Page 24 of A Not So Merry Kiss-mas
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” comes on, signaling that the night is finally coming to an end, when I remember my gift.
“Oh, I have something for you.” I push my chair back, rise, and point a finger at him. “Wait right here.”
Michael’s mouth parts, but I’m gone before he can get any words out. When I reach for my coat, I slide my hand into my pocket and pull out the wrapped box.
I turn to find Michael standing directly behind me. Startled, I throw my hand up to my chest and jump off the floor.
“I’m sorry.” I slam my hand against his chest. He reaches out and cups my face with both hands, a smile lining the lips pressed against mine. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Well, you did. Now I’m not sure I want to give this to you.” His chest rumbles under my hand, and a reluctant grin spreads across my face.
His eyes fill with wide-eyed innocence, and his face brightens. A heat spreads throughout my chest, knowing that expression is there because of me. He does so much for everyone else, but asks very little in return.
Cole was definitely wrong when he said Mike wouldn’t care. He needs to be shown that people love him, too.
“You really didn’t have to.” He says hoarsely, taking the wrapped box from my hand and turning it over.
“True, but I wanted to show you how much you mean to me.” His blue gaze pins me, and the affection I see reflected in them gives me the courage to speak out loud the words my heart has been saying quietly. “I think it’s vital you show the people you love what they mean to you, even if it’s something small.”
A smile so big crosses Michael’s face that I feel it spread to mine. He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me flush against him, my hands resting comfortably on his chest. “Did you just admit you love me?”
“Is it too soon?”
“Haven’t you ever seen The Princess Bride?” My brows furrow, and the corners of my lips pull down. “I’ve been telling you I love you for weeks. I just assumed you weren’t ready to say it back.”
“As you wish?”
“As you wish.” He nods, and I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
“We’ll have to watch that movie one night, but right now you need to open your gift.” I nod toward the present.
“You already gave me the best gift.”
“Michael! Just open it, please.” He steps away from me to do as I ask, and I instantly regret the absence of his body heat.
As he rips away the paper, the smirk on his face becomes a full-blown grin. “Wireless headphones?”
“As much as our neighbors adore you, not everyone is thrilled by your occasional, impromptu concerts. Now you can play the music as loud as you want without scaring the bejesus out of everyone.”
He tilts his head back and howls. When his gaze makes it back to mine, there’s a happiness in it I haven’t seen before, and my stomach flutters. “I love you, Mel.”
“I love you, too. Even if your name is Michael instead of Peter.”
“I promise to do my best to make up for that tiny flaw every day.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” I murmur, sliding my hands around his neck and pulling him back to me. “Merry Christmas, Michael.”
“Merry Christmas, my love.”
Epilogue
Mike
New Year's Eve - 10 years later.
“Remember when Noelle and Cole get here tonight, you’re not allowed to bring up Cole’s nickname.” My wife and I are on the dance floor swaying to Ella Fitzgerald’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”, waiting for our newly reunited best friends to join us.
Melanie’s eyes gleam, and a mischievous glint fills them. “I had forgotten, but thanks for reminding me.”
