24. Judd

Judd

The living room is a cozy mess of torn wrapping paper, discarded ribbons, and the aftermath of Stevie’s excitement. Stevie is finally in bed, Ellie tucked firmly under her arm, her little body curled up in a nest of blankets. The baby monitor in my hand hums with soft static, the faint sound of her breathing steady and peaceful. I sit on the couch next to Nakul, my phone in my other hand as I fire off a quick text to Jess and Athena.

Add another plate for tomorrow. Nakul’s coming.

Jess replies almost immediately with a string of heart emojis and I can practically hear Athena’s teasing laugh as her reply follows:

About time. We’re setting two chairs for you lovebirds.

I shake my head, laughing softly, and put my phone down. When I look over at Nakul, he’s watching me with that calm, steady gaze of his, his lips curved into a small smile.

“What?” I ask, feeling my face warm under his scrutiny.

“Nothing,” he says, but his smile widens. “You just… you look happy.”

I am happy. Happier than I’ve been in years. And it’s because of him. I lean toward him, resting a hand on his thigh and his hand covers mine instantly, his fingers warm and firm.

“You’re staying tonight, right?” I ask softly.

“If you want me to,” he replies, his voice equally quiet.

“I do,” I tell him and I mean it. More than anything, I want him here, in my space, in my life.

His hand slides up to my jaw, tilting my face toward his as he leans in. The kiss is soft at first, slow and deliberate, but it deepens quickly, the warmth of it spreading through me like a fire. I shift closer, my free hand curling into the fabric of his shirt and he pulls me against him, his arms steady and grounding.

When we pull apart, his forehead rests against mine and I can feel his breath against my lips. “Bedroom?” he murmurs.

I nod, standing and grabbing the baby monitor as we head down the hall together.

We take our time, exploring each other with a mix of tenderness and curiosity. His hands are warm and steady, his touch firm yet gentle, and I let myself relax into him completely. There’s no rush, no expectations—just us, figuring out how we fit together, how we make each other feel.

When we finally collapse onto the bed, tangled in each other and the blankets, I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. Nakul’s arm is draped over my waist, his breath warm against the back of my neck as he pulls me closer.

“You’re amazing,” he murmurs, his voice thick with exhaustion.

“So are you,” I whisper, my hand resting over his. “Merry Christmas,” I say just as the clock strikes twelve.

Nakul presses a soft kiss to my shoulder, his lips lingering there for a moment. “Merry Christmas, love,” he murmurs back.

With his steady heartbeat against my back and the promise of tomorrow waiting for us, I let myself drift off, feeling more at peace than I have in years.