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With her cheek pressed against my sternum and her arms wrap around my neck, Coco yawns. “On the couch, so I can watch you.”
I don’t argue that she won’t be awake for long. Instead, I place her on the couch and cover her with a blanket that lays over the back.
After learning firsthand how painful grease splatter can be without any clothes on, I won’t make that mistake again, so I put my pants back on.
Examining what all Coco made earlier, I find what looks to be a quiche of some sort. I’m not sure if she cooked it from scratch or pulled it out of the freezer. More than likely, it was already made since her cooking skills haven’t improved to this level yet.
Opening the refrigerator door, I lean down and see what’s left inside. “What would you like me to make?”
When she doesn’t answer, I look over to find her already sound asleep. Wanting to give her some time to rest, I head upstairs to clean up and grab the gift I have hidden inside my suitcase.
The box is small, and I know what she will think when she sees it. I only hope she won’t be too disappointed when I don’t propose to her today. Not that I’m not planning on it. I am, but I’m still saving for the perfect ring.
The perfect proposal.
Once I’ve made us each a ham and cheese omelet with toast and fruit, I sit down on the side of the couch. Pushing an errant strand of hair off her forehead, I trace my fingertips along her brows, cheeks, and jaw and then circle her pretty pink lips.
Coco’s eyes flutter open, and she smiles at me. “Is breakfast already done?” I nod, lacing our fingers together. “I guess I fell asleep.”
“That’s alright. I wanted you to. I plan to keep you very busy today,” I smirk down at her.
Her sleepy eyes light up. “I like the sound of that.”
Pulling the robe from the end of the sofa, I hold it out to her knowing if she isn’t covered, not much will be accomplished. After Coco slips on the robe, I’m suddenly nervous. What if she doesn’t like what I got her? What if she’s disappointed that I don’t propose?
Coco turns to find me still standing by the couch. Her eyebrows rise as the corners of her mouth turn down. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about me.” I clear my throat and take her hand in mine. “Let’s eat.”
“You can’t tell me not to worry. You don’t think the cats were a diversion, do you?” Looking at me over her shoulder, she bites her lip.
“No,” I practically shouted. “It’s nothing like that. It’s silly in the grand scheme of things.”
Sitting down at the table, Coco doesn’t move to pick up her fork. Instead, she stares up at me with hurt in her eyes. “Then why won’t you tell me?”
“After seeing all the presents under the tree, I’m second-guessing what I got for you. It’s…” I try to swallow the lump in my throat as I sink into the chair next to hers.
Coco is out of her seat and on my lap with her arms wrapped around my neck in a nanosecond. “Whatever it is, I know I’m going to love it because it came from you, and you don’t do anything without thought.” Resting her forehead on my chin, she’s quiet only for a moment before her head pops back up. “Would it make you feel better if we opened presents first?”
Absolutely not.
“You’d thinkyoumade our breakfast and are trying to get out of eating it.”
Coco scoffs and shakes her head. “Why am I such a hopeless cook?”
“I don’t know, but I love that you try.” I kiss the side of her neck. “Thank you for distracting me for a moment.” I nod. “I feel better. I was just… overthinking it, I guess. I want our first Christmas together to be special, and for a brief moment in time, it wasn’t.”
She smiles up at me and runs her thumb along my jaw. “We haven’t had the best luck lately, but nothing and no one is going to stop us if we’re a team. It’s going to take a little while before we can trust that no one is out to get us.”
Closing my eyes, I try to imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t stopped in Oasis or met Coco, but no matter how hard I try, it’s impossible. Coco is my soulmate. The person I was always meant to be with, and I would live through every last bad thing I’ve experienced all over again, knowing Coco Beckett is my end game.
Nuzzling my nose in the crook of her neck, I tighten my arms that hold her on my lap. “I love you. I don’t know where I’d be right now if I hadn’t spotted you at Tricks. The only thing I know is I would be lost, still trying to find something I didn’t know I was missing until you.”
I feel Coco take in a deep breath as she hugs me harder. “With words like that, I don’t need a present. In truth, I never need anything as long as I have you.”
“I feel the exact same way.” My voice is barely audible, with all the emotion clogging my throat. I pull her plate in front of us and cut into the omelet. She’s been adamant about me eating and regaining my strength, but now that I’m back to one hundred percent, I’m back to taking care of her. I like how her body relaxes into mine as she shifts even closer to me. I will never stop treating the woman on my lap like a Goddess. My everything.
I continue to feed her until we’re both full and unable to eat another bite. Only then do I set down the fork before picking her up and placing her on the couch.
