“Make wishes!” she exclaims, handing me a coin and keeping one for herself.
I revel in her energy, amused that this is the thought running through her head while she’s lying on top of me on the icy ground, hair sparkling with snowflakes.
“I know there isn’t any water in the fountain anymore, but I think the ice still counts.”
“Does it now?” I arch a brow.
Vivienne makes no move to get up, perfectly satisfied where she is. Her eyes squeeze shut, and a smile plays along her lips before she throws the coin into the fountain. It dings sharply as it lands, echoing through this quiet winter day.
“Have you made your wish?” She opens her eyes to look at me. When I shake my head, she pouts. “How come?”
“There’s no need when I have everything I’ve ever wished for.”
Her face turns a bright shade of pink as she averts her gaze, but I bring it back to me as I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “But just in case.” I flick the coin into the fountain. “That’s to make sure you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life.”
She smiles widely, and I smile back.
Our relationship may have technically downgraded, but I have a feeling we’ll be back at square one in no time.
CHAPTER 36
VIVIENNE
“Ho, ho, ho, merry Christmas!” Nate calls as he comes down the grand staircase of his childhood home, a black garbage bag slung over his shoulder.
Santa costume. Whiter than snow curly hair and beard. An obvious pillow shoved into the waistband of his pants to give the illusion of a thick belly. It’s all too much for me to take in, and I can’t help the giggle that makes its way past my lips.
I’ve seen this man in all his naked glory. Firm chest, built back, with the greatest ass to exist. This sight is a complete one-eighty from what I’m used to, but somehow, I find myself more attracted to him than before.
I wouldn’t mind it one bit. Growing old and gray. Filling out the clothes that may have once fit us. Body and mind worn down with time. It all sounds like a privilege I hope to have.
I make a show of biting my lower lip, and when his gaze catches mine, he winks. My cheeks heat in response, and despite all the commotion around us, the only thought on mymind is getting him out of that suit. Not exactly an appropriate thought to have while being surrounded by so many children.
His entire extended family is here, and by the looks and sounds of it, these kids are having the time of their lives.
They’re running around the red, gold, and green-decorated space, screaming and jumping with excitement for Santa to come down faster. And with the way Nate is playing up his character, I’d be going livid as well if I still believed in the magic of Christmas.
A bump to my shoulder catches me off guard. I look to my right to see Audrey, a reindeer headband resting on her head. Her smile is wide, and her eyes twinkle so wildly I’d blame the eggnog if not for the small belly she’s sporting.
Another kid on the way—this woman is about to have her hands full.
“Quite the catch, isn’t he?” she asks with a nod in Nate’s direction, who’s now calling out names and handing out gifts one by one.
Despite being so consumed with acting like the perfect Santa Claus, his gaze never fails to trail back to me with a warmth that makes my chest tighten.
“He is,” I say with no hesitation.
“Anya Goldman,” Nate calls out for his niece, who seems oblivious to who’s behind the costume as she runs up to him. But it’s the names he calls out next that strike me with Cupid’s arrow. “Margaret and Phil Johnson.”
I already gave the two crazy elders their gifts, so I’m certain these ones are just from him. And given the look of shock on their faces, I think they know that as well.
In some ways, their expression reminds me of my own when Nate asked me to come celebrate Christmas with him. It was unexpected, a genuine surprise since we’d only been officiallyback together for a week, but I couldn’t say no, especially when he extended the invitation to those two.
That moment made me realize one very important thing. I may no longer have relatives by blood, but I can say with certainty that I’ve found myself a second family.
I found it in Nate, who cherishes me every day. In his family, who treat me as their own. In Phil and Margaret, who bring a certain kind of commotion I most certainly won’t find elsewhere.
While I consider Sutton and Evelyn part of that unit, the girls couldn’t join us this evening because they're off with their own. Still, that didn't stop either of them from flooding my phone with inappropriate messages after I sent a picture of myself sitting on Nate’s lap—better known today as Santa Claus.
