Page 74 of Tinsel & Tools
His hand slid weakly up my arm. “Same.”
The driveway was already crowded when I pulled in at my parents’. Lauren and Mark’s SUV sat next to my mother’s car, and Dad’s work van was off to the side—all of them dusted with snow. Through the front window, the tree stood tall, with white lights no doubt wound evenly from bottom to top. Mom’s trees were always elegant, with every ornament hung just right, and the star centered at the top.
I cut the engine, and for a second, I just sat there, my stomach tight. Then I reached across the console, took Gavin’s hand, and held it. “Ready?”
His fingers closed around mine. “Yes, are you?”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
We got out and walked up the shoveled path together. Voices carried through the closed door, Eliza’s laugh loudest above the rest. My pulse climbed, but I didn’t let go of Gavin’s hand.
When I pushed the door open, the warmth hit fast and every head turned at once, all of them catching on our joined hands.
Mom stepped out from the kitchen, towel in hand, and crossed the room. “Cole. Merry Christmas.” She wrapped me in a quick hug before leaning back, her eyes flicking to Gavin.
Lauren stood too, coming over with flour still on her sweater. “Merry Christmas.” She hugged me next, then stepped back, her eyes shifting between us.
Mark lifted a hand from the couch. “Hey, Cole.”
Dad gave a short nod from his chair.
Their attention moved to Gavin beside me. I cleared my throat, my grip tightening on his hand. “Everyone, this is Gavin. He owns Cedar Falls Inn, and he’s my boyfriend.”
The room went quiet for half a second before Mom’s mouth lifted. “Wonderful!” She hugged Gavin like it was the most natural thing in the world. “It’s lovely to meet you, Gavin. Are you hungry? We’ve got appetizers in the kitchen.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Maddox. It smells amazing in here,” he replied.
Lauren hugged Gavin quickly before leaning back with a grin. “So you’re the reason my brother’s been walking around town smiling more. Rumors have been going around, and now I know why.”
“Guess I’ll try to keep him smiling, then.”
“Hey, now. I smile,” I argued.
Lauren raised a brow. “You smile, sure, but not like lately. It’s different, and everyone’s noticed.”
Mark stood and stuck out his hand. “Welcome, Gavin.”
Dad set his mug on the side table and shook Gavin’s hand too. “Good to have you join us.”
“Thank you. It means a lot to be here.”
Eliza twisted around on the rug, her eyes bright. “Does that mean Gavin gets presents too?”
Lauren laughed softly. “I think maybe you should go make him something with your crafts in your playroom.”
“Okay!” Eliza beamed and ran down the hall.
The knot in my chest loosened as Gavin’s thumb brushed over my knuckles.
My family didn’t look at him like he was some secret I’d been hiding, or at me like I’d just dropped the biggest bomb in the room. They looked at him the way they would anyone I brought home. And that, more than anything, was enough.
I leaned closer, my voice low for only him. “So maybe happy endings aren’t just for the stories you write?”
His smile spread, soft and certain. “No. Sometimes they’re real.”
And this one was ours.
EPILOGUE
