Page 40 of Silent Night Temptation

"Marcus… I…," I try to speak through my tears, my voice breaking, but I can’t get a word out.

He pulls me into his arms, holding me close, and I bury my face in his chest, letting the warmth of his embrace soothe the ache inside me.

When we pull apart, I glance over at Coco and Ethan. They’re standing hand in hand, watching us with quiet smiles. For the first time, I feel like we’re all part of something bigger than the mistakes we’ve made.

Marcus

New Year’s Eve

I sit in the living room, the fire crackling softly, a warm glow filling the space, but my mind is somewhere else, wandering through the whirlwind of the last few weeks. Not long ago, I was seated at my desk, wrapping up work, pushing to get everything done so the office could have a proper break. Now, in what feels like a blink of an eye, so much has changed.

I smile.I’m going to be a grandfather.

The words still feel strange, almost surreal. I try to wrap my mind around it. Coco, my little girl, is going to be a mother. There’s a warm sense of pride swelling in my chest. The kind of pride that only a father can feel when he sees his daughter stepping into the next phase of her life. I’ve watched her grow, seen her face challenges and overcome them, and now she’s about to bring new life into the world. A grandchild.

The thought is still sinking in. I can almost see it; her holding the baby, cradling her child the way I once cradled her. It feelslike just yesterday, she was small enough to fit in my arms. How is it that time can move so fast?

I exhale slowly. Coco, the little girl who once relied on me for everything, is now grown. Fully grown. A woman in her own right. I’ve always known this day would come, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I suppose it’s the way of things, the passing of the torch, the inevitable transition. But there’s comfort in it, too. Comfort in knowing that she’s ready, strong and capable, and more than prepared for this next chapter.

And she’s not alone.

My mind drifts to Ethan. Ah, Ethan… What a complicated history we have, he and I. The friction between us isn’t gone; I’d be lying to myself if I pretended otherwise. Years of tension does not dissolve overnight. But there’s something new there too, respect. It’s subtle, but still there. He loves her. I can see it in the way he looks at her, in the way he’s been by her side. He’s trying, and I suppose that counts for something.

No, it counts for a lot. I may not fully trust him yet, but I know he loves her. And that, at least, gives me some peace.

The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I glance up to see Nyree walking into the room. My heart stirs at the sight of her. It always does. There’s something about her presence that never fails to give me a sense of comfort, but also desire.

She’s practically glowing with excitement. Her steps are light as she comes toward me. I smile, sensing her mood before she even speaks. “Well... someone looks excited.”

Her eyes light up, and she’s almost breathless as she blurts out, “I finished it!”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward. “Finished what?”

“My book!” she exclaims, throwing her arms in the air with a triumphant grin. “I finished the whole thing! Every last chapter!”

I stand and cross the room toward her.

“After all those weeks of being stuck, the last few days just... I don’t know, everything started flowing, and I couldn’t stop writing. It’s done. I did it.”

I stop in front of her, placing my hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. The joy radiating from her is infectious, and I can’t help but smile. “That’s amazing, Nyree. I’m so proud of you.”

She lets out a soft laugh, her excitement bubbling over. “I really thought I’d miss the deadline, but now I’m done ahead of time.”

I pull her into a hug, feeling her melt into me. There’s something about the way she fits in my arms that always feels so right, like she belongs there. The hug is warm, but underneath it, there’s that familiar spark, the heat that’s always between us.

For a moment, I think about keeping her there, kissing her, telling her how much I want her. But before I can act on it, she pulls back slightly, still grinning. “I need to tell Coco.”

I blink, a little surprised. “Now?”

“Yes, now!” she says, laughing at my reaction. “I’ve been talking to her about this book for months. She’s going to be so happy for me. I have to tell her.”

I chuckle softly, nodding. “Alright, go ahead. I’ll be here.”

She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, her excitement spilling over as she turns to leave. I watch her go, admiring the way she moves, the energy that seems to radiate from her. As she disappears down the hallway, I can’t help but think about how much I need her. I know it, more than ever. I want her in my life, permanently.

Later that evening, the four of us gather in the living room. The air is filled with anticipation, the final moments of the year ticking away. The TV screen shows the countdown in bright,bold numbers, and we all stand together, waiting for the clock to strike midnight.

“Ten... nine... eight...” The numbers fall away, and I can feel the excitement building in the room. Coco stands close to Ethan, their hands intertwined. I can see the happiness in her eyes. It’s a good moment. A moment that feels like a promise of better things to come.

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