Page 57 of A Christmas For Holly

“That makes sense,” I said, smiling. “You’d be good at that.”

“You think?” he asked, his voice tinged with something close to hope.

“Yeah,” I said, brushing damp hair off his forehead. “You’d be great at it. You get it—you’ve lived it. And you care.”

“Of course, I’ll need to sort my head out first,” he began, and then he stared at me for a beat, something unspoken passing between us, before he smiled again, softer this time. “Thanks,” he murmured, leaning into my touch.

The conversation drifted into something lighter again—nothing substantial, nothing urgent. Just us, wrapped in warmth and ease that felt like home.

Chapter 23

Holly

We lay wrappedin each other’s arms for the longest time, the soft crackle of the flames in the stove downstairs the only sound. I cuddled into Lucas, pressing my face into the crook of his neck, breathing him in. He smelled like apples from the shower gel he’d used, and the scent mixed with the warmth of his body—it was comforting in a way I hadn’t expected.

“You smell like a fruit basket,” I mumbled against his skin, half teasing.

Lucas chuckled, his chest rumbling under me. “So do you.”

“I’m not complaining,” I murmured, nuzzling him. “It’s nice. Calming.”

“Apples calm you?” he asked, amusement clear in his voice.

I smiled. “Apparently.”

He shifted slightly, tightening his arms around me. “Well, next time I’ll pick something more… manly. Maybe pine or something.”

I snorted. “You? Pine? Nah, you’re more of an apple guy. It suits you.”

Lucas laughed again; his breath warm against my hair. “You’ve got me figured out?”

I shrugged. “I’m good at reading people.”

“Uh-huh. So, what does me loving snow say about me then?”

I lifted my head to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “Snow?”

He nodded, glancing out of the window where the snow was still falling, slower now, soft flakes drifting down to settle. “Yeah, like if you could tell something about me just by how much I love winter and the snow.”

I grinned, playing along. “The snow says… you’re patient, steady, but you can also be overwhelming when you want to be. Oh, and soft and fluffy sometimes.”

“Oh, overwhelming, but also soft and fluffy?” Lucas smirked, brushing his fingers through my hair.

I laughed and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Yeah, but in a good way. I kinda like it.”

We stayed there like that, talking about random things—the snow, the shower gel, even debating whether apple or pine was better. It was easy, light, and for the first time in forever, I didn’t feel the need to be anywhere but here. We lay wrapped in each other’s arms for the longest time, and I cuddled into him, relaxing into the warmth of being held, which, of course, turned into more kisses.

As we pulled back from the deepest kiss yet, on the edge of something more, a sudden realization hit me.

“You okay?” Lucas asked, his brow furrowing.

I nodded, still processing. “I haven’t… I didn’t take any extra anxiety meds on top of my normal dose yesterday.” I waited for my monster to grab at me.

Nothing.

Lucas tilted his head, confused. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, I mean… it’s not bad. It’s just… weird. Usually, I’m popping them like candy when things get overwhelming, but yesterday, just the normal dose. That’s it.”

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