Page 84 of A Cheesecake Christmas

“You better,” I tease. “These past couple of weeks have been busy.”

“Yes, and I’m sorry about that. How about I drop you off at your apartment so you can rest for a bit? And then dinner? Can I please cook for you?”

My stomach is ravenous. “Please, please feed me. Except I’m not too tired, surprisingly. I don’t want to rest.” I feel like a toddler refusing to take a nap.

He snickers. “I have something else I need to do. It won’t take long.”

“And I can’t come with you?” There’s a console between us in this van. If there weren’t, I’d sidle up to him and nuzzle him, begging him to stay nearby.

“It won’t work if you do.” His mouth twitches, holding back a smile. “Trust me.”

I cross my arms. “Alright. I’ll try to be patient.”

We arrive at Shorty’s, and it’s closed for the holiday. He escorts me upstairs and I unlock my door. Before I step through, he wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll see you soon. Go lie down, okay?”

“Maybe for like twenty minutes.” Fatigue hasn’t hit me yet. Spending the day soaking everything up has taken care of that. But still, I’m afraid if I lie down, I’ll be dead to the world, and that won’t do. I want to spend every moment I can with Theo.

I pad back to my room and shrug off the blazer, dropping it on the desk chair. I’m not motivated enough right now to hang it up. Easing onto the bed, I wrap my arms around one of my several pillows and close my eyes.

Moments, or maybe hours later, I’m dreaming of Theo on the bed next to me, whispering sweet nothings.

“Knock, knock. Aria?”

I startle awake. He’s not here, but his voice is. I sit up and scoot close to the wall. “Theo?”

“Did I wake you?”

“Maybe,” I say around a yawn.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You said twenty minutes and I gave you forty. Lie back down and then let me know when you want to get up.”

I fan my hands out against the wall. “Theo, no. I want to be with you.”

There’s a long pause, and then he laughs. “Go out onto the balcony, then.”

I scramble out of bed, raking my fingers through my hair. Is seeing him several feet away better than not at all?

I guess so.

When I open the door, the first thing I notice is that someone—a hundred bucks says it’s Theo—has shoveled the snow off my balcony. The next thing I see?

“A dumbwaiter?” I gaze at the rope and pulley system that goes from my balcony to his.

“It’s a pulley clothesline, but yeah, we can call it a dumbwaiter if we want.” His face is animated as he tugs on the rope to bring the dark brown, woven basket closer to him.

“You made this today?” I stammer. “How?”

“A couple of carabiners. Some rope. A clothesline tightener.” He shrugs. “And Camilla’s key so I could get in your apartment.”

“Thank goodness I cleaned my room last night,” I say, and then slap my hand over my mouth. I can’t help but laugh as I grasp the rope and pull to bring the basket closer to me.

“Now, wait a moment.” He stops the movement of the rope with his hands. “I need to pass you something first.”

“Is it you? Maybe you can climb in the basket since it’s bigger than I’d imagined.”

He throws his head back in a laugh. “I’m happy you want me over there. But close your eyes.”

I squeeze them shut, and I know I have the goofiest smile on my face. I hear the rope rubbing against the carabiners and when the basket bumps up against my railing, I squeal. “Can I open them?”

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