Page 78 of Marvelous

Oh, yeah, did I mention that she moved herself in before I came back home?

Well, she did.

Apparently, she felt closer to me in my place when I was gone.

I didn’t mind that.

Not one fucking bit.

And it was Garrick who helped her move in.

Owed him a box of the bottles he uses to make his drink.

We were in the kitchen as I was making hot cocoa, and she was setting up the speaker in the kitchen and started playing Christmas music.

I caught her eye and winked.

Then she smiled, took the hot cocoa I had made for her, walked to the couch, tagged the blanket I bought for her, and then jerked her head to the sliding glass door that led to the back porch.

The moment we were snuggled up under it, we sipped our cocoa, and wouldn’t you know... it started snowing.

Fucking. Perfect.

Her giggle and the merriment in her eyes, I made a vow to her, right then and there.

To live here for the rest of our lives.

Just so she could experience snow on Christmas morning.

We had just finished our hot cocoa when she said, “I know you can’t have photos out in the world, but can we have one where we celebrate our first Christmas together?”

I winked at her.

Then I sat my mug on the patio, took hers, did the same, and then I moved.

I hauled her up, tossing her over my shoulder, carried her to the living room, and sat down right in front of the Christmas tree, twisting her body so she sat between my open legs.

Then I tagged her phone, held it out, and said, “Love you, Cassie.”

“Love you too, Alec,” then I took the picture.

And the sight of her tears on that morning as I handed her a present... her whispered words... had me raging at everyone in her life who had let her down.

I wouldn’t be one of them.

Over my cold, dead body.

“I’ve never gotten a present before,” she whispered.

Then I wiped her tears and helped her put on the little necklace I had made for her.

It was a white gold chain along with an anchor made of white gold.

Then pressed a kiss on her lips.

“I’ll always get you presents, Cupcake.”

She smiled up at me.