Page 52 of Christmas With the Jerk

I nod, my breath catching in my throat. “Yeah,” I whisper, “it really does.”

Without another word, he leans down and kisses me, soft and sweet at first, and then deeper, as if he’s trying to capture everything we’ve been through in that one kiss. The world around us fades away—the people, the lights, the snow. It’s just us, standing here in the glow of the Christmas tree, in this perfect moment.

When we finally pull back, the warmth in his eyes is all I need to know we’re in this together.

“So,” Thorne says, his voice light, “how about we go grab that drink I promised you? There’s a café just down the street. Warm drinks, cozy seats, and amazing people-watching. What do you say?”

I grin. He could offer to drive through a blizzard to stay in a dump and I would be excited. “I’d say that sounds perfect.”

He takes my hand again, and we walk down the street toward the café. I feel a sense of peace inside and out. Christmas finally feels magical again.

Epilogue

THORNE

We will sing, sing, sing. Joy to the world. We will sing, sing, sing

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

M Street NW, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

4:02 pm

I glance over at Woodley,her arm linked with mine, holding Isla against her chest. Our little girl is bundled up in the warmest clothes we could find, her tiny face peeking out from under a wool hat. She's only three months old, but already she’s got this way of looking at the world like her momma does, ready to take it by storm.

Exactly how I feel, standing here with them.

We stop in front of the same massive Christmas tree where, just a year ago, I kissed Woodley. Back then, everything wasuncertain. We barely knew what we were doing, still figuring out if what happened between us between Chattanooga and Boston was real or just a product of our circumstance.

Now, I can’t imagine life without her, without Isla. Funny how fast things can change.

Woodley looks up at me, her eyes soft and full of warmth, and I feel a swell of pride. She’s stronger than she knows, braver than anyone I’ve ever met. Everything we’ve been through this past year has made us who we are now.

“Can you believe it?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, like she’s afraid to break the magic of the moment. “We’ve come full circle in three hundred and sixty-five days and look how much has changed.” She glances down at Isla when she says it, her thumb gently brushing her fat cheek.

I shake my head, staring up at the twinkling lights of the tree. “Nope. It’s hard to wrap my head around everything we’ve been through together.”

She grins, her eyes sparkling under the lights, and I feel that same rush I did when we first got stuck together—except now, it’s more than just attraction. It's love. Deep, true love.

I look down at Isla, who’s staring up at the Christmas lights with wide, curious eyes. She lets out a soft little gurgle, and I swear, it’s like the world shifts a little every time she makes a sound. “She loves it,” I say, grinning.

Woodley laughs, her voice full of the same joy I’m feeling. “Of course she does. She’s a Christmas baby.”

I pull them both closer, letting out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “Best surprise ever,” I say softly.

And it’s true. I didn’t see Isla coming. When Woodley told me she was pregnant last February, six weeks along and completely blindsided, I was shocked. I guess IUDs aren’t full-proof?

Strangely, though, I never panicked. I knew then, just like I know now, that we were meant to be together.

“You know,” Woodley says, tilting her head back to look at me, “you’ve really come into your own this year. I couldn’t be more proud of everything you’ve done.”

I raise an eyebrow, smirking. “Yeah? For the better, I hope.”

She smiles, that same teasing smile I’ve grown to love. “Well, you didn’t need improvement, so better probably isn’t the right word. But you’ve grown so much.”

She’s right. I’m not the guy I was a year ago, desperate to prove myself to everyone, especially my father.

We ended up getting the account with ValorTech. It was a turning point. It not only boosted the company, but it also showed me I could stand on my own, make my own choices, my own future. My father’s investment paid off, sure, but more importantly, I learned that I didn’t need his approval to know I was doing the right thing.

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