Page 75 of My Secret Santa Daddies

Sierra reaches into her bag, pulling out a small, neatly wrapped box. Her fingers tremble slightly, but she holds it together as she makes her way toward me.

When she reaches me, there’s a moment—a beat where time seems to pause, and the room goes silent. She takes a breath, her voice barely steady. “Merry Christmas, Griffin.”

I look down at the box, and take it from her, my fingers brushing against hers.That touch—simple, fleeting, but it feels like fire.

“Thank you.”

The sight of the envelope hits me like a punch to the gut. I can barely breathe as I pull it out of the box, my hands shaking. The paper is worn, the edges frayed from years of being handled, read, tucked away. But it’s still here.She kept it.

I look up at Sierra, my throat tight, my voice barely coming out. “You… you kept this?”

She nods slowly, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and vulnerability. “I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to let it go.”

I swallow hard, my fingers tracing the familiar handwriting. It feels like a relic from another life—a life we both abandoned, but never truly forgot. I open it, scanning the words I once poured out onto paper with a heart full of foolish hope.

Sierra,

I know it’s crazy to plan a future when the present is so uncertain, but you make me believe in it and in us. I want to build a home with you—one where there’s always laughter, warmth, and no shortage of surprises. I want you by my side, for every failure, every triumph, and every little moment in between. I know life won’t be perfect, but it’ll be ours.

You’re the only person I’ve ever wanted this much, and I’ll never stop fighting for us, no matter how hard it gets.

Love,

Griffin

The words echo in my mind, a reminder of everything I once wanted, and everything I still want. I close my eyes, overwhelmed by the weight of it all.

“Sierra,” I finally manage, my voice hoarse. “I never thought you’d find this. Certainly never thought you’d keep it.”

She shifts uncomfortably, looking away. “I wasn’t sure I should. But it was always there, a reminder of what we had. What we lost.”

I take a deep breath, as the enormity of the moment settles in. Everyone in the room feels miles away.

I reach into my pocket, feeling the small velvet box that’s been burning a hole there all night. This is it—the last chance, my last shot at something real.

“Sierra,” I say again, my voice steadier this time. “I have something for you too.”

Her brows furrow, her confusion evident. “What do you mean?”

“I’m your Secret Santa.”

I open the small velvet box, revealing the ring inside. It’s simple but elegant—a silver band with a small, brilliant diamond. It’s the ring I once imagined slipping onto her finger in some distant future that never happened. Until now.

Her eyes widen, disbelief and shock flashing across her face. “Griffin… what is this?”

I step closer, my gaze locking onto hers. “It’s a promise, Sierra. The promise I never got to make, the life we never got to start. I know I messed up. I know I ran, that I hurt you in ways I can never fully make up for. But I don’t want to run anymore. I want you and the future we talked about back then. I’m ready, if you are.”

Tears well up in her eyes, and she shakes her head, her voice breaking.

“Griffin…”

I take her hands in mine. “We’re stronger now Sierra. We’ve been through hell, but we’re still standing. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’ve never stopped loving you. Jack loves and adores you. He’s been asking for a mom for Christmas, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to fill that role than you. But this isn’t just about him. It’s about us. I can’t promise it’ll be easy. I can’t promise we won’t hurt each other again. But Icanpromise that I’ll fight for you, forus, for as long as it takes.”

There’s a long, agonizing moment of silence, where the whole room seems to hold its breath. The crowd has quieted, watching us with wide eyes and hushed whispers. But I don’t care about them, or anything else except the woman standing in front of me.

Finally, she takes a deep breath, her voice barely audible. “Griffin, I…” She pauses, and my heart nearly stops. But then she nods, her voice soft but sure. “Yes.”

I blink, not quite believing my ears. “Yes?”

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