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“I promised I’d marry her on her thirtieth birthday.” Adrian winked.
She inched forward and hugged me. “Oh, bless your heart.” She let me go and patted my cheek. “She’s a beauty, a real catch. Robin, he’s getting married! It’s a Christmas miracle!”
She padded back into the living room and I had to cover my laugh with a hand.
Adrian leaned over and whispered, “I think she likes you.”
“Are we just going to ignore the Christmas miracle thing or…?”
He laughed. “I’ve never introduced her to anyone before.”
Adrian was looking around the entryway. “The place looks amazing. Wood floors!” he laughed, looking down.
Robin smiled. “They were under the shag.” She shuddered.
The house looked like a photo in Good Housekeeping. And yes, it did smell like cinnamon.
There was a gorgeous dark wood staircase off the entryway with a fresh pine garland wrapped around it. The living room had a huge fireplace with a blazing fire in it and a glittering Christmas tree decorated like one in the lobby of a five-star hotel.
Every inch of the house looked meticulously restored.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re here,” Robin said.
Richard smiled. “We picked up a special bottle of wine just for you. Boone’s Farm.”
Adrian blanched and Richard laughed. “I’m kidding.”
Richard grabbed our bags, smiling. “Come on, let me show you to your room. You kids can get situated. We’ll have dinner when you’re ready.”
Our room had a mahogany four-poster bed and private bathroom with a claw-foot tub. There was already a fire burning in our fireplace, logs shifting. It was super romantic. This weekend was going to be epic.
We had dinner and then drinks in the living room. Both Robin and Richard were great, and Adrian spent a good hour just catching up with his dad. Adrian’s grandma got tired and went to bed early. She took a liking to Harry Puppins and brought him to her room with her when she left. Adrian and I stayed chatting with Richard and Robin a little longer. At midnight we called it and went to bed.
Back in our room, Adrian set Grace in her Pack ’n Play.
As soon as his hands were free, he cleared the space between us and pulled me into a kiss. It was more passionate than usual, and I didn’t expect it.
“Wow,” I said against his lips.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?” I said breathlessly.
“For coming. For making me come. For making me see things differently.” His eyes moved back and forth between mine. “The holidays never meant much to me. But this one does.”
“Why?” I smiled.
“Because it’s our first one. Because everything with you is better. Because I’ve found the person I can’t live without.”
My lips fell a little. “Don’t say that.”
“Don’t say what?” he whispered.
“That you can’t live without me.”
He shook his head. “Why?”
“Because it’s a fucked-up thing to say. I don’t want to know that you won’t want to live if I’m not here. That’s not a compliment. That’s sort of my worst nightmare, actually.”
