Page 36 of Secrets We Fight

“Am I on the nice list?” Poppy wondered.

“You’ll find out on Christmas morning.” He winked and moved on to the next table.

“Daddy, how is Santa going to leave my presents since you don’t have a fireplace?”

This girl was too smart for her own good. I turned to Rhett to see what he would say.

“Mommy has one, and he will leave presents there for you.”

“But we’re still getting a tree?”

“Of course. I need to decorate my apartment, don’t you think?”

“I hope we get a really big tree.” Poppy took the last bite of her waffle.

“You guys are going tree shopping?” I asked.

Rhett nodded. “Yeah. I had to rent a car because she’s still in a car seat and I don’t have my own vehicle, so after this, we’ll stop by a tree lot and get a tree while I have a way to get it back home.”

“That’s cool. I’ve never had a tree in my condo.”

“You haven’t?”

I lifted a shoulder. “My parents always go all out at their place, and when I was at Hawkins U, we had one in the fraternity house, but since living by myself, I’ve never seen the need.”

“To be honest, I haven’t had my own in years because of my job. I had to buy all new ornaments and everything, but I want to make memories with Poppy as we hang each decoration.”

I gave him a soft smile as I nodded. “I get that.”

“Do you … Do you want to join us?”

My eyes widened. “Really?”

Rhett shrugged. “Sure. You can buy one too, and the guys can tie it to the roof of the SUV to take it to your condo.”

“But I have no one to help me decorate.” I frowned.

“Then come over to my place and help us.”

“Okay.” I breathed. “But won’t the guys be suspicious?”

He looked over to where Day was standing next to one of my sister’s agents. “We’ll just tell him it’s for Poppy.”

* * *

Rhett workedout the details with Day and the other guys to follow him to the nearest tree lot. I slid out of the SUV and waited for Rhett and Poppy to park. Day stood next to me, and it was on the tip of my tongue to ask him to wait in the vehicle for me. I knew that wouldn’t happen, but I wanted to feel some sort of normalcy with Rhett as we walked around while he and Poppy picked the best tree.

Once Rhett unbuckled his daughter’s car seat, she jumped out of the car and raced through the open gate. Rhett was quick on her heels, and I followed. The little girl ran up and down every row, looking at the different trees.

“Can we get this one?” Poppy asked, looking at a tree that had to be nine feet tall.

“That one’s a little tall for my ceiling,” Rhett said.

She took off again and then said, “What about this one?”

Rhett assessed the limbs and then shook his head. “Has a big gap in the back. We need a pretty one.”

As we moved around the lot, it hit me that even though I was included in the little adventure, it wouldn’t normally be that way. My relationship with Rhett was a secret, and he had a life outside of protecting me.