The words “I love you snow much” are painted across the front in a silver color that glitters.
“What is this?” I look at Brooks with confusion. “Did you make this the other night?”
He nods. “I did.”
“And?”
“I don’t think the message is sinking in yet,” Brooks tells me.
“What? I love you snow much? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Brooks laughs. “It means I love you.”
“But…”
Brooks takes the tray and sets it on the nightstand before taking my hand in his. The ornament sits between the two of us.
“Charlie, I love you. This thing between us took me by surprise. I never expected it when I moved in here. But I wouldn’t change a thing. I want to be with you. And I know we’re on two different pages about marriage, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want the world to know that you’re mine and I’m yours.”
“Yeah?” Tears sting my eyes.
Brooks squeezes my hand. “Yeah. If you need me to wear a T-shirt every single day that says ‘Property of Charlie Palmer,’ I’d do it. Because I love you and I’m yours.”
An undignified snort leaves me as tears start to roll down my cheeks. “You’re not just saying this? Because that’d be really mean. All I want is to be yours, and if it means not getting married, I can come to terms with that.”
“I’m not just saying this. I have no plans of going anywhere. It’s you and me, Charlie. You and I can write the rules on what we want our life to be. As long as we’re together.”
I look down at the ornament in my lap. I give a watery laugh. “I love you snow much too, Brooks.”
Brooks smiles, wide and happy, as he grasps the back of my neck and pulls me in close.
“Not as much as I love you.”
He seals his lips over mine and it’s about the best kiss of my life.
“I can’t believe you made me this.”
Brooks shrugs a shoulder. “I’ll have to do better next time.I was on a crunch to get it done and it was all I could think of.”
I shake my head. “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
“Hunter gave me a lot of shit for it.”
“Of course he did.”
“I knew you’d love it.”
I nod. “It is going to get a place of honor on the tree. Front and center.”
“Perfect.”
Brooks throws one leg over my lap and settles on top of me. The soft fabric of his shirt brushes against my bare chest as he closes his mouth over mine.
It’s a promise. The promise of a future together. It might not be what I always imagined my life looking like, but ever since Brooks and I started this thing, it’s been so much more.
I never thought I’d get to be with him. So what if we don’t get married? I’m still getting my best friend in a way I only dreamed about.
We’re together. That’s all I need.
