Chapter Twenty-Eight

Holly

“ F inally,” Olivia says as Mark and I make our way down the stairs, his hand intertwined with mine. “We’ve been waiting forever,” he says, throwing her hands in the air. “What the hell took so long? You’re usually the first one down here.”

I shrug when we finally step into the living room, sheepishly glancing up at Mark. “We were a little distracted,” I tell her, seeing his lips twitch as his eyes meet mine.

Olivia’s rolls her eyes, a knowing smirk creeping onto her face, knowing she can’t be mad at me when I’m this happy. After all, she had been rooting for Mark since the very first day I met him.

She takes a seat on the couch, and we join. Mark settles into the corner and I lean against him. I look up and see the Christmas tree, fully decorated, with twinkling warm white lights covering the branches and presents stacked underneath.

The cold air hits my skin and a shiver runs through my body as I nestle into Mark, trying to warm my body up, which he takes notice of as he grabs a knitted blanket hanging over the edge of the couch and wraps it around my shoulders, pressing a light, gentle kiss to my cheek. God, he’s so soft and warm and kind, and he knows me so well. Knows exactly what I need.

I smile up at him, warmth coating my body with the way he looks at me, and I hear Olivia’s laugh.

“I knew this would happen,” she says, glancing between the both of us before she turns to Henry and taps his shoulder. “Didn’t I?”

Henry lets out a sigh, grinning back at her. “Yes, you did.” He glances at us, lifting his brows. “Wouldn’t stop talking about it.”

“I just have a strong intuition when it comes to things like this,” she says. “Plus, you left your sweater in the kitchen,” she finishes, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I completely forgot about that. It was the last thing on my mind at the time.

“Okay,” Olivia says, clapping her hands. “I’m opening my present first since I’m pregnant and all,” she says, dramatically rubbing her pregnant belly.

I arch my brow. “And that gives you priority for opening gifts?” I joke.

She blinks, her face remaining blank. “Duh.” She turns to the tree, humming as she glances around at the presents. “I want the big one,” she says, turning to Henry.

He heads toward the tree and grabs the large box at the back, handing it to her. She eagerly tears off the wrapping paper, grinning as she unwraps her gift. But when the paper is finally off, her eyes widen in surprise and fill with tears .

“You got us a new toaster?” she asks, her voice breaking as tears spill over.

“Why is she crying?” Mark asks, a puzzled look crossing his face.

“We got our toaster when we first moved in together,” Henry explains with a smile as he glances at Olivia. “And now we’re about to have a baby. I thought it would be a nice, fresh start. The toaster for our family.”

Tears spill down my best friend’s face as she leaps into Henry’s arms. “Jesus, woman,” he grunts, laughing as he wraps his arms around his wife.

“I love you,” she murmurs, kissing his face. “I love you. I love you.”

I chuckle, watching them both. I’ve known Olivia for what feels like my whole life and Henry for a good chunk of it, and I couldn’t agree more that they’re completely perfect for each other.

Mark clears his throat, and I glance up at him. “I still don’t understand why she’s crying,” he says, making a laugh bubble out of me.

“Hormones,” I explain with a shrug. “I’m pretty sure she’d cry over fluffy socks. She loves gifts. No matter what they are.”

“Do you want your gift now?” Olivia asks her husband, still tackling him to the ground.

He laughs, brushing her hair out of his face. “Yeah. I’d like it if I could also breathe.”

She shuffles off him and heads toward the tree to grab his gift, and I lean into Mark, glancing up at him with a smile .

I hope we’re like that someday. I’ve only known Mark for a short amount of time, but he makes me feel like no one ever has. He listens to me, likes it when I speak, and does everything to make me happy. He’s exactly what I’ve been looking for, and I’ve never been so grateful for a failed date than I have been for the asshole who stood me up because if not, I never would have met him.

Mark presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “You having fun?” he asks, his voice full of tenderness.

“Of course,” I say, lifting my eyes to meet his with a smile. “I love Christmas.”

“I know,” he teases, rolling his eyes playfully. “You’re just a little quiet. I kind of expected you to be bouncing off the walls, kind of like…” He gestures towards Olivia, who’s now squealing with delight over the lawn mower she gave Henry. Henry looks both bewildered and amused.

“You’re going to be a hot suburban dad,” she tells him with a grin. “I can’t wait to see it.”

Mark and I laugh at their antics. “Kind of expected that to be you,” he says, his lips twitching into a smirk.

“I’m just soaking in this moment,” I admit, leaning into him. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

“Yeah,” Mark says as he meets my eyes. “Mine too, sweetheart.”

I glance around the room, taking in the snow-covered world outside the frosted windows and the sparkling Christmas tree. My stomach sinks a little. “I wish my parents were here,” I admit quietly. “I wish you could have met them. ”

Mark’s gaze softens as he looks at me. “I would have loved them,” he says. “It would be impossible not to love the people who created you.” His hand clutches my face, smoothing his thumb over my skin. “You want your present now?”

“You got me a present?” I ask, blinking in surprise. “Mark Lawson bought me a Christmas gift?”

“Stop trying to make me join your Christmas cult,” he says dryly. “It’s just a gift.”

“A Christmas cult?” I muse with a playful grin. “That would be so fun.”

“Of course you’d think that,” Mark says, leaning forward to grab a rectangle box. “Here, open it.”

I study the box, noting the folded edges of the wrapping paper slightly misaligned and my lips twitch. Mark did this himself. He bought and wrapped a Christmas gift for me. I quickly tug at the paper before lifting the lid of the box, finding a light blue knitted pouch I assume is to keep my books, given that it’s accompanied by a Christmas tree-shaped bookmark.

“To protect your books,” Mark says with a teasing smirk. “Since you’re a menace who folds the pages.”

“Did you get this gift for me or for you?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Both,” he replies with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

I close the box and lean in to kiss him. “Thank you,” I say softly. “I love it.”

“I actually got you something else,” he says, making my brows knit together as he reaches over and grabs a larger gift, bulky and lumpy, underneath the wrapping paper.

“Another one?” I ask. “Mark, I only got you one gift.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t care about gifts, Bambi. I just wanted you to have this.”

My curiosity takes the best of me as my brows knit together, wondering what the hell this is, and I quickly unwrap the gift, tearing at the paper.

I freeze, my smile slipping when I see what it is, and my jaw drops open, unable to believe what I’m looking at.

“What—” I glance up at Mark, shaking my head. “How?”

He shrugs. “I couldn’t stop thinking about how you told me the last thing you got from your parents was a pink Barbie backpack and how you lost it,” he starts, my eyes filling with tears. “So I got you one, so you can always have a piece of them.”

My lip wobbles as tears fall down my cheeks and I shake my head. “I can’t believe you found it.”

“It was hard to find,” he admits with a chuckle. “But I knew I had to get it for you. Whether we never spoke again once you and Ryan started dating or not,” he says, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “I just wanted you to be happy.”

Dropping the bag, I lift my arms and wrap them around him, practically climbing onto his lap as I kiss him, wiping my tears as I let out a laugh, pure joy and happiness bubbling inside me. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” I tell him, kissing his cheeks. “I love it so much.”

He hums against my lips, pulling back with a soft smile as he wipes my tears. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

“I got you something, too,” I say, reaching for his gift.

“Yeah?” Mark asks.

“Duh,” I reply with a grin, sniffing as I wipe my eyes. “Christmas gift shopping is my favorite thing ever.”

Mark laughs, shaking his head in amusement. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? You’re so giving, so caring of others.”

“Stop flirting with me,” I tease, playfully swatting at him.

“Now that I can?” Mark says with a smile. “Don’t think I ever will.”

I blush, handing him the wrapped gift. He carefully unwraps it, pulling out a sweater and a smaller, matching one in an ugly, loud green Christmas pattern.

“I’m afraid to ask what this is,” he says, his brows furrowing in confusion as he examines the items.

I let out a laugh. “It’s a matching sweater for you and Murray.”

He arches his brow, dropping the gift back into the box. “Is this gift for me or for you?” he asks, echoing my earlier question.

“Both,” I reply with a playful wink.

Mark chuckles and pulls me close, his hands gently cupping my face. “I love it.”

“Really?” I ask, a little surprised. “I got it mostly as a joke. ”

Mark shakes his head, his expression softening. “I love that you thought of me, that you got something for me. It doesn’t matter what it is.”

“I can get you a better Christmas gift,” I offer. “One you actually want.”

“You’re the only thing I wanted,” Mark says, his eyes locking with mine. “And now I finally have that. I don’t need anything else.”

I get lost in his warm eyes, and I can’t help but let out a heavy sigh. “Are you sure this isn’t a dream?”

Mark chuckles softly. “Not a dream,” he promises. “I told you I’d get you your Christmas boyfriend, didn’t I? Turns out it was me all along. We just didn’t know it.”

I laugh, my heart swelling. “I guess I was your Christmas angel after all, making you believe in the magic of Christmas again.”

He scoffs playfully. “I believe in you . You’re the magic in my life.”

I glance around at the snow-covered world outside, the ice frosting the windows, and the Christmas tree glowing with lights. “You’ve got to admit, this is a beautiful time.”

“Any time with you is beautiful,” Mark replies, making my heart pound.

“Oh, Mark,” I say, smiling up at him. “I always knew you were a big softie.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “Only for you, Bambi.”