Page 149 of The Compass Series

“Okay, while I’d love to get emotional with you both, Stella’s gift for you is waiting on the front porch, and it shouldn’t be out there for too long.

So, I’m going to head home and allow you two to exchange gifts.

” Grams stood from the table and gave me a hug along with ocean kisses, then she embraced Damian.

After their hug, she placed her hands against his cheeks. “You are good.”

That made my eyes glass over.

After she left, I took a deep breath and clapped my hands. “Are you ready?”

“I think so.”

“Okay, follow me to the front porch.”

Before we stepped outside, I stopped in front of the door.

“I feel like I should preface this by saying I think you deserve the world, Damian. You’re an amazing human being, and it breaks my heart to know that the world has hurt you.

So, I thought I’d get you something that was taken from you.

Even though it’s not the same, I hope you feel the love.

” I sighed, feeling my nerves skyrocketing, overthinking the gift.

“Whatever it is, it’ll be more than enough.”

I sure hoped so.

Stepping to the side, I let him walk onto the porch. I followed closely behind him, feeling knots in my stomach with nerves.

When his eyes met the gift, it was clear what it had been. A cage sat on the porch with a huge bow sitting on top. Inside the cage was a Boston terrier puppy, the same kind Damian had for a short period of time when he was a child.

I couldn’t read his reaction. He stepped toward it with his back to me, and he didn’t say a word.

He then walked toward the balcony and looked out into the distance, not going to the puppy.

My heart dropped as I watched his hands grip the railing.

He stayed quiet for a few moments too long, making my nerves skyrocket throughout my system.

“I’m sorry,” I shot out, feeling as if I’d made the worst mistake. “I just remembered you telling me the story about the Christmas puppy when you were a kid and how you lost it after you moved into another home. And I thought…oh gosh. This was an awful idea, and I’m so sorry if?—”

“Stella,” he whispered, his back still toward me.

My heart sat in my throat as he paused. He slowly turned toward me, and tears were streaming down his cheeks.

I’d seen Damian on the verge of tears before, merely moments ago when Grams gave him his gift from Kevin, but I’d never actually seen him release said emotions.

He cleared his throat and crossed his arms, sniffling as he grew overwhelmed. “He’s mine?” he asked, his voice low and trembling.

“Forever,” I told him. “If you’ll have him.”

He glanced toward the cage and then back at me. “Can I?” he asked.

I laughed. “Based on how he’s wagging his tail, I think he’d like that.”

Damian walked over to the dog and opened the door.

“His name is Milo,” I told him. “He’s two years old and grew up in not the best environment.

His owners were abusive, and he’d been moved around from house to house many times because they said he couldn’t be trained, but I didn’t believe that.

They were considering putting him down, actually, but when I saw him, I felt it in my soul that he was yours. ”

“And I am his,” he quietly stated.

Damian’s tears kept falling as the nervous dog began walking out of the cage toward him. He rubbed up against Damian’s leg and then allowed Damian to pick him up. Milo rested his head against Damian’s shoulder and cuddled into him as if they were always meant to be together.

“Thank you, Stella,” Damian said, looking my way. “For believing he deserved another chance. For believing I did, too.”

I moved over to him and wiped his tears away. “Merry Christmas, Damian.”

“I’m falling for you,” he replied, the words somersaulting off his tongue.

“Sorry.” He grimaced. Then he paused and shook his head.

“Wait, no. I’m not sorry. I’m happy to know you, and I’m lucky to be around you.

You’re ridiculous and kind, and I am falling for you.

You’re beautiful and funny, and I am falling for you.

You’re my first thought in the morning and the last one at night, and I am falling for you.

Stella…” He held Milo in one arm and gently caressed my cheek with his other hand. “I am falling for you.”

“I—”

“Wait.” He cleared his throat. “You don’t have to say anything back, just because I said it to you. You can wait. I know you got out of a relationship not that long ago, and I never want to pressure anyone to say any type of words to me and?—”

“I’m not falling for you.” I took his free hand into mine. “I already completely fell.”

He pressed his forehead to mine and closed his eyes. “I didn’t know I could have this.”

“Have what?”

“You.”

My heart swooned in ways I didn’t know hearts could swoon.

“And Milo is ours?” he murmured as if he was still unsure if his new companion was real.

Ours.

Us.

We.

Cinderstella and the Beast.

“Yes,” I replied.

He kissed me, and his lips tasted a bit like dreams coming true.

“Can I show you my gift for you now?” he asked me.

“Yes.”

“Okay, but you need to put some shoes on, and I have to drive us there.”

I sat back, a bit shocked. “You’re going to drive?”

He smirked and cleared his throat. “I might have gotten my driver’s license a few days ago.”

“Damian! No, you didn’t!” I playfully slapped his arm.

He laughed. “Don’t cry.”

“I won’t.”

“You are.”

“I know.” I laughed, wiping my tears. “I’m so proud of you.”

He kept snickering, shaking his head toward me. “Let’s go. Milo can ride in your lap.”

After driving for about fifteen minutes he pulled up to a property.

He parked the car—with amazing driving skills, might I add—and looked up at the building. “I found this while I was showing a few clients some real estate properties. When I investigated it, I knew it was meant for you.”

“What do you mean it’s meant for me?”

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a key, and he placed it in my hand. “I bought you an art studio.”

My heart.

It flipped.

It twisted.

It soared.

“You what?”

“I mean, if you hate it?—”

“You what?!” I exclaimed again, stunned by his words. “You bought me an art studio?!”

“Yeah. I know you don’t have as much space to work and figured since you’ll probably be doing a lot more commissions since your gallery show, you’d need the space to make it happen.”

“Damian.”

“Yes?”

“I adore you.”

He laughed and lifted Milo from his lap. “You haven’t even seen it yet. You might hate it.”

“There is literally no way in which I would ever hate this.” I started getting giddy and rubbing my hands. “Can we go look at it?”

“Of course.”

We headed inside, and right as I turned the doorknob, my heart got caught in my throat. It was beautiful, with so much natural light shining through the space. It was all painted white with floor-to-ceiling windows and had different stations where I could set up my supplies.

“It’s over three thousand square feet, and I figured you can have your own showcases here to display your artwork. You can have your fancy galas with your this-time-priced-correctly pieces. I made you a few business cards, too, over here. If you hate the design, you can change it, of course, but?—”

I cut him off with my lips on his. He placed Milo down and then he pulled me into a hug.

“You like it?”

“I love it. I don’t deserve this.”

“You deserve everything good in this world, Stella.”

And just like that, the love for this man deepened within my soul.

After spending some time in the studio—my studio—we headed back home. Milo spent most of the day cuddled up between Damian and me. When nightfall came, we put Milo to bed and walked out toward the ocean.

Damian held my hand as we allowed the water to wash over our toes. In my mind, I thanked Kevin for bringing Damian into my life. Quietly, I told Mama how good it felt to be happy for maybe the first time in a long time.

I didn’t even have to wonder anymore if Damian felt the same way about me because every time he touched me, I knew.

We made love on Christmas morning and made love in the sand on Christmas night.