This is Christmas

 "Well, I think we should just stay here," Ari shrugged about the COVID exposure at her sister's. "You know, stop the spread..as they say." He was a little giddy. She practically rolled her eyes at him, but she smiled back.

"OK." Of course, he kissed her as if he might fall on her there in his livingroom. He pulled out the little box from behind his back.

She looked surprised. Was it a ring?

"I got us couples' rings." He let her open it. There were two silver bands with turquoise. "Do you like it?" Ari said he ordered it from Arizona, a Navajo ring.

"Oh," she was smiling wasn't she? He put the ring on her finger and he let her put his ring on his finger.

"See, I got the size right, and everything," he grinned and she nodded. 

"You were expecting something else?" He looked at her blankly.

"No, no..this is good." She kept staring at the ring. Wondering if they were really a couple. After all, her sister said he was her boyfriend. Within seconds he had his arms wrapped around her and was kissing her neck and eventually, he found her mouth.

She kept her eyes closed. She shook with laughter. Was this really going to happen tonight?

Liv couldn't believe her eyes. Who was this person? She gave a double take seeing Ali by the Christmas tree. Ali wasn't wearing a wig. Funny, how in the last few months she had seen Ali go from a pink punk rocker to a glossy blonde. Was that truly her real hair?

"What? You were expecting someone else?" Ali looked back at her. She was here with her Mom. They'd been at Diago's with his family earlier. She showed off the sparkly earrings he got her. Ali said he would be over later to pick her up. "And then Rico's dad can drop off my mom."

Liv couldn't help but laugh. "I like your hair this way," she nodded.

"Good, cause it's a lot less to worry about. I mean, there are other things on my mind these days."

Liv nodded. "But you could really try a little harder, you know." Ali whispered that Liv really needed to upgrade her style.

"Oh, I don't think Rico cares." This cracked her up.

"Of course he does," Ali shook her head. "You know he wants a real date."

"Oh." Liv nodded. "Maybe we can go shopping again." Hopefully, Ali wouldn't want to find an edgy outfit with platforms for her.

About then Caitlin screamed with joy. She was on the phone with someone. "Megan had her baby! It's a boy. They named him Melvin."