Page 10 of Dad Bod Secret Santa

“Can we finish decorating the tree?”Vivian asks Hank after dinner, her expression eager.

“Isuppose,” he jokes, getting up and retrieving a couple of boxes from one of the closets.

We unpack the boxes, revealing twinkling lights and shiny ornaments. Each piece feels like a bit of magic, the colors bright against the warm glow of the fire. I smile as the girls dive into the ornaments, holding them up to admire the different shapes and colors.

“Look at this one!” Wendy exclaims, holding up a glittery star. “It’s so pretty!”

“It’ll look great on the tree,” I say, my heart swelling at the sight of them enjoying the moment. I glance at Hank, who’s smiling softly as he watches the girls decorate the tree.

“Okay, let’s get these lights up,” Hank says, standing.

He hands me a strand, and we work together. Our shoulders brush as we reach for the same branch. The touch sends a jolt through me, reminding me of our earlier make-out session.

Hank leans closer as we wrap the lights around the tree, his arm brushing against mine. “You’re really something, Maggie. I hope you know that.”

He smiles, and I’m suddenly speechless. My heart says yes to giving things a go with Hank, but my mind spins, trying to convince me this can’t possibly be happening—that the man whomakes my heart race and my toes curl from a few kisses has been on the edges of my life this whole time.

Wendy comes racing over, holding a bright red ornament in her hands. “Can I put this one on?” she asks, bouncing on her feet.

I look at Hank, who nods. “Of course,” I reply, watching as she carefully places it on a lower branch, her face lighting up with pride.

Vivian quickly joins her, holding up a green ornament with a goofy grin. “And this one is going right next to it.”

I lose myself in the moment, the warmth of the fire wrapping around me, the smell of pine filling the air. It feels like home.

As I step back to admire their work, I’m aware of Hank’s presence behind me.

He leans in, his voice a whisper. “You deserve this happiness. You deserve all of it.”

I look at him, unsure of what to say. It’s like he’s peering into my mind and can see all my uncertainty. It’s not the uncertainty of being together, but that whatever this is could be real.

I’m about to respond when Wendy calls out, “Hey, can we turn the lights on now?”

“Are you two all finished?” Hank asks, going over to look at the boxes.

“We sure are,” Vivian says, practically jumping with excitement.

It warms my heart so much to see the girls so happy and content. No matter what else has gone on in my life in the last few years, nothing makes me happier than seeing Wendy and her best friend happy at Christmas.

Hank picks up the empty boxes, puts them in the closet, and returns to the tree. “Ready?”

“Ready!” the girls shout in unison.

Hank plugs in the lights, and the tree explodes in a dazzling array of colors. When he turns off the lamps, the effect is magical.

“It’s beautiful!” Vivian squeals, her eyes wide with wonder. “Look at it!”

Hank comes to where I’m standing and wraps an arm around my shoulders, I lean into him, enjoying the moment. “This is amazing,” I say, taking it all in. “Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

Hank’s arm tightens around me, and he leans down, brushing his lips against my temple. “You belong here, Maggie.”

The weight of his words washes over me, and a flicker of something deeper than physical desire takes hold of me. I know I’m not imagining how we are together. But could we make it work?

“Can we take a picture?” Wendy asks.

I pause, looking at Hank, who nods. If nothing else, I want to remember this week and this night in as much detail as I can.

Wendy props her phone on a bookshelf, sets the timer, and runs back to the rest of us. “Say Merry Christmas!”

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