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“But I just told you, I can’t do that.”
“I know. Which leads me to the final option.” He locked gazes with me. “You walk away from your life, your realm, and you join me in mine. Forever.”
Oh God.Something fluttered in my belly. Adrenaline flooded through me.
“I know,” he said, not breaking eye contact. “I’m asking a lot. I’m asking you to commit to an existence where there is only the two of us. And the reindeer of course.”
His attempt at levity fell flat. “But it’s more than that, isn’t it? You’re asking me to give up life as a human being, to become like you—immortal. Am I right?”
He nodded. “You’d forever be at the age you are now.”
“But… I have family. You’re asking me to walk away from them too.”
He stared at me, aghast. “No, I wouldneverdo that. But… you would only see them one day a year.”
The light dawned. “You’re suggesting I come back here on Christmas Eve?” He nodded. “So while you’re doing your thing, delivering presents to the world, I would be with Ben and his family? And when you returned to this realm I would come too?”
“Yes. I know that’s a lot to ask.”
“But thatiswhat you’re asking, isn’t it?”
His face was solemn. “Yes. I don’t want to lose you. And the only way forward I can see is that you come to live with me.”
Talk about torn.
“You once said that a man could go crazy living alone for so many centuries.” He smiled. “Well, I haven’t gone crazy—but I don’t know howyouwould cope with my lifestyle. I don’t know if you could cope without shopping, coffee shops, work—people.”
I didn’t know either. I didn’t have a ton of friends, but I wasn’t a hermit.
“And because this is such a huge decision, I don’t expect an answer right away.”
“I was going to ask about that. When… When would you want to know?”
And can I make that decision?
“How about I give you a year? Until next Christmas Eve?”
I figured it would take me a year just to come to terms with the enormity of what he was offering.
He held his hands up. “I’m not going to pressure you. It has to be your decision. But…”
“But?”
“There’s something you need to know.” He paused, then swallowed. “I love you too.”
Exhilaration zinged through me.He loves me. Which only made my choice all the more difficult. “And you call this no pressure?”
My heart sank as he sat up. “What do you want to do? Do you want to stay here, have dinner with me—or do you want to go home? Because I think what I’ve put before you is going to weigh heavily on you, and I don’t think either of us is going to be relaxed enough to enjoy our usual Christmas Eve together.”
He’d summed up the situation perfectly.
“You’re right. I need to go home.” I glanced down. “After I’ve had a shower.”
I could see my attempt at levity fell flat too.
He held his arms wide. “Come here.”
I sank into his embrace, and he pulled me down onto the bed. He held me to him. “I know so much is going to go through your head this coming year.”
