Magical author Briann is going to take you into the world of Nathan and Josephine last Christmas! Please read, it gives an amazing back story and plays well into the next chapter. So don't skip this! Seriously, don't you care skip this chapter

Cinnamon, I loved the smell of cinnamon. Mom made it her go-to candle for the holidays, also waking up to her singing to her favorite Christmas song Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and her poor dance moves as she lights every candle in sight. But sadly, this would be my first Christmas without her.

Instead, I woke up to the stench of alcohol, filling every inch of the house knowing Derek had once again drunk himself to sleep, and to be even more correct his body was hanging off the corner sofa, drool dripping down his open mouth and a bottle of whiskey in his hand. I miss that I avoided, stepping into the kitchen Louise cooking up her Christmas pancakes.

"Morning Louise," I say as I walk to the fridge pouring myself a glass of orange juice, I walk over to the table sitting down at the end. "Smells delicious," I say with a smile.

"Thank you, Josephine, and Merry Christmas!" Louise says with a smile before placing a batch of her pancakes in front of me along with my favorite syrup.

"Merry Christmas," I practically drench my pancakes in my syrup before taking a dive into the pancakes, my mouth full with a smile towards Louise. I swallow quickly before replying, "Louise you don't have to stay, Nathan will be over soon."

"I know, I know Josephine but I would love to spend the morning with my second child." She smiles, patting her hands on her apron, "Also they don't arrive for another forty minutes." Louise looks at the clock before removing her apron from around her neck.

"Well thank you." I smile before taking in another bite of her pancakes, as Louise walks over to me placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Anytime baby." She smiles before walking towards the closet, grabbing her winter coat and mittens. "Are you sure Nathan will be-"

"Hello?" As if on cue, Nathan enters the kitchen his soft voice calm and soothing giving Louise a hug.

His warmth enters the room causing me to smile and contain so many butterflies, he leans in front of me placing a careful kiss on my cheek. "Always making an entrance?" I smile, taking his hand into mind.

"Got to keep my lady on her toes," He squeezes my hand slightly, "Thank for taking care of her Louise."

She walks over and hols both of our hands, "I love you two, you have a Feliz Navidad!" She says before placing her hat on her head and giving a grin before leaving me and Nathan in the kitchen.

"Hey babe," He turns to me sitting just to the right of me. "I have something I wanna give you."

"Nathan please," I didn't want to receive another present from him, I look down at the twenty-carat gold engagement ring with rose gold brim he proposed to me a month ago and it was still high for me.

"Don't please me, Josephine Amber Kendall, it's downstairs." He smiles, gripping my hand and practically dragging me out to the door.

"Nathan," I say with a light giggle, "I look like a disaster right now." I look down at my red and green pajamas, my french braid spilling out every which way.

"You look just as beautiful as ever," He pulls me into the elevator swinging me into a hug before lightly peaking me on the lips, "Now come on let's go!" Nathan releasing me from his grasp and allowing me to twirl out of the elevator and into the lobby.

Nathan self opens the door, using his car remote for his Tesla. Always such a gentleman, as we began to drive he doesn't move to hold my hand which was something I have craved for him to do.

"Nathan, where are we going?" I say with a light chuckle, Nathan came from a family of wealth our parents had both met each other at an event. That's how Nathan and I clicked, and a few years later here I am wearing this engagement ring yet I feel like I'm missing something I always feel like my Mother would be against it.

"You'll see when we get there." He smiles before leaning over to me, his face close to mine. I reach for a kiss, but he dodges it leaning over to reach into the compartment grabbing a silk red blindfold.

"Place this over your eyes." Nathan hands it to me before lightly squeezing my thigh quickly, causing me to force an unwary smile. I hated surprises, he knew that. My reactions were never what everyone expected, maybe it a little bit of Dad inside me but nonetheless, they made me seem ungrateful.

"Nate, you know I'm not a big fan of surprises, you know that." I shuffle in my seat setting the blindfold on my eyes.

"Trust me," He pauses, "You will love this one." Before I could even say anything he quickly turns up the music locking any sounds from the outside world.

As I continue to sit in silence for what feels like an hour we finally arrive the car coming to an immediate stop, jerking me forwards. "Are we finally here?" I ask, patiently waiting for a reply.

"Yeah babe," I cringe a few years he's been calling me this and I cringe every time, I got to remove the blindfold but Nate's hand slaps on to the blindfold. "Not yet, I'll help you out."

I hear the click of the door and turn my body to the side waiting for Nathan to retrieve me, I hear the sound of a few cars and a few voices. I start breathing heavy not that the lack of being a surprise but the fact I'm still wearing my Pj's and look like death.

I revert back to the seat refusing for people to see my hideous attire, "Nate, I look like shit. I can't go out in public." I cross my arms before m body is scooped into his arms.

"No one will see you, babe, it's just you and me." He kisses me on the nose before tugging us up the stairs, a door shuts behind us causing me to jump and Nathan to release an adorable laugh.

I hit him a playful way, causing us both to laugh at my effort to be mean. He finally sets me down, causing me to almost lose balance. "Can I finally remove the blindfold?" I ask impatiently yet again, I wanted to get the surprise out of the way.

"Hell yeah babe."

As I remove the mask I'm suddenly taking into the beautiful white room, with marble grey flooring and with a white fireplace prodding from the wall, with a crystal clear chandler. A ruby red rug spread on the floor, as a clear white table sat on top with a white couch with matching pillows. It was astonishing.

"Like it?" Nathan asks as he grabs my hand leading me to the upstairs area. I allow my other hand to sling on the rail, the staircase was clear with the silver lining.

"It's beautiful!" I say, before using my other hand to grab on his forearm.

When we finally reach the top floor we are surrounded by a grey kitchen, a different outlook from the downstairs. This time the floors are hardwood brown, set with a beautiful plate set and dinner set in the middle.

"Nathan," I looked around amazed as he takes my hand a offers me a seat at the table. "This is-"

"I know babe," Nathan smiles, sitting across from me his crystal blue eyes shining. As I take a sip of water Nathan reaches over and grabs my hand, "It's all ours!"

I practically spit the water out of my mouth causing the front of me to be soaked. "What?" I yell.

Nate looks away from me, his eyes darting to the side. "I bought it for us." He scratches the back of his head upset by my sudden outburst.

I set down the glass, and blankly stare at Nathan this wasn't something you sprung on someone. This was basically moving to fast, I mean sure we're engaged but it's not like we are getting married right away. I have a life to live, a college to attend, and with my Mothers recent passing, I wasn't even close to being emotionally stable.

He stands up walking over to me and reaches for my hand, "I know this seems quick, but since my NBA career is taking off and we will be married hopefully with children." He pats my hand and shrugs his shoulder. "Maybe you don't have to attend college anymore."

I pull my hands back, feeling disgusted. "You want me to not attend college? Nathan, it's been my dream, it was my mom's dream for me. You just want me to uproot myself and pick up my life because of you?" I push myself away from the table, causing Nathan to stand back.

"Well-"

"I can't Nathan," I begin waving my hands in frustration. "You're asking a lot right now, and I need to breathe." I run, leaving Nathan in tears as I pull out my phone calling my one and only friend.

Nina is quick to pick me up immediately, she was annoyed with her own family and didn't like Christmas as much as the next person. She brought me to her apartment as I told her about everything that happened with Nathan, she wasn't always a shoulder to talk to but she also distracted me.

"Wow, I mean I can't believe he did that? Just sprung on you?" She shuffles her keys out of her bag leading to her doorway.

I nodded my head in agreement, "Right, and he already bought the place!"

She manages to unlock the door, leading into her apartment. I walk over to her room where she has allowed me to hide my paintings from my Father, how whenever I was upset I would go straight towards this room and sit in the middle and stare at the paintings.

"How pathetic is he?" She leans against the doorway, "Hey anyways I'll be in the kitchen making Kraft Dinner."

"Thanks," I say still standing look at my painting of Nathan and I silhouette in the scenic ocean view. "Can you shut the door on your way out?" I ask, sitting down.

Nina nods her head and closes the door. I'm left staring at the painting, wondering why everything went so sour? Why was it everyone's job to control my life but I couldn't control my own?

I always supported Nathan, his career, his life. I've always gone to every game, I was understanding of him not phoning me, late nights away from him, and I don't understand why he can't think of me the same way.

It made me so angry how no one believed in me as my mother did, why can't anyone understand me?

"Nate, she really doesn't want to talk to you right now." I hear Nina yell as she slams her fork on the counter, obliviously he was bound to show up here

His footsteps loud with every step, "She's my fiancé Nina, stay out of it." He burst through the door, basically enveloping me into his arms.

"Get off me Nathan," I struggle against him, but he still holds on. "Nathan James, get off me now!" I raise my voice my anger taking over, shoving him away from me.

He finally releases me, "Alright, okay. Let's get you home we will talk about this then."

"No." I stood my ground, glaring at him. "I'm tired of you acting we will talk about this, but it's never me talking. It's always you. I'm done, I want to be free from you, I want to see what life is outside these walls you have built around me, Nathan."

"I don't mean to-" Nathan attempts to speak, but I cut him off again.

"You always mean to Nathan, that's who you are! You never showered me with love, you can't even hold my hand in the car!" I yell, my voice rising.

Nathan's eyes beg with integrity, "Joey, you love me right?" He utters softly.

"Of course I love you, Nate, you don't spend four years with someone and say you don't love them. But god, I feel so stuck and I can't breathe Nathan, I just can't breathe." I cling to my chest, tears falling down and my breathing hitched.

Nathan's attempt to console me, but it only makes me pull away from him more. "Don't touch me, Nathan, just don't."

"Josephine, please don't do this." His eyes beg, pleading for me to be that person for him. But I couldn't be that person I was four years ago, I wasn't her anymore.

"Nathan, please. I want to break up.."

What were your thoughts on this edition? Nathan and Joey, or Keegan and Joey?

I feel bad for Josephine, don't you?

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