Life's Too Short (The Friend Zone #3)(73)
She padded back into the living room and I had to cover my laugh with a hand.
Adrian leaned over and whispered, “I think she likes you.”
“Are we just going to ignore the Christmas miracle thing or…?”
He laughed. “I’ve never introduced her to anyone before.”
Adrian was looking around the entryway. “The place looks amazing. Wood floors!” he laughed, looking down.
Robin smiled. “They were under the shag.” She shuddered.
The house looked like a photo in Good Housekeeping. And yes, it did smell like cinnamon.
There was a gorgeous dark wood staircase off the entryway with a fresh pine garland wrapped around it. The living room had a huge fireplace with a blazing fire in it and a glittering Christmas tree decorated like one in the lobby of a five-star hotel.
Every inch of the house looked meticulously restored.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re here,” Robin said.
Richard smiled. “We picked up a special bottle of wine just for you. Boone’s Farm.”
Adrian blanched and Richard laughed. “I’m kidding.”
Richard grabbed our bags, smiling. “Come on, let me show you to your room. You kids can get situated. We’ll have dinner when you’re ready.”
Our room had a mahogany four-poster bed and private bathroom with a claw-foot tub. There was already a fire burning in our fireplace, logs shifting. It was super romantic. This weekend was going to be epic.
We had dinner and then drinks in the living room. Both Robin and Richard were great, and Adrian spent a good hour just catching up with his dad. Adrian’s grandma got tired and went to bed early. She took a liking to Harry Puppins and brought him to her room with her when she left. Adrian and I stayed chatting with Richard and Robin a little longer. At midnight we called it and went to bed.
Back in our room, Adrian set Grace in her Pack ’n Play.
As soon as his hands were free, he cleared the space between us and pulled me into a kiss. It was more passionate than usual, and I didn’t expect it.
“Wow,” I said against his lips.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?” I said breathlessly.
“For coming. For making me come. For making me see things differently.” His eyes moved back and forth between mine. “The holidays never meant much to me. But this one does.”
“Why?” I smiled.
“Because it’s our first one. Because everything with you is better. Because I’ve found the person I can’t live without.”
My lips fell a little. “Don’t say that.”
“Don’t say what?” he whispered.
“That you can’t live without me.”
He shook his head. “Why?”
“Because it’s a fucked-up thing to say. I don’t want to know that you won’t want to live if I’m not here. That’s not a compliment. That’s sort of my worst nightmare, actually.”
He smiled at me. “Okay. I’ve found the person I want to share everything with. Better?”
I nodded. “Yes. Better.”
He grinned.
I nodded up at him. “Hey, what do you think of giving Harry Puppins to your grandma?”
He pulled his face back. “You want to give our dog away?”
I shrugged. “Well, he’s not actually our dog. We’re fostering him. And our lifestyles aren’t conducive to long-term dog ownership when you really think about it. Your grandma really likes him. And you notice how he hasn’t bitten her?”
He scoffed. “God, can you imagine that dog with teeth?”
“Can you imagine that dog as a dragon?”
Adrian barked out a laugh.
“I’ll bet your grandma reminds him of his previous owner or something. We could arrange it with the rescue, pay the adoption fee for her as a gift.”
He seemed to mull this over. “I guess you’re right. He probably would be happier here. There’s always someone home. I’m going to miss that little asshole.”
I laughed. “We could foster another dog if you miss having one. Save another life.”
He smiled at me. “I like that you’re such a good person. You make me want to be a better person too.”
I rubbed my nose on his. “You already are a better person.”
His eyes moved to my lips and then came back up. “Are you ready for your Christmas gift?”
I cocked my head. “You don’t want to wait until tomorrow?”
“It’s midnight. It’s Christmas.”
“Is it your dick in a box? Because if it is, I’m very excited to open it.”
He laughed. “No. Though feel free to open that gift as often as you’d like.”
I snorted.
He pulled something out of his pocket and put it in my hand. A small, flat package wrapped in candy cane wrapping paper.
“Is it a gift card?” I asked, prying the paper open.
It was an Altoids tin.
“I didn’t want you to have any idea what’s in it until you saw it,” he said.
I smiled and shook it next to my ear and it made a rattling sound. Then I opened the lid and sucked in a gulp of air. I blinked at it a moment, not believing what I was seeing.