21. The Night Before Christmas #2
“Apparently we aren’t the only two Santas to fall in love.
” The word rushes over me, warming me all over.
It’s a warmth unlike any I’ve ever felt before.
I used to think that to have the giddy falling in love feeling, there had to be a bit of worry about the fall. There had to be a risk of getting hurt.
Now, though, holding the ornament in my hand and seeing the look of adoration in Duke’s eyes, I know I had it wrong. Falling in love is more like falling into place. Even though I’m head over heels, I’ve never felt more grounded in my life.
“I’m sure it happens every Christmas.”
Duke’s eyes flick down to my mouth. My heart skips a little with the anticipation of his kiss.
A kiss that doesn’t happen.
“Aww. Isn’t this sweet.” Olivia stands right beside us holding two hot chocolates in her hands. “Good thing I let you have her,” she adds, throwing a wink to Duke.
He laughs. “Good thing.”
She holds up both cups of hot chocolate.
“Viola was quite insistent that I organize hot chocolate. She said—” She trails off as she looks at something past both of us.
Snowflakes land and stay on her long eyelashes.
Hot chocolate sloshes over the side of the mugs and onto her gloves as her arms lower.
“It’s him. The one who got away,” she whispers, mostly to herself.
I whip around as best I can in Duke’s unmoveable arms. A figure emerges through the curtain of falling snow. Even before he steps into the glow of the fire, I know who it is. I know from the way his good arm carries the Christmas crackers. I know because I’ve known him for literally my whole life.
Sebastian and Olivia lock eyes, as he stares at the girl, who I’m now realizing was his mystery girl from the bar all along.
The world quiets around them. Maybe it’s because I’m a little drunk on my own feelings, but I swear I can feel the crackle of electricity between them.
It’s all-consuming. It’s paralysing. It thickens the air with its intensity.
Then, Olivia breaks the spell as she drops the mugs of hot chocolate and takes off towards Sebastian at a run. When she gets to him, she leaps into his arms. It would be a perfect moment, were it not for his broken arm.
Seb isn’t able to hold her with just one arm, so they both topple to the ground. They don’t miss a beat. From afar, I can see them both smiling, lying in the fake snow as real snow falls onto them. They whisper words into one another’s mouths until those sweet nothings seamlessly become a kiss.
And for once, I’m happy that life has dropped yet another amazing gift into Sebastian’s life. He deserves this—happiness. We all do. Even Curio, Captain, and Valentine who are now hollering exaggerations of their discontent.
As for myself, I know I don’t want to miss a single second of the happiness I so deserve.
“Can I kiss you again?” I ask, still just a little bit worried that Duke might still be mad.
He grins that untouchable smile of his. A snowflake lands on my bottom lip. Duke brushes it away with his thumb. “I always want you kissing me.” He dips his head to brush a light kiss against my lips. “Especially now that you’re not wearing that cheap polyester beard.”
“Oh, come on. You liked it,” I tease.
Duke kisses me again, then rubs his cheek against mine. “I like this. I like you.”
I pull back and eye him. “I think the Santa doth protest too much,” I muse. I lower my voice to my Santa rumble. “I can always put it back on.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” he teases back.
Duke kisses me again. We kiss and kiss, losing all track of time, until the sound of the rest of the Snowspruce staff singing Christmas carols pulls us back to the present.
Hand in hand, we walk over the snow—both real and fake—towards the bonfire.
We fill up a mug each of hot chocolate and sit beside the other Santas and sing.
A few minutes later, Olivia and Sebastian join us. Red faced and grinning, Olivia wears my brother’s jacket around her shoulders. She nudges her shoulder against mine.
“I’m happy you got your man,” she says.
“I’m happy you got yours.”
Sebastian leans forward. “And I’m happy I get everything I want without even trying.”
“Boo!” I jeer, sticking my tongue out at him. “Whatever. Technically, I kissed her first.”
Sebastian recoils. “I'm going to need a drink to start the process of erasing that from my mind.”
Maria sits down on his other side and pours her flask into his hot chocolate.
Then, she leans forward to look at me. “I know there was some bureaucratic unpleasantness near the end, Viola, but I wanted to tell you that I think you did a fine job. You were the best Santa Snowspruce Christmas Village has ever seen.”
“Hey!” protest Duke, Curio, Valentine, and Captain.
She shrugs. “I stand by what I said.” She turns back to me. “I just want you to know that if you ever need a reference, I’d be happy to provide one for you.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate that,” I murmur back through teary eyes. I don’t care that I’m crying. I’m happy I am. I’m happy that I’m a crier and I’m happy that I have so many people in my life who make me cry tears of joy.
Duke squeezes me tighter against him. I cuddle into him, confirming that Duke cuddles are truly the best kind. Together, with my family and friends, in the glow of the bonfire under the falling snow, we sing and tell stories and joke until Christmas Eve turns into Christmas.
“Merry Christmas,” Duke whispers into my ear.
“Merry Christmas,” I say back because it is. Truly, it’s the best Christmas I can ever remember—and it’s just getting started.
Everything is just getting started.
Lights fade on the joyous scene of love and laughter, as the Christmas music grows louder. In the distance, there’s the faint sound of jingle bells.