Page 90 of Gracefully Yours

“Hallmark?” There’d be an all-day marathon, and after the last two days, nothing sounded better than lazing on the couch and doing nothing.

“Of course.” He kissed my forehead.

“Sounds like the perfect day, then.” I stretched out my legs, settling onto him further, but it didn’t phase him. Daniel just let his hand rest against my upper thigh, drawing circles on the fabric as we sat enjoying the quiet, sipping our drinks.

One day at a time.

Maybe I could get used to this.

CHAPTER22

Daniel

There was something about this display of domesticity that filled all the gaps in my chest. When I was younger, Angelina and I used to have Christmas mornings just like this with our parents. We’d open presents on Christmas Eve from our family, and in the morning after opening whatever Santa brought us, we’d drink hot chocolate and eat breakfast—waffles, french toast, chocolate chip pancakes—whatever my mom made that year. And I’d always loved when we turned onRudolphorThe Santa Clause. I liked to tease Angelina that she looked like the little elf girl who made Santa hot chocolate when she was younger, too, because I’d been a little shit back then.

Thankfully, we were still best friends. If she hadn’t gone to the same college as me, if we hadn’t been so close all our lives… I never would have met Charlotte. And I definitely wouldn’t be sitting here right now.

She smiled, and it took everything not to lean over and kiss her. But we were still working on that, weren’t we? The small displays of affection. Outside the house, when we were playing pretend, that was when I could show my true feelings.

Suddenly, I couldn’t think about anything else besides seeingourbaby bundled in her arms, running my fingers across tiny little chubby cheeks that resembled my wife. Because fuck, I wanted it. I wanted to be a dad, wanted to raise a whole bunch of kids with her. It had always been a dream of mine, but it wasn’t something I’d seriously thought about until Charlotte had brought it up on her birthday.

But as for now, things were different. Even if we’d decided that sex was on the table. Even if our conversation from before was playing on a non stop loop in my mind. Was it too early to bring it up? Or was that just my own selfish wish coming through?

“What?” I murmured, pacing over to the fridge to grab a glass of water, which I quickly guzzled down.

“Nothing.” Charlotte rested her chin on the back of the couch as she tracked my movements. Her lips tilted up into a small, soft smile as she watched me, and my heart sped up in my chest from the casual moment.

I wasn’t wearing something weird, right? I looked down at my clothes. I’d pulled on a long-sleeved t-shirt and sweats this morning, but nothing out of the usual. Was there something on my face? No use in trying to solve that mystery right now, though.

I had my girl to surprise.

“Mmm. Ready for your gift?”

Abandoning my glass on the island, I pulled out the card from where I’d stashed it behind our tree and walked back to her.

“What is this?” Charlotte asked, looking at the envelope I’d placed in her hands.

“Open it,” I murmured, settling back down on the couch next to her. “I know we didn’t discuss if we were doing presents, but…”

I hadn’t been able to help myself. And we usually got something for each other, anyway. Even if those gifts had been small and inconsequential versus this. Before, even something as small as buying her the perfume she loved so much seemed liketoomuch. This year, my ring was on her finger, and I didn’t care if she thought the gesture was too big. All I wanted to do was see her smile. Make her happy.

What I’d bought was non-refundable, anyway.

Charlotte tore into the top of the card gently, like she was afraid to rip the envelope.

My graceful girl.

I watched as her eyes scanned the card, reading the inside before pulling out the contents. She blinked, her eyes filling with tears.

“You got me Taylor Swift tickets? How’d you even get these?”

“I have my ways,” I said with a smirk.

She didn’t need to know how long I’d sat there, in the queue, trying to get her VIP tickets and a chance to see her favorite artist perform live. I’d almost cursed out the damn website so many times.

Charlotte threw her arms around me, hugging me tight. “Thank you. Thank you. Oh my god, I’m so excited.”

It had been worth it. For this.

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