Page 55 of Drop Shot (On the Court #2)

WHIMSY

Christmas Eve

I love the holiday season, and this one is even more special because I’ve had the entire month of December to spend with Elias.

It’s the only month out of the year with no tournaments so I’ve been soaking up this time with him.

We’ll leave for the Australian Open soon since it starts two weeks into January.

My apartment is aglow from the warmth of the white lights on the Christmas tree. A tree that Elias and I picked out together … at the store, but it totally still counts as a bonding moment in my mind.

I pull the cookies out of the oven and set them on the counter to cool. I might be too old for Santa, but I refuse to let go of the tradition of baking cookies on Christmas Eve.

“Those smell delicious,” Elias murmurs as he comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. He kisses the crook of my neck and reaches for a cookie.

“No.” I swat his hand away. “You have to let them cool.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” he laughs, letting me go. “It’s Christmas Eve.”

Holiday music plays softly in the background and we still have to decide on a movie to watch, but I’ve already decided this is my favorite Christmas yet.

“You’ll burn your mouth,” I chide. “You can still have one when it’s warm, but not scalding.”

“Fine, fine,” he chants, hands raised in surrender as he backs away toward the couch.

Craig cracks one eye open from where she lays on the cushions. He scoops her up and sets her back down in his lap.

I remove my apron and hang it on the door knob to my miniscule pantry before I join my favorite person and my favorite cat on the couch.

“Can I give you an early Christmas present?” I ask him, trying—and most definitely failing—to hide my glee.

Elias raises a single brow, fingers absentmindedly rubbing Craig on top of her head. The cat leans into his touch, purring loudly. “Why? There are technically only a few hours until Christmas.”

Curling my legs under me, I frown. “Because I want to and I’m impatient and you love me so you’ll say yes?”

He laughs, leaning over to kiss me. “All valid points. All right. What is it?”

I scurry over to where the presents rest under the tree and select the special box I set aside because I hoped he’d indulge me and open it early. Settling back on the couch, I hand him the present.

He stares at it in the palm of his hand before carefully removing the wrapping paper with a design of nutcrackers on it. I picked that specific paper for all of his gifts—it’s always been a tradition in my family for every person to have their own paper.

Staring at the simple white box that’s left in his hand, he carefully removes the top lid and reveals the gift inside that sits nestled in tissue paper.

He raises his brows, lips parted in surprise. “You’re giving me a key to your place?” I shake my head and his brows quickly knit. “You’re not? What’s it for then?”

“It is a key to my place, but it’s not just that—I’m asking you to move in.

We both prefer it here and I know we don’t get to be in Miami much of the year, but it doesn’t make sense for you to keep your place when you’re always here anyway when we’re in town and I…

” I stop to catch my breath. I didn’t intend to ramble, but this is a big deal.

I’ve never asked a guy to move in with me before.

“I want you to live here permanently. If that’s what you want too. ”

He puts the lid back on the box and sets it on the coffee table. At first, I think maybe he’s not fond of the idea, but then he reaches for me and pulls me in for a deep, mind-numbing kiss. Craig hisses and jumps off his lap, not liking being stuck between the two of us.

“This is the best fucking thing you could give me for Christmas.”

I laugh as he kisses me again. “You want to move in?”

“Hell yeah. I’m calling a realtor first thing tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow’s Christmas,” I remind him.

He gives a heavy, deep sigh. “The next day then.” He smooths my hair behind my ear. “Thank you, baby. This is the best gift ever.”

Elias puts a movie on and I somehow manage to get myself up and grab the tray of cookies before sitting back beside him. I curl my body into his as the movie begins and Craig decides to rejoin us, lying beside me much to Elias’s annoyance.

The love of my life is going to move in permanently and then … well, whatever comes next, I know it’s going to be a beautiful life.