Page 78 of Merry with Me
“I’m being merry with you, baby.”
Instantly, her eyes fill with tears. I cup her cheeks with my palms as I tilt her eyes up to me. “I love you too. I should have said it back right that minute. I promise you I’ll make up for it by telling you every day all day long for the rest of our lives.”
“That’s a long time.” She smiles as she battles with tears.
“Not long enough with you. I love you, Blake. I’m sorry. I was a grumpy asshole.”
“You’re my grumpy asshole,” she says, smiling bigger than I’ve ever seen.
Leaning down, I kiss her like this very well could be the last time I ever do. When I pull back, applause greets my ears. I pull Blakely into my chest as I scan the room and see everyone smiling at us.
“Welcome back, son,” my dad says. “We missed you.”
“You have my girl to thank for that.”
Blakely peers up at me under those long-ass lashes. “Nothing a little love and Christmas can’t fix. That’s what brought us together, after all.”
“Love and Christmas. I guess that’s what I have to look forward to?”
“Yep.” She grins.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I kiss her again, because she’s here, I’m here, and she’s mine. What other reason do I need?
We spend another hour at the party before I convince her it’s time for us to leave. As we’re walking out to the car, we pass Hannah and Josh. I stop when Josh says my name.
“Listen, Oliver—” he starts, but I raise my hand to stop him.
“Don’t. What’s done is done.” I glance down at Blakely, who is snuggled up to my chest. “I’d say things worked out exactly as they were supposed to.”
“I tried to stay away, Oliver. I promise you, man, I tried, but I just couldn’t.”
“We went about it wrong,” Hannah says. “I should have ended things long before we let anything happen. I’m sorry for that, but I think you’re right. Things worked out exactly as they were supposed to. You two have a good night. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Blakely replies, because my girl doesn’t have it in her heart to not say it back.
“Your place or mine?” I ask as I lead her to my SUV.
“Yours, but I need my car.”
“We’ll get it when we come to Christmas lunch tomorrow. Your family does dinner, right?”
“They do.”
“Perfect. Sounds like we have a busy day tomorrow.” I kiss her lips before opening the door for her and wait for her to get settled before closing the door and rushing around to my side to take us home.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” I ask as soon as we’re in my house.
“Not tonight.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not for food.”
That has my attention as I turn to face her. “What are you hungry for, baby?”
“Did you mean it? When you said you love me? Did you mean it?” Her voice is small, almost as if she expects me to take the words back.
That will never happen.