I laugh again, my chest so full it almost hurts. “God, how I love you,” I breathe out.
“Ditto, baby. Every single part of you—down to the last brain cell.”
And there isn’t a single doubt in my heart that she means it. Because I know the exact feeling.
Chapter 32
“Iwas thinking,” I say after swallowing my bite of toast.
“Mh-hm?”
“You’re probably not super excited about heading to Switzerland for Christmas to be with the extended Coleman clan.”
“I’ve decided not to go.”
“Oh? Really?”
“I was doing it for my sisters, but after last night… I can accept my parents not respecting me because I’m used to it. But I won’t tolerate them disrespecting the woman I love. So, I’ll make an excuse and not go.”
Jesus Christ, every time I think I couldn’t love him more…
“Maybe you could tell them you’re spending Christmas with my family?” I suggest. “Your sisters might actually be happy about that.”
He pauses, holding his cup of coffee midair. “That’s clever. I’ll tell them that if you don’t mind.”
“Yeah, no problem.” I hesitate to formulate the rest of the unhinged idea that trotted in my head all morning. That’s why I sound off when I say, “And you know, to cover our tracks, you could actually spend Christmas with my family.”
This time, he puts his mug on the counter, surprised. “You mean that?”
“You’ll have to meet them eventually, right? And Christmas with the Walkers can get a little intense, but I promise I’ll protect you.”
His face is particularly hard to read, and I don’t know if it’s incredulity or the ghost of a smile making his lips twitch. “Do you think they’d mind?”
“Hell no. My mom has been begging me to bring you home. And my dad wants to meet you. Oh, and my abuela doesn’t believe you’re real, so it would be a good way to prove her wrong.”
Again, he’s silent for a while. “I don’t want to force you, baby,” I say carefully. “But I don’t feel good about leaving you alone on Christmas, so if you’re okay with—”
“I need to buy them some gifts,” he interrupts me, suddenly excited. “I might run a few ideas by you.”
“Nothing too expensive,” I warn him. “They’ll feel awkward otherwise.”
“They don’t have to know the price. Is your abuela more into pearls or diamonds?”
“Baby, slow down,” I say with a laugh. “Maybe we should call first to let them know.”
“Right. Good idea.”
I pick up my phone from the counter, looking for my mom in the favorites. “Put her on speaker,” Lex suggests while it rings, so I comply and set the phone between us.
“¡Hola mi bebé!” she shouts when she picks up.
“Hola, Mamá.”
“I was about to call you because your father wants to know if he can throw away that old elliptical trainer you begged us to get you in high school and only used twice.”
“I used it way more than that, and you’re on speaker, Mom.”
“Oh, is it Tamika?”
