Page 70 of Festive Faking
Mac took a deep breath. “I’m sorry if that scares you, but it’s how I feel. I know it’s too soon for you to possibly feel the same way about me, but—”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
The tortured expression on his face threatened to shatter my heart. “Aspen, please,” he begged.
I vibrated with nervous energy from head to toe, but if he was brave enough to say his truth, then so was I. Guess that was our thing.
“Truth, Mac.”
His brown eyes widened, and I knew I had his full attention.
“The other day, I was jealous of a nameless, faceless woman simply because, someday, she will be the one who gets to witness the incredible father I believe you will become.”
The tension left his body, and he ventured closer. “You were?”
“Yeah. I was downright pissed that it wouldn’t be me. And that wasbeforeanything happened between us. You were sneaking into my heart even then, simply by being yourself.”
“Eh, he’s just okay,” Mac joked.
I extended my free hand toward him, and he took it. “You’re easy to fall in love with Mac. I only wish I’d gotten to know you—the real you—two years ago.”
A shy smile crept onto his lips. “Maybe I was waiting for the right girl to coax that part of me out of hiding.”
“Are you saying I’m that girl?”
“Definitely,” he breathed out, pulling me into his arms. “You—this town—are everything I never knew I always wanted.” Voice thick with emotion, he whispered, “I’m home.”
The rush of overwhelming love I felt for this man and the joy of watching him find his place in the world had my vision blurring.As the first tear spilled free, I said the words I’d never spoken to another man aloud. “I love you, Mac.”
His thumbs wiped away the moisture lining my cheeks. “I love you too, Aspen.” Then he pressed his lips to mine, pouring all of that love into a slow, sweet kiss.
I’d thought this week would turn out to be the ultimate disaster, but instead, it had changed both of our lives. My eyes were opened to the incredible man Mac hid from the world, and he’d found a safe space to allow that side of himself to be seen.
Rust Canyon—its Christmases in particular—was special. I couldn’t wait to share its charm, its rustic coziness with the rest of the world, with Mac by my side.
Epilogue
Mac
Two Years Later
The tree lighting wasmy favorite day of the year in Rust Canyon. This year’s, in particular, was set to be burned into my memory for all time. One way or the other.
With Jett’s blessing, there was one very important question I needed to ask Aspen.
Christmas was where it had all begun; it seemed only fitting that it would, hopefully, mark the start of the rest of our lives together.
The past two years had been a blur.
Aspen returned to LA, and we did the long-distance thing while she finished her master’s. Whenever she had a free weekend, I flew her home. The only time I set foot in that city during those few months was to attend her graduation. Iwouldn’t allow my fear of slipping back into a person I had no interest in being anymore to stand in the way of celebrating such an incredible milestone with her.
While I commuted an hour each way to take the courses that would bring me closer to my dream of becoming a firefighter, Aspen built her business. Any free time I had outside of school and studying, I was right there alongside her, sharing my enthusiasm for her vision with prospective clients and using any connection I had to get her meetings with the right people.
The first official Main Street in a new suburban development in Chicago was set to have its ribbon cutting this upcoming spring, and several more were in the works for Detroit, Boston, and Atlanta.
I couldn’t be prouder of Aspen. She’d worked hard and breathed life into her dream. I wanted nothing more than to watch her soar until my dying day.
From the moment I saw her, I knew she was special, but I’d had no idea she would be the key to unlocking my future.
