Page 30 of This December

But still…

I set the eggs down on the counter and spoke up. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all that. I mean, Cole and I have only known each other for a week. It feels way too soon to go social media official.”

“Right.” Jace nodded. “I can see that. And I’m not saying you guys need to come out and say that you’re engaged or whatever. Have you guys put a label on it? What would you be comfortable saying to the media at this point?”

My eyes bulged at the thought of saying anything to the media. “Uh, I’d say we’re dating. Right, Cole? Dating is a good word?”

Cole’s eyes burned into me. Like I felt them like a physical presence on my body. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but it was clearly something hot. Maybe how he’d just bent me over his bed.

Iwas definitely thinking about that now.

Finally he cleared his throat and answered. “Dating is a word. I’d say it’s early days, but when you know, you know.”

“Cole.” An overwhelming rush of love and emotion hit me. I crossed the kitchen and all but jumped him. Wrapping my arms around him. Kissing him. We’d literally just had sex, but I wanted him again. Now.

“Okay,” Jace said as Cole and I still had our arms and lips on each other. “So dating. But when you know, you know. I think we should use that line.”

Cole broke his lips from mine and turned to glare at Jace. “It’s not a line. It’s the truth.”

“Right. Sorry.” Jace coughed lightly and typed on his phone. “December? Are you okay with using that label?”

“I…” Cole’s gaze was heavy on me and after a beat I looked into his eyes. My breath hitched at the naked vulnerability in his eyes. He was always the fun, happy guy. To see him so open and sensitive, his every emotion laid bare… It was no wonder this man had written so many amazing songs. “Cole’s right. It’s not a line. It’s the truth.”

A huge grin swept across his face before he kissed me again—long and hard.

After a minute, I realized the clicking sound I heard wasn’t the fridge. I pulled back and saw Jace with his phone up, taking pictures of us.

What the hell?

“Here. Take a look.” Jace held his phone out. “Maybe there’s one there you’d like to post with the announcement.”

Shaking my head, I got back to making breakfast. “I’ll let you handle that, Cole. Jace, are you good with avocado toast? Maybe with an egg on top? I like mine poached.”

“Sure. Sounds good,” Jace answered before bending toward Cole. “She cooks too? You better lock that shit down, bro.”

All the gloom from this morning was gone. I was grinning as I made breakfast for the guys and humming along to “My Gift Is You.”

* * *

Breaking News from the Babbler

Cole Jackson Is Off the Market

Relationship Status Achieved

Exclusive Details

Cole Jacksonhas made things social media official with his new girl.

The ‘A Very Merry X-Mas’crooner posted a sweet snap of the pair on social media, hard-launching their relationship.

*embedded photo of Cole and December staring into each other’s eyes in his kitchen*

In the photo, Jackson is seen getting cozy with his partner, former marketing associate,December James.

“When you know, you know. Not a line from one of my songs, it’s the truth,” he captioned the sweet post.

James responded by sharing Jackson’s post to her social media page and leaving a sweet caption directed toward him.

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