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“Very true.”Donovan placed a hand on my cheek, resting his forehead against mine.“There are a lot of things we need to talk about, but can it wait until tomorrow?Right now, I just want to enjoy Christmas here with you and our families.”
I nodded.“I’d like that too.”
What followed wasone of the best Christmases I’d had in years.Christmas Day with my parents was always fun, but having Donovan and June there too made it perfect.My parents and June were delighted that Donovan and I had sorted things out, and the tension that had lurked earlier disappeared.My mum had made the most incredible Christmas dinner, and we ate until we were stuffed, then went to the living room, where June, Mum, and Dad promptly fell asleep in front of the television, and Donovan and I watched movies until they woke up again.We spent the evening playing board games, all of us laughing the whole time.
June was the first to head to bed at just after nine, and Donovan and I went up closer to ten.When we’d arrived at my parents’ house, there wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d expected the two of us to share a room, but now, after an amazing day, the only thing I wanted was for us to have some time to ourselves.I went into my room to get ready for bed, while Donovan went to the room he was supposed to be staying in to get his things.In the time he was gone, I went to the bathroom, cleaned my teeth, took off my makeup, and changed into my Christmas pyjamas—a pair of pink trousers covered in Christmas puddings, and a pink vest top with a cartoon-style Christmas pudding on the front.
Donovan had been gone for a while, and as I sat on my bed, I wondered if he’d fallen asleep in his room.I waited for a few more minutes before going to investigate.I knocked softly on his door, and he called out for me to come in.
I opened the door, and my eyes widened at the sight that greeted me.As I took him in, I doubled over, laughing so hard I almost fell over as I walked towards the bed.
Donovan was lying on the bed, feet crossed at the ankles, wearing nothing but a green elf apron, a bit like the ones we’d worn the day we’d baked.
He smiled brightly at me as I staggered over to him, tears of laughter trickling down my face.
“What the hell?”I managed as I climbed onto the bed beside him, and he turned onto his side to look at me.
“We made a deal, remember?”
I cast my mind back to the letters we’d sent each other when Donovan had only just arrived.He’d been so confident he would never enjoy Christmas that he’d promised to dress as an elf if I converted him.
Brows raised, I said, “I won?”
“Yup.And so…” He waved an arm up and down his body, making me laugh again,
“And this was the only elf costume you could find?”
He shook his head.“No, I just thought this would be funnier, and clearly, I was right.”Grinning, he wriggled closer to me on the bed.
Holding up a hand, I said, “Wait.We weren’t even talking when you packed your bag to come here.”
“I know.But I hoped I’d get to show you this anyway.If you hadn’t forgiven me, I’d have just thrown it on over my clothes.”He paused, tucking my hair behind my ear.“Whatever happened, I wanted to say thank you.When we started the Christmas hit list, I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did.So, even if you’d never forgiven me, I wanted you to know that you made a difference.You made me want a Christmas like this one every year.With you.Sticking to traditions and maybe making some new ones.”
Even though my heart was melting at his words, I couldn’t help teasing him.“I could get behind you wearing this outfit every year.”
Donovan laughed.“Oh, yeah?Do you have a secret elf fetish I should know about?”
Shaking my head, I pressed myself against him and said, “No, I just kinda like that I can get you naked simply by pulling this loop over your head.”My fingers reached around to the back of his neck, playing with the strip of material.
He let out a low groan of frustration.“I was trying to be romantic, and you had to lower the tone.”
He grinned, letting me know he wasn’t really annoyed, but I kissed him gently, and said, “I’m sorry.What you said was sweet, and I would like to spend every Christmas forever creating new traditions with you.”
“Forever, huh?”
I nodded.“Yes, please.”
Donovan wound his arms around me, then turned onto his back so I was lying on top of him.“I love you,” he said, kissing me gently.
I let the sound of those words fill me up.Let them trickle through me and bring back every bit of warmth that had been missing since he’d walked away.“I love you too.”
“Lavare i miei calzini sporchi.”
As always, the sound of him speaking Italian caused a tingling deep inside me.“I hope that means something romantic.”
He smirked.“It meanswash my dirty socks.”
Laughing out loud, I pushed him away playfully.He remembered everything.
