Page 101 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“I need to correct myself,” he murmurs, and I look up at him, my chin on his shoulder.
“Hm? About what?”
“When I said I liked you…” My eyebrows shoot up, but he quickly continues, “I don’t think ‘like’ gives it justice.” He takes a deep breath, his Adam’s apple moving as he gulps.
“Iloveyou, Lauren.”
My breath hitches, heart beating loudly and powerfully in my chest with such force I’m afraid it will jump right out.
“And I’m not even surethatword is strong enough. You make everything brighter. With you, even standing in the cold for hours on end is fun. And I know I’m not easy—”
I put my palm over his mouth, and his eyes widen slightly in surprise. “I love you too,” I tell him, tears welling up in my eyes as I hold his gaze.
Instantly, his expression softens, and he closes his fingers around my wrist, pulling my arm until I climb into his lap, facing him. His arms close around me, and he hugs me to him, almost as tightly as our first hug.
“Good,” he whispers, clearing his throat. “That’s good.”
I kiss his temple and return the hug just as hard.
This is perfect. So fitting for us.
I firmly believe our story started with my moving to Wayward Hollow, but it kick-started when I found him crestfallen after being ambushed by his mother and we sat in his café in this exact position.
It’s a full-circle moment. Even though there are cat claws in my shirt as Jenna tries to climb my back.
This is it.
The perfect moment. The perfect man. The perfect time.
The place where I belong.
Epilogue
Lauren
I wake up with my face nudged into the crook of Caleb’s neck, his hot breath feathering over the top of my head and his arm heavy on my hip.
Small cat paws dig into my calves as, presumably, Jenna climbs up my legs. A soft ‘meow’ from the ground next to my bed makes me aware that both cats are here, ready to demand their breakfast. I let out a deep sigh, letting myself revel in the blanket's warmth and Caleb’s hold, before I can get myself to open my eyes. Carefully, I lift his arm and wiggle out of his hold.
He’s still sleeping peacefully. I get up quietly and close the window, turning on the heater before I leave the room so he won’t wake up in the complete cold. Taytay and Jenna walk ahead to the hallway, and I softly close the door behind us.
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper and scoop the two of them up, kissing their little heads. “Let’s get you some breakfast.”
By the time the coffee’s done, Caleb trudges down the stairs, barefoot and his eyes still hooded with sleep. I knew he wouldn’t sleep much longer. His inner clock wakes him up at the exact same time every day, only twenty minutes after Jenna and Taytay usually come to wake me.
It never stops. Even on days he’s not opening his café. Today, for example.
“Morning,” he mumbles, his voice hoarse as he rubs his eyes, not even trying to hide his yawn.
“Good morning,” I say cheerfully and hold up his mug, signaling that his coffee is in there. “Merry Christmas.”
That elicits the smallest smile from him. “Merry Christmas, baby.”
The only response I can offer is a silly grin, my stomach tingling with giddiness. He circles around the kitchen counter, closing in on me, and takes my mug out of my hand. Setting both mugs aside, he pushes me against the counter.
I run my hands over his shirt, lacing my fingers at the back of his neck and running my thumbs through his hair.
“Did you sleep well?” I whisper, and he nods without another word, pressing his lips against mine, the taste of his black coffee mixing with my gingerbread syrup latte.
