“I love you,” I breath against his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck to drag him close.
“I love you more. Look at my flower girl go. They’re beautiful, honey,” he laments, shifting sideways to admire the bouquets.
“Thank you kindly, Peter Pan.”
“Always, Wendy Darling. Ready to go watch the tree lighting? Orion is meeting us there.”
Now I am smiling even bigger. Seeing my brother at the tree lighting will be a big moment. We haven’t been together in a few years. If it was not for Niko, we might never have gotten over our troubles. Last winter, he brought us together at another of his parties. Being with him again, seeing him with my best friend Oaklin, it brought peace to me that I was missing.
“I am ready, honey. It is going to be a perfect night for it.”
Outside the skies have begun to darken as light, fluffy snow falls. It is cold but not bitterly so. Wrapped up in my bright orange peacoat jacket with my neon pink hat and gloves, I am prepared for the cold. Niko is the cutest thing on the planet and got himself a bright pink coat with orange gloves and a ski cap. There is no shame in how cute my boyfriend can be.
“Sutton will be late,” I remind him as we near the park,hand-in-hand, both of us still beaming happily. “I think she sent the kids with Oaklin.”
“I hope so, I do not want them to miss anything. Not for Saint.”
Shaking my head as he grouses about the man Sutton has been seeing, I pull him closer. Sutton was with Niko’s best friend since they were kids. After he passed, I don’t think either of them expected her to ever move on. I am glad she is spending time with someone, and I happen to like Saint.
“Behave. You can’t stay mad at Sutton forever.”
“No, I can’t. I won’t. Just a little while longer,” he snarks.
Tugging him along with a sigh, I lead the way through the small crowd filling the park. I say hello to friends and other shop owners who work alongside Bloomin’ Babe. Since I started seeing Niko, I have become open to more things than just celebrating holidays—I have opened up to people, to letting people in. He really is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
I never need a gift on Christmas—not now that I have Niko.
At the park, we find my brother and I greet him and a very pregnant Oaklin. They got married in an adorable barn wedding as soon as they found out they have a baby on the way. I was there with them, standing in as his best man. It was a beautiful day, and I am so glad I stopped being so stubborn, so I was able to share it with them.
“There they are,” Orion calls, dragging me in for a hug. He whispers against my ear. “Ready for this, shortcake?”
Nodding, I try to shake off the nerves his question stirs up. Yes, I am ready for this. I have been ready for a very long time. I might not have realized it last winter, but my whole life was just getting started. Now that I have Orion and Oaklin back, I’ve grown close to Sutton and her adorable kids, and I have Niko,my life is so complete. So full.
“I am. I am so ready,” I whisper back, nodding again.
Sharing a look with Oaklin, I thank her without words for her willingness to be here. To be part of this. After how I treated them just for falling in love with each other, they could have refused to forgive me. I smile down at Ava and Evan, who stand with her, sipping hot cocoa loaded with marshmallows.
“It’s going to be a beautiful night,” Oaklin whispers, taking my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. A show of support.
“I hope so,” I breathe back, glancing up at the huge tree, then back down at the large lit-up presents that decorate the bottom. Two of them should not be there. My brother set them up after getting approval from the committee.
“It will be,” Orion agrees, giving me a half-armed hug. “No way it will be anything but beautiful. You deserve it, Nova. Wealldeserve happiness.”
Beaming up at my little brother, I nod. We do. All of us deserve it, no matter where or when we find it. Or who we find it with. Everyone deserves something good, especially Niko who gives so much of himself to everyone else. He deserves happiness and I hope to give it to him.
“Tonight is perfect for the tree lighting,” Niko agrees, dragging me against his chest, his arms closing around me in a tender embrace.
“It is. I agree. It’s a perfect night,” my voice trembles ever so slightly.
Sharing a look with my brother, I nod. It is now or never. We’re all crowded near the tree with half of True Ridge, waiting for the mayor to give a speech and kick off the holiday season with a push of a button. Before he does, my brother signals someone on the stage by the tree and two big presents light up amongst all the others.
They’re golden and crimson, standing out against the softwhite of the rest of the presents. They’re meant to stand out, of course. On the front of the presents, words spell out something that makes my breath catch. Itisperfect. It is everything I hoped for, and I am filled with such love, such hope.
“Marry me, Peter Pan. Grow up with me.”
Behind me, Niko goes still. The kind of still that blocks out the rest of the world. That shuts down everything around you. His arms go slack on my waist before he rounds to face me. His eyes sparkle in the darkness as they lock on me, his smile lighting up his handsome face.
“Nova, honey....do you...you want to be my wife?”
