Alec actually blushes. “Yes. My mom insists on it. Tradition, you know? But don’t tell any of the guys. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Warmth bursts in my chest. “I won’t tell. I promise.”
“So, do you want to come?” He holds my gaze. “I understand if you don’t want to, but?—”
“Yes.” I kiss him hard on the lips. “I would love to come. And?—”
My heart skitters.
My stomach ties into knots.
“And what?”
“I love you.” It just bursts out.
Alec’s eyes widen. “You do?”
Feeling slightly lightheaded from my frantically pounding pulse, I say, “Yes. I’ve been thinking it for a while now, but I wasn’t sure if it was too soon to say anything.” Ducking my head, I mumble, “If you don’t feel the same way, it’s okay. I understand. I just?—”
“Haze.”Alec pulls me against him. His heart is racing as quickly as mine. “I love you, too.”
“You do?”
“Yes.Yes.” He adjusts me in his arms so he can look at my face. Tracing a finger down my cheek, headds, “I have, sweetheart. But with everything that happened, I didn’t… I thought I should give you time. And when I met with your counselor, she said?—”
“No life-changing decisions yet?”
“Something like that.” He pauses. “I didn’t want to lay something else on top of you. Or make you feel uncomfortable since you’re staying with me. But shit, Haze. I’ve known I love you for a while now. I just wasn’t sure of the right time to say it.”
Everything in me settles. “I wasn’t sure, either.”
After a few silent seconds, Alec asks, “So, we’re in love? Is that right?”
My heart gives a happy jump. “We’re in love.”
“And… are you still happy staying here? Because I love it. Having you living with me.”
I nod quickly. “I’mreallyhappy here.”
His gaze softens. A tender smile lifts his lips. “So you want to stay?”
My throat goes thick. “Yes. If you want me to.”
Alec hugs me again. “Yes. Yes, Haze. I want you to stay.” His lips press to my hair. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to have my amazing girlfriend—the woman I love—staying with me.”
And there goes my heart, melting into a puddle again. “Okay.” I grin at him. “Then I’m staying.”
He grins back at me. “Perfect.” A beat, and then, “Since it’s almost December, what would you think about getting a Christmas tree to put up here? For our first Christmas together?”
Joy blossoms inside me. “Yes. I can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you.”
And in the back of my mind, a hopeful wish.
Maybe, just maybe, I’ll end up celebrating the rest of my Christmases with Alec, too.
CHAPTER 18
ALEC
