Page 36 of Unwrapped

“Miranda, I’m here naked with you. Are you really asking me about other women? Trust me when I tell you I don’t want to hear about you and some other guy.”

I kiss him in the middle of his chest and tickle him with my hair. I look up at his face before kissing him again.

“I told you I don’t care who came first. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. I want to know everything about you, and there were two boyfriends before you. I didn’t love either one. That takes care of that.”

He lies back down on the couch and plays with my hair with one hand as he caresses my spine with the other. I run my lips across his chest as “White Christmas” plays.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. You’re special, and I knew that the minute I saw you. I knew I was in big, big trouble as soon as I looked into your eyes.”

He stops speaking and I go back to kissing his chest, and I feel his dick hardening underneath me. Before I can give it some attention, he speaks again.

“I felt like a fool after Paige. I was basically starting my life all over again. Uncle Joe made it mandatory for me to go to the Christmas party, and the last thing I wanted to do was be there, but it was the best thing for me.” He stops again, and caresses my lower back, right above my buttocks. I hold my breath as I wait for him to speak again. “When things ended with Paige, I remember I was venting to my mom one day. She let me rage, and when I finally quieted down, she said something profound. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now it makes sense.”

“What did she say?” I ask when he stops talking.

“She said that I might be at a low point now, but this could be preparing me for something beautiful. She said sometimes the worst things that happen to us can lead us to the best. She gave me the example of her marriage to my dad. It was never a good marriage, but she got me out of it, and I was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to her. She said she was sure I was on the cusp of something amazing in my life. I thought it was her way of trying to make me feel better, but she was right. I don’t think I ever would have left Chicago if things didn’t happen as they did, but guess what? I left and I met this beautiful girl. She’s thirteen years younger than I am, and her mother, who hates me, works for me. The universe doesn’t make things easy for me, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

I look into his eyes, and I tear up at his words before I look away and stick my head in his shoulder.

“Hey, hey,” he says as he strokes my hair. “Look at me.” I look up and quickly swipe a stray tear. “Why are you crying?”

“Because I just love you. And I’m happy. You’re the best Christmas surprise ever.”

He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. “Me too. I love you so much. Ever since I first laid eyes on you, you’re the only thing I’ve thought about.”

“We’ve come a long way in just a few short weeks, haven’t we, Nicky?”

“We have.”

He kisses my temple and when I look into his eyes again, I remember the night we met. It seems like a million years ago and just yesterday all at once. I’ve learned so much about this man, yet still don’t know enough.

“You know my plan was to give you the stink eye all night for being an ass to my mom. All the times she talked about you, she never mentioned you were hot. I never expected we’d be in a relationship, but my dad always says life will happen whether you expect it or not. I think your mom and my dad think alike. I’m babbling, but I never expected you, but you happened. I never expected to fall in love with you, but I did. And it’s crazy because it happened so fast, but I can’t control my heart.”

“We’re doing this love thing,” he says.

“We’re definitely doing it, but I don’t want to hide it. I’m telling my mom about us on Sunday.”

“This is our relationship, so we’ll tell her together. About tomorrow. Do you really need to go to work?” She lifts her head and looks at me.

“If I don’t go to work, how else am I going to pay for your Christmas present? And remember, I only make thirteen dollars an hour, so manage your expectations. I can’t afford any of the high-end stuff you have around here.”

I roll my eyes, but I tighten my arms around her, pressing her into my body even more.

“You’re my present. And if that’s the only reason you need to go to work tomorrow, then don’t go and spend the day with me. Let’s go into the city, or we can drive up to New Hampshire and see Santa’s Village. I want to spend all my time with you.”

“You might just get your wish when my mom finds out.”

CHAPTER 25

MIRANDA

“I’m working until ten,” I tell him.

I can feel his frustration through the phone. I know how he feels because I feel the same way. I’m basically being held hostage by family obligations this week. Between work, my brother surprising us by showing up days ahead of schedule, and an unexpected visit by my aunt and her kids, I can’t get away for a minute.

All of this makes me so thankful for the extra day I spent with Nick. I took his advice and took a sick day the Saturday after his party, but instead of going to enjoy some Christmas lights somewhere, the heavy rain kept us in the house for most of the day.

As disappointed as I was by the weather, he promised we would go another day. We spent the day wearing matching Christmas pajamas and watching Christmas movies. Having eaten most of the leftovers for lunch, we begrudgingly showered to go out to dinner.

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