Page 142 of Beautiful Thing

Then she holds her breath and blurts out three words I never thought I’d hear her say.

“I love you.”

My arms tighten around her. My resurrected heart throws a marching band parade inside my chest.

I’m dreaming. I must be dreaming. I’m sure this whole thing must be a dream.

But then she says it again.

“I love you. I love you I love you I love you.” She lets out a breathless laugh as her hand slips beneath the waistband of my boxers and starts to stroke my cock. “Wow. That feels so good to say.”

“I love you so fucking much, Layla.” I lean in, kissing the tears off her face. “I love you. You and Sky, both. You don’t ever have to worry about a thing. I’ve got you. From now to forever.”

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We wake up to snowflakes dancing outside the front window. It’s a Christmas morning sight that makes Layla’s eyes light up even brighter than the tree.

Sky doesn’t even notice the frosty traces of snow along the window panes.He just races toward the twinkling Christmas tree in his PJs, eyes popping out of his head.

“Mommy! Look!” He points at the mountain of presents.

“Oh! Did Santa Claus visit us?” Layla asks, shuffling over to where he’s standing.

“Yes!” he shrieks, head-diving to the floor and army-crawling the rest of the way to the treasure trove of festive gift bags and Santa-themed boxes tucked under the tree.

The three of us put up the tree and lined it with lights and decorations a few nights ago. All the gifts that Layla wrapped over the past week are piled up neatly with shimmery bows affixed to the tops.

I tried—I really did—to gift-wrap the presents I picked out for Layla and Sky. But after my first attempt looked like a ball of wrapping paper that was dug out of the trash and mauledby rabid raccoons, I decided I’d just go with simple gift bags instead.

“You must have been a really good boy, Sky. Santa was definitely more generous than he was last year.” Layla chuckles, wrapping her arms around my waist as she whispers to me. “Look at him. He doesn’t even know what to do with himself. Thank you.” She reaches up on her toes to give me a soft kiss.

“My absolute pleasure,” I say honestly. “You have no idea how much it means to spend Christmas with you two.”

This time last year, I was alone. My house was as quiet as a graveyard and my heart was buried under six feet of icy bitterness and pain. Yet this year, I getthis.

I have Christmas music playing on my surround sound, and Layla finds a festive fireplace screensaver on the TV. I have to admit, I usually only put up a few decorations out of obligation at the last minute. Usually only after some serious bullying from my bossy little sister. And I’m usually a grump the whole time.

But having a kid around changes things. I found myself wanting to go all out with the lights, and the garland, and the brand new stockings I picked up, just to witness a spark of festive joy on Sky’s little face.

I offer to cook a special breakfast for us all. But Sky informs me that Christmas cannot wait.

“Maybe gifts first, and then we’ll all cook a big breakfast together?” Layla suggests.

“You don’t have to ask me twice!” I shrug a shoulder. I seriously can’t wait for them to open the gifts I got them.

We get down on the floor and spend the next half-hour opening presents. It’s not long before the entire living room is covered in ripped wrapping paper, crumpled tissue, and bows of every size. Sky is giggling joyfully, brown eyes full of wonder over each new gift he tears open.

Dinosaur books. Monster slippers. Race cars. A stuffed puppy. And a big, red firetruck.

Getting Sky’s presents all set up is like a full day’s work. We’re under the tree, crawling around the floor and helping him open all his packages. We’re finding screwdrivers, plugging in batteries, and trying to figure out instruction sheets. But I can’t remember a time when I was ever happier.

“I never realized how much work there is to do when it comes to Christmas gifts for kids,” I laugh, grateful to have found a 9-volt battery on hand. I thought I was going to have to make a trip to the hardware store and open up shop just to get this audiobook thing talking and making dinosaur sounds.

Layla laughs. “That’s a part of the magic, Lover Man. Hope you have nothing else planned, except for decorating this truck with tiny stickers the rest of the day.” She gives me a sexy wink, and I have to swallow over the knot in my throat.

I kind of do have something planned.

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