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There was a long line at each truck, but they were moving fairly quickly. Too quickly. I had no idea what to order when it was finally our turn.
“What should I get?” I asked as we were about to step up to the window.
“There’s no question: Santa’s Favorite.”
“What’s in it?” I wasn’t sure it mattered because now that Nicholas said it, it felt like the perfect choice. He knew me too well.
“Santa magic?” He kissed my cheek. “You can ask in a half a minute.”
“Or I can live on the edge.” Which was exactly what I did, and it was every bit as magical as its name. Aside from it being cocoa and marshmallows, I couldn’t quite pin what the other flavors were and it didn’t matter. They were perfection.
With our cocoas in one hand, and our other hands entwined, Nicholas and I walked through the festivities. There were lights, and trees, and decorations galore. The snow fell around us in fat flakes that clung to our coats. All around us were happy couples and cheerful families enjoying their evening.
“You can’t catch me!” a little voice called, and then a young girl dressed in a red wool coat and a black bow went running in front of us. She was followed quickly by a younger boy wearing a pair of khakis and adorable little loafers. His unzipped black coat flapped in the breeze.
“Stop it, Lucy! Give me back my candy cane.”
The two kids wound around the wooden cutouts of gnomes lit up with lights. Eventually the girl stopped and gave her brother an oversized candy cane. Laughter filled her eyes.
Nicholas squeezed my hand. “I think two, maybe three kids would be nice.”
I grinned. “I’ve always heard that three is the most stressful number of kids to have.”
“Two it is, then.”
“No, I’m fine with four.”
He stopped in his tracks to look at me. I was serious, though. I wanted it all with him. A family. Memorable Christmases like this one where we picked out our own tree, and had gourmet hot chocolate and homemade candy.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, and he kissed my cheek.
A snowflake landed on my lashes, and he brushed it away with his thumb.
“You’re so gorgeous, mate,” he whispered.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I said. “Let’s go home.”
We didn’t have one of those yet, but to me, home was wherever Nicholas was. If he wanted to pack up our stuff and move to the North Pole, I’d follow him.
He was my everything.
.
Chapter Fifteen
Nicholas
Walkingupwithmymate in my arms had me wanting to hold him to me tighter and ignore the world. But it was Christmas, which meant not only were we expected, they wanted us showered and presentable. We’d likely have a billion pictures taken of us today—and I wouldn’t complain at all, because it was our first Christmas as a mated couple and I wanted to commemorate it.
I grabbed my phone, checking my notifications before getting out of bed. My present to Christopher had arrived.
I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and headed to the lobby with the excuse of looking for coffee. There I bribed the receptionist who looked far less than thrilled to be there to print it for me. It was perfect. All I needed was a little gift bag, and I was pretty sure I’d be able to snag one from my mom.
Gift folded and in my pocket, I went back with two horrific cups of coffee and a smile on my face.
Christopher was already out of bed, stumbling out of the bathroom with his toothbrush in his mouth. He smiled when he saw me. I kissed his cheek.
“Merry Christmas, mate.”
