Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
CHARLIE
I LOVE YOU SNOW MUCH
C hristmas Eve eve.
I should be more excited than I am, but I’m not. Turning over in bed, I’m met with an empty space. It’s cold to the touch.
I guess I should get used to this.
Sighing, I turn back over and stare out the windows. Gray clouds are clinging to everything. It’s not snowing, but it’s supposed to dump over a foot of snow later. Thank God the Tinsel Tavern is closed until after Christmas.
I exhale. I need to not let this ruin the holiday. Brooks has been happy. Happier than I’ve seen him in ages. I need to put him first.
If only the thought of that didn’t break my own heart.
I flop onto my back as Christmas music starts to filter into my room from the living room.
The bedroom door opens and the clatter of paws on the hardwood floor is my only warning before Comet jumps onto the bed. He attacks my face with morning kisses.
“Hi, buddy.”
I rub his head as his owner follows him into the room.
“Breakfast?” Brooks asks, carrying a tray. There’s a plate of donuts and two mugs of coffee.
“When did you get donuts?” I sit up, resting against the headboard.
“I’ve been up for an hour. Comet and I have already been into town and gone on our walk.”
“You have a lot of energy.”
“Because I’m excited.” There’s a hesitant smile on his face.
“For what?” I grab a red-frosted donut with candy cane sprinkles and take a hearty bite.
“For this.” Brooks sets a small brown box with a green ribbon on the tray.
“What is it?”
“Open it and find out.” Brooks scoots it closer as Comet huffs, as if telling me I’m an idiot for even asking.
I roll my eyes at him. “Christmas isn’t for two more days.”
“So?” Brooks shrugs a shoulder. “Who says you can’t open a gift before then?”
Grabbing the small box off the tray, I pull the ribbon apart and take the lid off. It’s a snowflake ornament. One that looks hastily painted.
The words “I love you snow much” are painted across the front in a silver color that glitters.
“What is this?” I look at Brooks with confusion. “Did you make this the other night?”
He nods. “I did.”
“And?”
“I don’t think the message is sinking in yet,” Brooks tells me .
“What? I love you snow much? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Brooks laughs. “It means I love you.”
“But…”
Brooks takes the tray and sets it on the nightstand before taking my hand in his. The ornament sits between the two of us.
“Charlie, I love you. This thing between us took me by surprise. I never expected it when I moved in here. But I wouldn’t change a thing. I want to be with you. And I know we’re on two different pages about marriage, but it doesn’t mean I don’t want the world to know that you’re mine and I’m yours.”
“Yeah?” Tears sting my eyes.
Brooks squeezes my hand. “Yeah. If you need me to wear a T-shirt every single day that says ‘Property of Charlie Palmer,’ I’d do it. Because I love you and I’m yours.”
An undignified snort leaves me as tears start to roll down my cheeks. “You’re not just saying this? Because that’d be really mean. All I want is to be yours, and if it means not getting married, I can come to terms with that.”
“I’m not just saying this. I have no plans of going anywhere. It’s you and me, Charlie. You and I can write the rules on what we want our life to be. As long as we’re together.”
I look down at the ornament in my lap. I give a watery laugh. “I love you snow much too, Brooks.”
Brooks smiles, wide and happy, as he grasps the back of my neck and pulls me in close.
“Not as much as I love you.”
He seals his lips over mine and it’s about the best kiss of my life.
“I can’t believe you made me this.”
Brooks shrugs a shoulder. “I’ll have to do better next time. I was on a crunch to get it done and it was all I could think of.”
I shake my head. “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
“Hunter gave me a lot of shit for it.”
“Of course he did.”
“I knew you’d love it.”
I nod. “It is going to get a place of honor on the tree. Front and center.”
“Perfect.”
Brooks throws one leg over my lap and settles on top of me. The soft fabric of his shirt brushes against my bare chest as he closes his mouth over mine.
It’s a promise. The promise of a future together. It might not be what I always imagined my life looking like, but ever since Brooks and I started this thing, it’s been so much more.
I never thought I’d get to be with him. So what if we don’t get married? I’m still getting my best friend in a way I only dreamed about.
We’re together. That’s all I need.
I break the kiss, resting my forehead against his as we breathe each other in.
“You’re my best friend, Charlie,” Brooks whispers. “I love you in so many ways, it’s hard to count.”
“I love you, Brooks. As long as I have you, I’ll have everything I need.” Comet gives a bark. “Okay, you too, Comet.”
The dog in question stretches out along my legs, making himself comfortable.
“I don’t think I’d ever be able to leave because Comet might love you the most,” Brooks tells me.
“That’s a given.” I laugh.
Brooks wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me in for a hug, burying his face in my neck. “I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up to you.”
“I’m just glad you did. ”
If this is what I get with Brooks, I would’ve waited a lifetime for even one minute with him.
Because waiting for Brooks was worth it.