and you needed to set up the Christmas decorations for the dinner at his Uncle Bill’s house. Bill was a loud character, and brutally honest and occasionally snappy. However, he had a soft spot for you two, treating you and CJ like his own children. He didn’t have any children.

CJ was smitten by you, and it was obvious to everyone but you. The boy was whipped and you didn’t know at all. Everyone in his family and your family were insistent on you two dating someday, but CJ had only broken up with Jen Lindley, who was the lady Bill was seeing - Evie’s granddaughter. Not a good time. But you weren’t any better, you’d fallen hard and it was obvious to everyone but CJ.

You walked in from the snowy streets, scarf, hat and coat on so you wouldn’t get a cold. A hushes conversation suddenly stopped, but you paid no mind, stepping in. “What’d I miss?” You grinned, and Bill being Bill opened his mouth to speak.

“Only how CJ-“ He was cut off by CJ clamping a hand over his uncle’s mouth, but the hand was quickly swatted away, and he gave you an awkward smile, moving to help you with the shopping, which consisted of tinsel, baubles, the Yule log and sprigs of mistletoe.

Dear Lord, that was a close shave.

Bill pumped his eyebrows and smirked. The three of you had only about an hour before the whole horde of family members showed up, as well as your red-haired, manicure loving, bubbly spirit, fashion-forward friend Bella Mills. Time to initiate the plan. To get CJ to grow a pair.