23. Nakul

Nakul

I stand on the front porch of Judd’s house, shifting the small gift bags in my hand nervously. The snow crunches under my boots as I take a deep breath, my heart thundering in my chest. This is my first time spending a holiday with a significant other. Christmas Eve with Judd and Stevie is going to be fantastic and while I’m excited, I’m also nervous.

What if it doesn’t go smoothly? What if I do something wrong?

But then, I remind myself of how far we’ve come in such a short time. Judd is worth every second of this nervous energy, and Stevie—she’s already got me wrapped around her little finger.

I knock lightly, and within seconds, I hear Stevie’s high-pitched squeal from inside. The sound makes me grin and when the door opens to reveal her beaming face, my nerves melt away.

“Na-ool!” she yells, bouncing on her little feet and clapping her hands. Her adorable curls are piled up on top of her head with a bright red bow that’s as big as her face. She’s dressed in a green dress that bows out, full of sparkles as she twirls for me. “I’m pretty! Daddy made me pretty!”

“Yes, he did. He did a fantastic job,” I say, stepping inside and crouching down to her level. She throws her arms around my leg, hugging me tightly before pulling back to show me a sticky marshmallow in her hand. “Look! Marshmallow!”

I laugh, making sure to avoid those sticky fingers although I'm sure my pant leg is already covered. “That looks delicious.”

“It is,” she says with all the seriousness of a four-year-old.

Judd appears from the living room, looking just as gorgeous in a soft sweater and jeans. His face lights up when he sees me and he crosses the room in a few quick strides. “Hey,” he says, grinning down at me. “Come on before Stevie keeps you there.”

The living room has completely transformed from a few days ago, soft Christmas music playing in the background and the scent of hot chocolate wafting through the air. Stevie’s tiny laughter fills the space as she hops across the floor, marshmallow fluff still clutched in her hands.

A small, decorated tree sits on the coffee table, surrounded by a few neatly wrapped gifts. It’s not extravagant, but it’s perfect—a reflection of everything I’ve come to adore about Judd and his home.

Judd moves toward the coffee table and sinks down onto the floor beside Stevie, motioning for me to join them. I settle next to him, the warmth of his body close enough to calm any lingering nerves.

“I started this tradition two years ago,” Judd says, his voice soft. “Christmas Eve is for singing, hot chocolate, and just spending time together. Stevie wasn’t old enough to enjoy it much then, but this year…” He gestures toward his daughter, who’s humming along to the Christmas music, her face sticky with marshmallow. “She’s pretty excited.”

“It’s perfect,” I say honestly. And it is. The simplicity, the love that fills the room—it’s everything I didn’t know I needed.

Judd looks down at his hands for a moment before meeting my gaze again. There’s a flicker of hesitation in his eyes and I can tell he’s about to say something important.

“So, uh,” he begins, his fingers fidgeting slightly. “Tomorrow’s Christmas dinner. My whole family’s going to be there. And… I want you to come.”

I blink, surprised by the invitation. “Judd, I couldn’t,” I say, shaking my head. “That’s your family.”

He reaches for my hand, squeezing it gently. “I know. But it would mean everything to me if you were there.” Still, I hesitate to agree. Coming to Christmas dinner feels like a whole tradition that I would be ruining until he leans a little closer, a knowing smile on his lips. He cups my cheeks in his hands, pulling me closer. “I want you to come because now you’re part of this family. Me, Stevie, you. ”

My breath catches in my throat as I stare into his eyes, seeing the same feelings that I’ve been feeling for a while. “Judd—”

“I’m asking you to be my boyfriend, Nakul. I’m asking you to be mine. Officially. Will you?”

“Fuck yes,” I whisper before kissing him, nearly leaning him back against the couch when Stevie’s squeals have me ripping myself away.

“Daddy!” Stevie’s voice cuts through the moment, both of us looking over to see her spinning around, her marshmallows forgotten. “Yay! I have a new daddy!” she exclaims, throwing her hands in the air.

Judd’s face flushes red and he groans, covering his face with his hands. “Stevie, that’s not how it works…”

But I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. There’s no irritation, no discomfort—just warmth. Warmth for this little girl who sees the world in the simplest, purest way. Warmth for the man sitting beside me who makes me feel like I’ve found a home I never knew I needed.

“It’s okay,” I say, placing a hand on Judd’s knee. “She’s not wrong, you know.”

Judd looks at me, his expression softening as he drops his hands. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

“I could say the same about you,” I reply.

***

As the night goes on, we drink hot chocolate and sing along to the Christmas music playing softly in the background. Stevie opens a few of her gifts, her joy infectious as she squeals and claps at each one. She rips open my gift, the plush elephant permanently attached to her side. Even her favorite blanket has been discarded for “Ellie” as Stevie has named her.

Judd laughs at my present for him, a wallet that's small enough to fit on his key ring so he won't forget it the next time. His gift is just as heartwarming, a bottle opener in the shape of a plate of nachos. I have no idea where he found it but it's adorable, just like him.

Our attention turns to Stevie, both of us watching her with a mixture of pride and love that makes my chest tighten. When Stevie finally crashes, curling up on the couch with Ellie tucked under her arm, Judd leans his head against my shoulder, his voice quiet.

“I can’t wait to show you off tomorrow. For so long I thought there wouldn’t really be a happy ending. It was going to be me and Stevie against the world and I was okay with that. But this? This is so much better.”

I can’t agree more. It wasn’t what I had planned but I wouldn’t trade Judd for the entire world.