Chapter 32
32
CHANDLER
F orearm against the frigid glass, I surveyed the wintery scene from the high perch of my condo. Fresh glittering snow blanketed the park across the street and covered tops of other nearby high-rises. The streets, however, were stark black lines through the white wonderland after being salted and plowed sometime early this morning. Snow continued to float from the sky, gusts of wind producing small snowstorms to swirl along the covered balcony before mixing with the other flakes.
I took a long pull from the beer dangling between my fingers and turned from the serene view. Next to me stood a fresh evergreen, fully decorated and nearly touching the high ceiling. It was a beautiful tree, one I splurged on yesterday. My mood dipped further at the sight of the new red skirt beneath the grand tree, empty of gifts. I took another long drink of the beer as I took in the sad, beautiful tree. The fire across the room warmed the space, keeping out the winter chill.
The lights blinked, a gold ornament reflecting their shine. It should’ve made me happy, but I felt more lost than ever before. It was a picture-perfect Christmas day with a beautiful tree in a cozy condo, yet I was alone, again.
Perched on the arm of the long leather couch, I released a despondent exhale and downed what little remained of the beer. Balancing the empty bottle on my knee, I chastised myself for doing all this, driven by nothing but hope, a one-off chance that I might not spend this holiday, like so many others before, alone. I never decorated for Christmas, seeing no point considering I wouldn’t be enjoying it. But this year I hoped that a blue-eyed beauty would walk through the condo door in the ultimate Christmas present.
I glanced at the closed door again. I found myself doing that every few minutes or so.
The last time we spoke, she’d sounded happy, which made me happy. She was having a great time with her real family, getting to know each of them while also discovering where she fit into their lives. I wasn’t worried that she’d forgotten me or had doubts. I was just fucking tired of being alone.
After having her for that short period, I understood what all I’d missed out on in life by not having someone special to share it with.
I huffed, telling myself to stop moping, and stood, groaning as I stretched both arms overhead.
The bottle clinked and clanged against the other bottles when I tossed it in the recycling bin. Knowing only a steady intake of alcohol would keep me from hopping on a plane and flying to Texas, I opened the fridge for another beer only to find the shelf empty. Grumbling a slew of curses at my lazy ass for not picking up more yesterday while I was out, I slammed the fridge door shut. Retrieving my thick winter coat off the hanger by the front door, I scooped my keys and wallet out of the bowl on the side table and begrudgingly headed out to face the winter storm for booze.
Twenty minutes later, key held tight between my freezing fingers, I twisted the lock and shoved the door open. The bottles rattled in protest as I placed the case just inside the door to strip out of my coat. Snow that had collected atop my short hair melted in the heat of my apartment, causing icy rivers to race down my temples and the back of my neck, dipping beneath the collar of my sweatshirt.
Grumbling under my breath about moving somewhere that never got snow, I turned from the front door, edges of my coat tight in my grasp as I tugged it off my shoulders and froze.
“Hey, Chandler. I’m a little late.”
She looked exactly as I remembered her, except now the short hair that was jet-black with blonde roots was now a cute shade of pastel pink. Noticing what held my attention, she tucked a few pieces behind her ear.
“Late?” That was all I could say. Even after hoping all day she’d show up and be the best Christmas present I’d ever received, all words vanished from my vocabulary. Giving myself a second, I ran a hand over my hair, sprinkling the wall and floor with specks of water.
“I tried to be here this morning, when you woke up.” She motioned to the floor-to-ceiling windows that displayed the still raging snowstorm. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I hope it’s okay that I just showed up. Maybe I should’ve called or?—”
Dropping the coat, ignoring everything but my urgent desire to hold the woman who stole my heart and owned my soul, I strode with purpose to where she stood in the middle of the living room. I didn’t stop when I reached her. She squealed in surprise as I scooped her up, her legs immediately wrapping around my waist.
The wall rattled, a picture threatening to fall to the floor from the disturbance as I pushed her back against it. Not having the words to tell her how much I missed her and wanted her here, I kissed her with all I had, allowing her to devour the weight of loneliness I’d harbored since we parted last month.
Her short nails scoured along my scalp and down my neck. Our tongues danced, taking from each other exactly what we needed to feel whole again. By the time we pulled apart, my dick threatened to pop out of my damn jeans, and she was breathless.
“Wow,” she panted. “I missed you too.”
“Tell me, Ellie, are you here to stay?” I leaned forward, sealing our foreheads together. “If not, then I’m moving to Texas. I can’t do that again. I?—”
“I’m here to stay, Chandler. You’re never getting rid of me.” Placing both of her small hands on my cheeks, she urged me back an inch. “Scars, bruises, and all. I’m here for as long as you’ll have me.”
Heart hammering, threatening to pound right out of my chest, I considered her words. She was it for me, forever, and it seemed she felt the same way.
It took a few tugs on her ankles, but I finally unwrapped her legs from my waist and slowly lowered her to the floor. “Stay right there.” I turned to the tree I spent hours decorating yesterday and withdrew a single red velvet box from the branches.
Rotating back to face her, I held it between us.
“Let me more than love you. For the rest of my life, let me be your everything and you be mine. Be my one person I can count on for life, who always has my back and more than loves me back despite my own issues and scars.” Dropping to one knee, I peeled back the lid. A small hand flew up to cover her gaping mouth. “Marry me?”
It felt like eternity before she answered. “I don’t love you despite your scars, Chandler. I more than love you because they match my own. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
With an exited shout, I leapt from the floor, wrapped my arms around her waist, and lifted her off the ground so we were nose to nose.
“You said yes,” I said, my cheeks burning from my broad smile. “You’re mine. You said you’d be mine.” My voice dipped a little at the thought. All mine, no restrictions.
She bit the edge of her lip and looked up through her dark lashes. “Yours to do with as you please.” A naughty sparkle lit behind her blue eyes.
I nipped at her lower lip, more than ready to do as I pleased.
Forever.
How in the hell had I gotten this lucky?
As I carried her to my bedroom, I decided I didn’t care how it happened. I would spend every moment for the rest of my life being thankful for what we had together. That even us, a little broken and lost, could find a happily ever after.
Forever.