I can’t wait to kiss her, to hopefully someday act out every fantasy in that little book of hers.
For the first time in a long time, I was truly looking forward to the new year.
She looked over at the clock. “We’re supposed to be heading to my mother’s for Christmas ham. We’re already a little late.”
I grabbed my coat and put it on. “No worries. I have to head to my sister’s house anyway.”
“So, we’ll see you tomorrow for the run?”
I nodded. “Want me to scoop you guys up?”
“That would be nice.”
“Cool.”
She yelled out in the direction of her son’s room. “Mason, come say goodbye to Bryce!”
The boy ran out, and instinctively I knelt down and opened my arms. Maybe that seemed a little forward for a first-time meeting with him, but technically I’d felt connected to him longer than that. He wrapped his arms around my neck and whispered in my ear, “Thank you for keeping your promise. I love it.”
I froze as I slowly pulled away and looked him in the eyes.
Holy shit.
He knows.
He knew all along?
Then he mouthed, “Don’t tell my mom.”
I nodded, wanting to burst out into laughter. But I held it in.
He ran back to his room, and I looked over at Holly, who seemed to miss that entire exchange. I guess he had his reasons for wanting to milk the Santa thing as long as possible.
Holly then walked me out and shut the door behind her. We both lingered for a bit out in the
cold. I wondered if she’d closed the door so that we’d have some privacy. I speculated that maybe that meant she expected me to kiss her. She couldn’t comprehend just how badly I’d wanted to do that all day—or really from the moment I’d met her.
“Thank you for making this Christmas special.”
I was honestly speechless. She was thanking me, when I felt like the lucky one here. I’d experienced so many feelings today, but perhaps the most unexpected was a feeling of gratitude mixed with a side of guilt for the opportunity to spend time with her. With them. Especially when he couldn’t. And it wasn’t fair. I hoped wherever he was, that he approved of this.
I promise I won’t hurt her.
Apparently, Holly didn’t get the memo that I was in the middle of a one-sided conversation with her dead husband. Because the next thing I knew, I felt her lips on mine. She’d gone in for the kill faster than I could blink. And I was so freaking here for this.
No wonder she’d closed the door.
I lifted her up and kissed her harder, falling more for her every second that she breathed into me. I went all in, sweeping my tongue into her mouth and savoring her sweet taste. When she moaned, I was a goner. After, I leaned my forehead against hers. We both had the goofiest smiles, and I couldn’t help but think: Mason wasn’t the only one who’d gotten his Christmas wish.
Santa had come through for me, too.
BY VI KEELAND & PENELOPE WARD
Park Avenue Player
Stuck-Up Suit
Cocky Bastard