Chapter 33

Emilia

Warmth was the first thing I felt as my eyes fluttered open, the second was something hard against my back which had me tensing up.

"Shh. It's okay, it's just me." The arm around my waist tightens.

When I hear Liam's voice, slightly huskier than usual, the night before plays pictures in my mind. I twist under the sheets, turning to face him. Sun rays from behind the curtains cascade into the room, letting me know it's way later than I would usually wake up. The light coming in hits Liam"s eyes just right and I can see all the different swirls of green that make up his beautiful orbs. I can't help the smile that plays on my lips as I soak in the man next to me.

"Did you sleep okay?" Liam"s hand moves to my face, tucking a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.

"The best I have in a while actually." Honestly, I can't remember the last time I slept through the night like that. Usually I wake up at least once, anxiety about life or school getting to me but with him it all seems to fade away.

"Me too." We lay like this, staring into each other's eyes for a few minutes. It feels so surreal being here with him. My stomach lets out a small rumble, begging for some nutrients, which causes us both to laugh.

Liam pulls his phone out and I see the time is just after eleven in the morning. I guess the emotions of the day mixed with the events of last night really wore me out. "I'm going to make you breakfast. Meet me downstairs in a few minutes." Liam presses a soft kiss to my lips before slipping out of bed and pulling on his sweatpants.

∞∞∞

Liam

I head down to the kitchen ready to make Emi a nice brunch when I spot my mom sitting at the island. I stop giving her a kiss on the cheek. Then continue on heading to the cabinet and pulling out a gingerbread mug to start on a hot chocolate for Emi. I grab a snowman for myself and then grab the hot cocoa powder off the counter.

"Someone's in a good mood this morning." My mom chimes from her seat, that's when I notice I've been humming to myself since I got down here.

"It's Christmas Eve and I'm home with my family. Of course I'm in a good mood." I move around the kitchen pulling out our favorite pancake mix and the ingredients I need to add to it.

"Mhmm." She sips her coffee. "And it has nothing to do with the cute girl in your room?"

I cringe slightly. My mom had no problem with Emilia here, in fact she was excited for her to come but I never really checked to see if she would have a problem with her staying in my room. Yes, I'm technically an adult but it's still her and Dean's house.

"Umm.. We didn't like share…"

"Liam, it's fine." My mom shakes her head, her shoulders moving with a small laugh. "I like her. Feel like she's good for you." Now that has me back in the full smile I woke up with this morning.

"I like her too. A lot." I turn back to the stove, pouring the mix onto the griddle before adding a generous handful of chocolate chips to the top.

"Good. Make sure she knows that." I flip the pancakes over, mulling over my moms words. There's been ideas floating in my head for weeks now about how to show Emilia I care for her but I hope it"s not too much, too soon. On one hand I don't want to rush anything with her, and on the other I don't want to live another day where she's not my girl. Admitting our feelings for each other is just step one into keeping this amazing girl in my life.

As I plate up the pancakes, I hear the faint sounds of feet padding down the hallway. I turn around with a stack of pancakes just as Emi enters the kitchen, wearing the sweat set I gave her months ago. Her hair frames her face in subtle waves, from braids I watched her put in last night, that thought has me smirking to myself. Except it's not just to myself because my mom clears her throat, snapping me out of my thoughts and has me finishing my move to put the pancakes on the island.

"Good morning, Emilia. How did you sleep?"

"Good morning." I don't miss that slight flush of Emi's cheeks as she realizes my mom knows what room she came from. "I slept well, thank you." Grabbing the mugs from the counter I bring the hot chocolate over to the island as well.

"Emi, do you want some whipped cream?"

"Of course I do." I top both of our mugs with a big heaping of whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon.

"Well, I'll leave you both to it." My mom excuses herself from the table, a smile playing at her lips as she heads back upstairs.

"Do you want to go out today?" I take the stool next to Emilia, piling a few pancakes onto my plate.

"Out?"

"Yeah, there's this Christmas market downtown I thought we could go to." Her eyes light up. I know what my girl likes.

"That sounds great." We smile at each other and then both dive into our pancakes. "These are so good. You didn't tell me you knew how to cook." The comment brings me back to a month ago when I said something similar to her on Thanksgiving. Except today is so much better because she's safely here with me.

"Don't be fooled, it"s a mix."

"Well, it's delicious."

"So are you." She gasps, hitting my arm lightly, eyes darting around the space.

"Liam you can't just say that, you're family's around." She whisper shouts at me. I just smirk which causes her to shake her bed before turning her attention back to the pancakes.

Every year our town hosts a Christmas Eve market. Downtown closes and different stalls line the streets selling homemade gifts, bakery items, and in general people just spread that Christmas cheer. A light dusting of snow covers some of the grassy areas and rooftops, really tying together the whole scene.

"This is so cute." Emilia almost squeals, as we get out of the car and head towards some of the booths. She's dressed in a warm, white puffer jacket with black gloves and a beanie. She looks adorable.

"Thought you might like it." I thread my gloved fingers through hers. "Where should we start?"

We spend the next few hours perusing all the different booths at the market. We have our second hot chocolate of the day, eat croissants, listen to the local children's chorus sing holiday classics. All the while my hands stay on her somehow, whether they"re intertwined together or I put my arm around her waist holding her near.

Emilia spots a booth filled with books and she all but drags me over to it. I watch as she looks up and down the different rows of books, gravitating to a section of fairy tales with special covers.

"You like these?" I ask with my hand pressed lightly on her back.

"They're gorgeous." Her hands skim across the tops of the different books.

"I thought you read romance?"

"I do." She lets out a light laugh. "But growing up these are what I read. My grandparents always read them to me."

"Are these what are on the bookshelf in your room?"

"Yes. My grandma used to collect all the fairytales she could find. Now, I collect the special edition covers when I find them. Helps me feel closer to them." With that I begin picking up the five different books that are in this section.

"What are you doing?"

"We're buying these."

"Liam. I can't afford them right now."

"Sorry, I meant to say I'm buying them." Her eyebrows raise at me and I just offer a smirk in return.

"You don't need to do that."

"I know. I want to. Let me treat you." Before she can argue, I swiftly move around her, putting the books on the small checkout counter. "Oh add this too." I put up a tote bag, decorated in flowers. Pulling out my wallet I swipe my card and then swing the tote bag over my shoulder before threading our fingers together again and leading us out of the stall.

The daylight has begun to fade into twilight. As we walk down one last aisle, heading back to the car. "Hold on a sec." I stop us, checking the time on my phone. It's nearly five in the afternoon which means it's almost time. I change our direction and we head for the big tree, that's directly in the center of the market. Just as we approach, the white Christmas lights turn on illuminating the giant tree in the center of town. Emilia stares at the tree in amazement, a softness in her gaze. I'll never get tired of seeing her like this.

I stare at my girl in awe as she stares at the tree, lights twinkling. Slowly she begins spinning around to see every store front and stall that is out here today has the same lights twinkling away. It's magical watching her.

When she completes her turn, we're face to face. Cupping the side of her face, her eyes twinkle, the lights have nothing on her. Emilia instinctively steps onto her toes and I lean down slightly taking her mouth in a deep kiss.

This kiss isn't particularly long but I feel the depth behind it. That we both feel this. That last night was more than surface level. Neither of us say anything, like words aren't enough for this moment. Instead we hold each other"s gaze for a beat before weaving our fingers together and heading for the car.