Page 10 of Dad Bod Book Boyfriend for Christmas

Her fingers grip mine tightly, her face a picture of nervousness, her gaze darting around as though expecting Christy to pop out from behind every corner. Tension radiates from her, her steps uncertain, but I’m not letting her go. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze, hoping it’ll convey how sure I am about us, about this moment.

“Through here, Jake!” Mom’s voice drifts from the kitchen.

I lead Riley down the hall, passing the Christmas tree twinkling in the living room. We reach the pantry, where Mom is busy moving jars, apparently on a mission to find something hidden among the shelves lined with preserves and spices.

“Hey, Mom.” I barely wait for her to turn before I blurt out, my voice steady with determination, “I want to marry Riley.”

Mom stops mid-reach, turns slowly, and raises her eyebrows, glancing from Riley to me with a look of amused surprise. “Well, you need to ask her first, sweetheart.”

I gape, caught off guard. That wasnotthe response I expected.

Mom breaks into a delighted laugh, clearly savoring our stunned reactions, and the tension in Riley’s grip on my hand lessens a little.

“Let me put a fresh pot of coffee on,” Mom says with a knowing smile, moving to the cupboard to pull down mugs.

I glance at Riley, giving her a reassuring smile, and turn back to Mom. “Christy saw us at her place, and Riley is worried she won’t be happy about us being together,” I explain, watching as Mom pours fresh grounds into the coffee machine, her expression thoughtful.

Mom glances at us over her shoulder as she swaps out the filter paper. “Then you need to talk to Christy,” she says firmly.

Her calm assurance sends a wave of relief through me, but I can still sense Riley’s hesitation. I need Mom to understand how important this is. With her support, Christy is more likely to come around.

“But you get it, right?” I ask, my voice barely concealing the urgency in my tone. With Mom on our side, everything seems possible, like the future I want with Riley is within reach.

Mom opens her mouth to reply as the front door creaks open, and Christy’s voice rings out from the hall.

“It worked!” she squeals, tearing into the kitchen like a whirlwind, cheeks flushed and eyes bright with excitement. She nearly skids on the tiled floor, catching herself on the counter.

I exchange a puzzled look with Riley, then turn back to Christy, who seems oblivious to the tension in the air.

“Oh,” she says, noticing us standing there. “Why are you both here? I thought you’d have more interesting things to do.” She pulls a face, pretending to gag and thrusting a finger down her throat in exaggerated disgust.

“What worked?” I ask, narrowing my gaze at her.

Riley looks as perplexed as I am, her head tilting slightly as she waits for an explanation.

“Oh, stop!” Christy exclaims, grinning. “You two swoon every time you see each other. You just needed a little push.” She plops down on a bar stool, snagging a Christmas cookie from the plateon the counter, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she takes a bite.

“You’re… not mad at us?” Riley asks, her voice tight, eyes darting between Christy and me, clearly bracing herself for some kind of blow.

Christy shakes her head, laughing. “No! Though I could’ve done with a warning before I walked in on you at your place this morning, Ry.”

Riley’s cheeks flush a deep pink, but a grin tugs at her lips.

I break into a smile as relief washes over me. “It’s all good,” I say, turning to Riley, feeling a surge of joy at the ease of Christy’s acceptance. “We can get married.”

“Ahem.” Mom clears her throat loudly, crossing her arms with an amused glint in her eyes. “You need to ask Riley, Jake, not tell her.”

I catch Riley’s eye, my heart hammering as I realize what I should’ve known all along. I love her.

I drop to one knee, my hand still holding hers. Every emotion I’m experiencing—nervousness, love, excitement—is reflected in her gaze, making this moment feel like a gift wrapped in holiday magic.

“Riley Jackson, will you marry me?”

Epilogue

Three Months Later

Riley

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