Page 66 of Cinnamon Strudel
“Don’t get my hopes up now.”
He softly chuckled and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m all about spoiling you.” When the song ended, he drowned himself in a tender kiss.
Throughout the next hour, Ruby was whisked away, socialising and getting to know Alexander and Jack better. She never stopped checking on him and Blue, and he didn’t mind sitting back and listening to the conversations happening around him.
“You’ve caught yourself quite the social butterfly,” Alexander said, dropping down beside him and handing over a new drink.
“I hope she never holds back because of me.”
“I don’t think so. She’s all over the place mingling and throwing you swoony gazes every few minutes.”
“She does, huh?”
“Yep, just now actually. Is your Gingerbread Village date exclusive tomorrow?”
“I’m sure Ruby would love if you and Jack joined us.”
“He said it’s not really a big deal, but maybe we can snag a few cool pictures.”
Ruby returned to him just before midnight, taking him out to the curb where they’d have a perfect view of the fireworks. Then they counted down, and Morgan rang in the new year with a kiss, and the prayer that his time with her would never end.
Ruby
With the fireworks lighting up the night sky above them, she couldn’t help but to finally feel at home. Not because of a place, but aperson. And not just any person, butMorgan. In his arms, she started the year by already planning out their many adventures. Big and small—she wanted to experience it all with him.
They stayed up until everyone had left, then helped clear the party leftovers. With Blue curled up with them, they both easily drifted off, utterly—and happily—exhausted.
She could barely open her eyes the next morning, even though the sun brightened the room through the gap in the curtains. She nuzzled closer to Morgan and dozed off again—until Blue woke her up with a wet kiss to her cheek.
“I can do it,” Morgan protested, weakly, considering he couldn’t do so without yawning.
“Blue clearly asked me, so no, it’s fine.”
“I hope we always fight over who takes Blue out.”
“You call this a fight?” she mocked, playfully punching his shoulder.
Morgan grabbed her, rolled them both over, and silenced her surprised yelp with a kiss. “No, but if all we’ll bicker about is who Blue wants to go out with, then our life will be pretty peaceful.”
“That does sound dream worthy.”
He set her free and she quickly dressed as appropriately as needed, before heading downstairs with her furry adoptive child on her heels.
“Here comes sleeping beauty,” Alexander announced. “I was getting worried.”
Her eyes drifted to the large clock over the fireplace. It was past noon. “What can I say? This beauty doesn’t come from nothing.” She twirled and tossed her hair dramatically over her shoulder before slipping into her shoes and taking the leash.
She walked around the block, giving her body time to wake up and her mind to process what her life had become. The fear of something popping her cushy bubble of love and serenity threatened to break through her happiness, but she banished it. She tried to focus on the things she and Morgan had talked about, how openly they communicated and how sound she felt in their blooming relationship. How it was possible they’d only met four weeks ago she had no idea, but she sure as hell would fight and work on herself to keep their momentum.
Upon returning she was met with a large cup of coffee and yesterday’s leftovers for breakfast—well, lunch— before they all set off on their adventure to the Gingerbread Village.
“Great for pictures, but not really worth spending much time here,” Jack said as they walked up to the sparse display.
“I didn’t have high hopes, so I’m not disappointed,” she chirped. “But now that you two are with us, we can get some pictures together.”
“Oh, I thought they were just here totakepictures ofus,” Morgan teased. “If I’d known I had to pose with Alexander, I would’ve protested him joining.”
“You’re going to play nice, sir,” she warned, unable to hide her smile anyway.
