60. Lucy
Lucy
When I wake up, I see snowflakes falling outside the window of Leo’s bedroom.
I smile. It’s Christmas Eve morning, and it’s snowing. How perfect.
I yawn and roll over, frowning when I see that Leo’s side of the bed is empty.
I check the time. It’s just before eight o’clock. What could he be doing this early?
A second later, the door opens. Leo stands in the doorway, wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants sitting low on his hips.
I lick my lips as I take in the sight of him. The stacked muscle of his bare chest and abs. How messy his thick, chocolate brown hair is. That sexy sleepy look in his eyes.
“Merry Christmas Eve, Luce,” he rasps.
I grin. “Merry Christmas Eve.”
We’re the only ones home. The rest of the guys are gone, celebrating the holiday break with their families and girlfriends.
Leo glances off to the side at something in the hallway. “I have a surprise for you.”
I smile wider. “What is it?”
He looks down the hallway again. “Wally. Here, boy.”
The sound of Wally’s paws padding on the hardwood floor echoes through the hallway.
Leo steps aside, and Wally appears weary a fuzzy red and white Santa hat.
I squeal. “Oh my gosh! Wally! You look so cute!”
He runs up to me and jumps on the bed. I fall over laughing as he licks my face.
I kiss his head and sit back up, then pat the space next to me so he sits down. Leo walks over and sits on the edge of the bed.
I lean over and kiss him.
“Cutest Christmas surprise ever,” I say against his mouth.
When we break apart, he reaches over and scratches Wally’s belly. “Good job, buddy.”
I hop out of bed, grab Leo’s hoodie from the floor, and slide it over me.
“Be back in a sec.”
I pop into the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth. When I walk back into Leo’s bedroom, Wally is resting with his head in Leo’s lap as Leo rubs his tummy.
My heart skids in my chest at the affection in Leo’s gaze as he looks at my dog.
He looks up at me and grins. “What?”
I climb back into bed. “I just love seeing my two favorite guys together.”
Leo grins wide. He gives Wally a pat on the belly, then turns to me. “You still wanna do Christmas with my family tomorrow?”
I nod excitedly.
A few days ago, Leo invited me to celebrate Christmas with him and his family. I, of course, said yes. I had such a great time with them over Thanksgiving, and I was hoping he’d ask me to join them again.
“I can’t wait to spend Christmas with my boyfriend,” I say.
He grabs my face and kisses me in that slow, teasing way that always makes me shiver.
“Fuck, I love hearing you call me your boyfriend,” he murmurs against my mouth.
We cuddle in bed with Wally for a while, then my phone buzzes.
I sit up and grab it from the side table. It’s a call from the estate attorney that Poppy’s parents put me in touch with. I met with her last week so she could review my mom’s will. She said the document was valid. Legally, the house belongs to me, not Richard.
When she told me that, I couldn’t speak at first. I couldn’t believe it. This whole time, the house was mine.
Nerves fire off inside of me when I answer the call.
“Hi, Lucy. It’s Gloria. Sorry to call you on the morning of Christmas Eve.”
“It’s okay.”
“I just wanted to update you on where things are concerning your mom’s will and the house. Everything is in motion to get your house back into your possession. Your stepdad will be served with the legal documents on December 26. At that time, he’ll have forty-eight hours to vacate the premises.”
I let out a breath. “Okay. That’s good to know.”
“Hopefully, he’ll leave on his own, but if he doesn’t, we’ll contact the sheriff’s office and he’ll be removed from the home.”
“He’ll be arrested?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, in situations like this, some people react unfavorably. But regardless, we still have a job to do. That property is legally yours, and he can no longer reside there.”
I’m nervous just thinking about Richard causing a scene when he finds out that he legally has no right to live in the house anymore.
“It may take some time, but we’ll get your house back.”
“Thank you, Gloria. I really appreciate you helping me. Especially when I don’t have the money to pay you.”
A pang of guilt hits me. I wish I could. She’s doing so much for me.
“It’s okay. I enjoy being able to help people in need who otherwise wouldn’t have the means to hire me for my services. It’s a way for me to give back.”
“It means so much.”
“No problem, Lucy. Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays.”
I hang up and drop my phone on the bed.
“Is everything okay?” Leo asks.
I tell him everything Gloria told me. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead.
“You’re gonna get your house back, Luce. Really, really soon.”
I close my eyes and hug him tight, grateful for his support. This is all because of him. If he hadn’t gone to my house with his teammates that day and gotten all my parents’ stuff out of there, I would have never found my mom’s will.
“Thank you,” I whisper for the millionth time. “This wouldn’t be happening if it hadn’t been for you.”
He wraps his arms tight around me. “Anything for you, Luce. Anything in the world.”
He’s said those words to me before. This time, they hit a million times harder, straight to the middle of my chest, right where my heart is.
When I lean back and look at him, emotion climbs up my chest and throat. Leo’s supported me through so much.
He tucks my messy hair behind my ear. “Feel like kicking off our Christmas movie marathon yet?” he asks.
Leo asked me the other day how I wanted to spend Christmas Eve. I told him I want to order takeout from Cheesecake Factory and lounge around the house with him and Wally while watching Christmas movies all day.
“I’ve got our Cheesecake Factory order ready to go on the food delivery app on my phone,” he says. “Just say the word.”
I smile so hard, my cheeks ache. “In a little bit. I wanna give you something first.”