“Where did it come from?” Making my way to it, my fingers gently brush against the needles, careful not to make them fall.
Hunter picks up a note from the mantle.
Merry Christmas!
Ashton
He hands the note to me. “I can’t believe he did that for us.”
“The kid can be a pain in the ass, but he’s good people.”
“I know we’ve had a few bumps in the road, but I hope you’re enjoying the holiday so far.”
“Enjoying it? Are you kidding?” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him close. “It’s amazing.”
“I know it’s not what we had planned, but I wanted to make it as special for you as possible. You know I would do anything for you, right?” He brushes a strand of hair away from my face. “I’ll fight any battle, right any wrong. I’ll do whatever I can to make your dreams come true.”
If only he knew just how far I had fallen before him and how his mere presence lifted me back up. He’s already made all my dreams come true—the moment he set his sights on me.
“You are my dream come true.” I press a kiss to his lips. “And this is the most perfect Christmas, better than I could have imagined.” Wrapped in his arms, I glance around the room, surveying the tree, the bags, and the decorations. It’s all a bit overwhelming. “So, where do we start?”
Hunter doesn’t seem the slightest bit overwhelmed. “
I thought we could decorate and save the tree for last. Really make this place look festive.” Sheer happiness and complete optimism radiate off him.
“Sounds good to me.” Sifting through the bags, I pull out the garland and head to the mantle, weaving it through the items we have up there.
“Already looks more festive in here,” Hunter says as he sets a Christmas snow globe on the coffee table.
I pick up the globe and shake it. “Do you know I’ve never seen snow?”
“Seriously?”
I nod. “It was one of the reasons I was looking forward to going to Aspen. But then the snow had to go and ruin everything.”
“We’ll get there someday, I promise.”
I don’t doubt that he’ll make sure to make good on that promise.
Hunter grabs something out of one of the bags and hands it to me—a Christmas stocking with a Q on it, holding another with an H.
Smiling, I run my fingers running over the letter. “Okay, maybe it didn’t ruin everything.”
Each piece of Christmas décor lightens my mood. It might not be the Christmas I envisioned, but being here with Hunter is still more than I could have ever hoped for. After the room is set, we work on the tree, Hunter stringing the lights and working on the garland.
“I got you a little something,” Hunter says as he hands me a box.
“We said no gifts.”
“You said no gifts. Besides, this isn’t a gift, just another decoration.”
I give him a sideways look before tearing into the box. Inside is a delicate glass ornament in the shape of a heart, with the words “Our First Christmas - Hunter and Quinn - 2021” etched into it.
“Oh, Hunter.” I trace my fingers over the words. “It’s beautiful.”
“I wanted to make sure it was the first ornament we put on our first tree.”
“First of many.”