“Happens when you almost lose your best friend and the love of your life. The stupid shit fades into the background.”
“Why aren’t you kissing me already?”
His shoulders relaxed before he slid his hand to the nape of my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. I melted into his embrace and fisted the back of his jacket. My mouth opened with a relieved whimper, and he dipped his tongue inside. I dropped the doll as I roped my arms around his neck.
“I love you,” I murmured against his lips before pulling back. “And you’re already the man I deserve, and the only one I’ll ever want.”
“We better go. I’m not done kissing you and Rudolph over there keeps giving us the side eye.”
I giggled into his chest.
“Good, because we have a Christmas Eve dinner to go to.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “You’re coming, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
My wide smile mixed with relieved tears made my cheeks ache.
“As you wish.” He bent to brush my lips with a soft, slow kiss. “But you have one more gift to open.” He padded over to the tree and picked up another wrapped package, this one smaller and flatter.
“Open this, and I’d be happy to be your date for Christmas Eve.”
I plucked it from his hands and tore off the paper, my eyes almost bulging out of my head when I realized what it was.
“The 600th issue of Wonder Woman? This is from the display at the Comic Cove!” It was the exact issue that caught my eye, too. It was a simple black and white cover, but she’d never looked more badass. The price was just as unforgettable at five hundred dollars.
“I can’t accept this. You need that money for school.”
“You forgot I came into some prize money recently. Prize money I only won because you believed in me. I couldn’t get that look in your eyes when you were worshiping the entire case out of my head.” He enveloped me into his arms. “I scared off some dude who tried to talk to you and you didn’t even notice.”
“So possessive.” I shook my head before running my hand along the plastic casing, itching to rip it open and read it.
“I’m selfish when it comes to you. I wanted you to be mine that night so damn badly.”
“I was yours that night, later on, if you remember.” I glided my finger along his jacket collar. “I’ve been yours for a while, and it’s been exhausting trying to make you see it.”
I breathed out a dramatic sigh.
“For the future when this comes up, because I know it probably will,” I gathered my gifts in the crook of my arm and cupped his neck, “what you told me, doesn’t disappoint me. It makes me proud of what you’ve overcome and accomplished. You’re amazing, and I love you. Try to recall this the next time you throw me out of your apartment.”
He slanted his mouth over mine, kissing me slowly until a growl rose up from his throat. I fell back on the step and pulled Anthony on top of me.
“We’re freaking out Frosty over there,” he told me between kisses. “I never felt lucky until I met you.”
“I never fell in love with anyone until I met you.” I grabbed his face and kissed him quickly. “Maybe we should hold on to the sweet make up words for when we have room to,” I gazed around the room, “make up?”
A slow smile stretched his lips. “Always the smart one.” He stood and held out his hand. “I’m ready when you are.”
“I’ve been ready for a long time. I’ve just been waiting for you.”
When we traipsed into Blystone, everyone was already there. Dad, Bri, Chris, and Uncle Billy were at one end of the table and the Kostas crew was on the other.
“Tell them, Victoria!” DeDe pointed at me before I could greet anyone. “You said that I could stay up all night with you to wait for Santa.”
I exhaled an exasperated breath.
“I said you couldn’t stay up that late by yourself.”
She crossed her arms and shrugged. “What’s the difference?”
If she was this good at manipulation at six, I feared for us all during her teenage years.
