Page 139 of Tasty Cherry

“Me neither,” Owen says.

I keep quiet. Sebastian let me into the restaurant ages ago. It’s a beautiful open space with an incredible view of the mountains.

“Soon enough,” Sebastian says. “Now that Havannah’s here full time again, we’ll be back to normal.”

We reach the rear door of the hotel. Owen and Brooklyn go inside, but I hang back.

“You going home with me?” Sebastian whispers in my ear.

“I was hoping so.”

Brooklyn realizes I’m not coming in and retreats for a fierce hug. “Merry Christmas, Mila. Have a great day tomorrow.”

“What are you two going to do?” I ask.

“We’re working,” Owen says. “Thought we could take other people’s shifts since we couldn’t go home.”

“That’s nice of you both,” I say. “Hotel work is never done.”

Sebastian looks up at the tower. Quite a few of the windows are dotted with light. “It’s always busy around the holidays.”

Owen and Brooklyn head inside, and I walk with Sebastian back to his car.

Snow starts falling, a white sparkle in the light of the lamps.

“It’s sure beautiful in Colorado at Christmas,” I tell him. “I never had a white Christmas in Houston. Not once.”

“They’re all white here,” Sebastian says. He draws me close to him. “And I believe it just turned to midnight.”

I check my phone. He’s right.

“Merry Christmas, Mila,” he says.

“Merry Christmas, Sebastian. I love you.”

He pulls back. “You do?”

“You know I do.”

“And you finally said it.”

“Finally.”

“I love you, too, Mila.” His hand slides beneath my hair. As he closes in for a kiss, I feel the whisper of snow on my forehead and the warmth of him in front of me.

I’ve found a new home here. A place I love to work. A man I love, who loved me long before I could bring myself to say it back.

And a confidence I didn’t know I would ever feel.

Maybe I did have a hard time finding someone to appreciate me. Maybe I was awkward and a late bloomer.

But I got here.

And kissing him on Christmas, beneath the fall of snow outside the place we both love, I believe with my whole heart that Sebastian was absolutely worth the wait.

EPILOGUE: MILA

March.