Page 74 of Scrooge

“We can have drinks with him when we get back. He has been calling nonstop, so I assume he wants to meet you too.”

“I hope he approves.”

“What he thinks doesn’t matter. I know how I feel,” he says, holding me tighter. I look at him, snuggling impossibly closer.

“Me too. I’ve felt something all this time. The entire time, really,” I admit softly, hoping he understands what I’m saying.

“I meant what I said a few days ago, Sunflower. I fell hard for you the minute you called me a dickwad,” he says, and I giggle.

“God, what an awful word…” I moan, running my hand over my face in remorse.

“Where did you learn it?” he asks, intrigued.

“That’s what happens when you work with kids in a toy store all day. They are somewhat creative with their vocabulary.” Thinking about all the wonderful kids, I miss seeing them all.

“I vividly remember the moment I first saw you. I didn’t know anything about you, but you were all grumpy and frowning, walking down the street at night, but you looked back at me when you walked away. Do you remember?” It’s something I’ve been wanting to ask him. A moment I still picture every now and then.

“I remember. It was raining. You were getting wet,” he says, nodding, and my smile widens.

“And so, even back then, you cared. People call you Scrooge, but you were never a Scrooge. You just lost your way a little,” I tell him, my heart expanding.

“Thank you…” he says genuinely.

“For what?” I ask as happiness radiates through me.

“For helping me find my way again.” He sits forward then, putting his lips on mine. My chest bursts with so much love, my eyes watering with emotion as he kisses me wholly. The taste of red wine and the warmth of the fire eclipse my senses as his hold tightens, never once letting me go.

35

ALEXANDER

Iwalk around the penthouse, making a well-worn track on the carpet. What if she doesn't like it? What if it’s too much? I look up to the large bare tree that now almost hits my ceiling, the scent of pine strong in the air.

“Alex, I’m here!” she singsongs as she exits the elevator, and I down the whiskey in my hand and slide the empty glass across the kitchen counter, bracing myself. Christmas is her favorite holiday, decorating a tree one of her most prized things… She’s going to love it, right?

“You know it hasn’t stopped snowing since the afternoon. The sidewalks are starting to get some coverage.” She keeps talking excitedly, completely unaware of what’s behind her. I click a button on the remote in my hand, playing a Christmas carol through the speakers.

“Alex?” She says my name again, and I hear her shoes on the marble, walking toward the living room. I remain still, waiting.

“Alex? Oh… my… God…” Stopping short at the entry, her jaw has dropped. She was obviously too busy putting her jacket away to look up when she first came in.

“Do you like it?” I ask, as I pour two glasses of red wine, boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations at my feet. I had no idea what to get, so thankfully Laurent basically vomits Christmas every year, and I was able to get some delivered to me this afternoon.

“Like it?” she gasps, her eyes wide, still not moving. “I freaking love it!” Turning her head, she looks at me with a bright smile. One I’ll never tire of putting on her face. “This is insane…” Her eyes start to water. “You are insane.” As she walks toward me, I feel a swirl of pride for doing something nice for her. Something I know she loves and places a lot of emphasis on.

“Well, it is one of your favorite things to do for the holidays. I have the carols on, red wine, and I spoke to Mother Nature and got her to snow for you,” I say, smiling, as she falls into my embrace, and I breathe deeply for the first time all afternoon.

“I can’t believe you did this.” I hear her sniffle a little, and I wrap my arms around her tight. She buries her head into my chest and I kiss the top of it, her hair soft against my lips.

“I did it for you,” I tell her, and she pulls back, keeping close but looking up at me.

“Have you ever had a tree before?” she asks, knowing me too well.

“Never.”

“Wow, what a tree to start with. How did you even get this in here?” She looks between me and the tree like I really am crazy.

“Yeah… that was a bit difficult,” I murmur, rubbing the back of my head, not realizing exactly how stressful that would be. It took all afternoon, so while I worked, I had men here for hours, getting it inside and in place.

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