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Wakingup,inabed, in Gabe’s arms was heaven. You know, the place he’d taken me the night before? It had taken every ounce of energy to stop myself from being the naïve woman and shouting, “I love you!” at the top of my lungs.
Last night was a rollercoaster of emotions. We’d laughed, we’d cried, we’d reminisced. We’d made love like it was the last night of the world and for the first time ever, I’d fallen asleep, in a bed, in the arms of someone who wasn’t trying to kick me out post orgasm.
When I opened my eyes and found Gabe still sleeping, I slipped out of his arms in the manner I’d perfected by now, and went to the kitchen to make my Christmas morning hot cocoa. It was my own personal tradition and I wouldn’t be missing it now.
I took the last packet of hot cocoa and dropped a candy cane in it before using the electric kettle to fill my mug with water. I’d been making it this way since I was little, since the first time we came here. Granted, Mom used to help me pour the hot water, but it was still my own invention, in my silly marshmallow mug. The same mug I was drinking out of now.
I turned and leaned against the counter, taking my first sip and relishing in the nostalgia. From where I stood, I could picture Mom and Dad telling Dean and me which presents to open first, and not to mess with each other under the tree. My heart ached for my brother. Him being here was the only thing that could have made this better because he was as close to Mom and Dad that I could possibly get now.
I decided, as I sipped my cocoa, to have a bath and think about how I was going to explain Gabe and me to Dean and Lexi. Poor Lexi, she’d been stuck with my boring, know-it-all brother for days now and she definitely wouldn’t have had the same experience as me—she has really good taste in men. Even now, considering the idea of the two of them hooking up made me laugh. She was so far out of his league, it was comical.
I walked past the master bedroom and peered inside to see Gabe had turned over but had not yet awoken. I paused for a moment in the doorway, staring at this strange, beautiful man who was so rough and rugged on the outside, but inside was just longing to be seen for who he was. That little poor boy who just wanted one more road trip with his parents and would never get it.
Gabe snored gently and turned over once more. He was lucky I was an adult now. There were many years that I would wake up my mom and dad at the crack of dawn for presents, usually being told to go back to bed until at least seven-thirty. But Gabe would be spared my Christmas gusto and sleep at least until I finished bathing.
I turned away and entered the bathroom, quietly closing the door behind me and flicking on the light. I ran the water and added some peppermint oil to it since I’d eaten all the candy canes that were in here before.
I peered in the mirror to look at my own reflection and, despite the fact that I looked tired, I looked extremely happy. Gabe—Mister Grinch himself—was changing the very way I saw myself. Almost like I could see me through his eyes by the way he cared for me.
When the water had reached a point where I could fully submerge myself, I slid in and under the water. It was scalding hot but I could almost feel the sweat of the night before washing away. Being a nurse, I’d developed a liking for the feeling of getting clean. Although, usually it was stuff much grosser than sweat after a shift at the hospital.
Three days ago, if you had told me this was where I’d be, I would have told you that you were nuts. Not only was I leaving this nightmare alive, but I was happy. On top of that, I was pretty sure I had a boyfriend. Gabe hadn’t officially asked me but there was something in the way he told me he didn’t want to be apart that made me feel confident it was coming.
But the question still remained…
How would I tell Dean?
I ran through scenario after scenario, even practicing out loud telling him everything from begging for his approval to telling him I didn’t need it. I knew Lexi would support me if I was happy, but my brother was so overprotective it was nuts.
By the time I drained the tub I was no closer to an answer.
I grabbed Gabe’s t-shirt off the back of the bathroom door, slid it on, and left the hot, steamy bathroom. For the first time in days, I picked up my phone and turned it on, pleased to see I had a signal. I opened my text messages but I had none from Lexi or Dean and I worried that perhaps something disastrous had happened.
But I didn’t have to wonder for long because I heard the sound of a diesel truck crunching up the path to the house, and within seconds, Dean’s rental truck came into view.
“Shit,” I said to myself, finishing off my cocoa. I didn’t have time to run and hide, as I saw Lexi spot me and wave. This was the moment, and there was nothing I could do about it.
I watched helplessly as the two of them climbed out of the truck, bags of what I could only assume were groceries in their hands. Dean nodded to me to open the door for them and I did.
“You’re alive,” Dean said, grinning. “And I don’t see Gabriel’s body on the front lawn so I feel safe assuming he’s alive, too.”
“Dean, listen…”
Dean dropped his bags and hugged me. “Merry Christmas,” he said.
“Dean, I—”
“Good thing we bought more cocoa. Looks like you drank the rest. And where did you get…”
Dean’s voice trailed off and I looked to see him staring behind me. I didn’t want to turn around, but I knew I would only be able to avoid the oncoming explosion so long.
“Oh. Hi. Welcome back!”
I turned to find Gabe standing in a Santa hat with a garland wrapped around his dick. He slowly covered himself up and I tried my hardest to sink into the floor.
This was definitelynothow I needed this to go. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion as the look of horror on Dean’s face turned to anger.
So much for him giving his blessing.
