by Linda Palmer
Though I truly doubted I’d sleep that night, I did, and dreamed of Anna but not her big brother. That scared me just a little. Believing what I did about dreams, I couldn’t help but take his absence from last night’s as proof that my subconscious had finally admitted he was an impossibility. After all, I’d been with both of them that day. Shouldn’t he have popped up somewhere during the night just as his little sis had?
A huge pile of presents Christmas morning proved to be a welcome distraction. And as I sat on the floor in my wrinkled PJs with my goofy brothers nearby, I was reminded that they all loved me as much as I loved them. That meant I was one lucky girl—too lucky to mope on the best holiday of the year.
Just as I was opening my last present, which I felt sure was the Xbox Dad and I had begged Mom for, my cell phone blasted and began to dance on the side table. Dad tossed it to me. I didn’t immediately recognize the caller, probably because my stalking hadn’t included memorizing a cell number I’d never use. “Hello?”
“I’m at your front door. I forgot to pay you yesterday.”
Not quite believing my ears, I said, “Nate?”
“Of course.”
Of course? There was no of course about it, at least where he was concerned. “I’ll be right out.”
I jumped up, belatedly realizing that my parents and brothers stared at me, obviously curious. Since I didn’t know what to tell them, I pointed to my unopened package. “Do not touch that box.”
I got all the way to the front door before I remembered what a hot mess I was in my rattiest PJs with my uncombed hair. So I only opened it a crack when I checked to make sure Nate was really there. He was. My heart skipped a beat. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He clearly waited to be invited in.
“I look like shit.”
“I disagree.”
Hm. “So why are you here?”
“I already said. I need to pay you. I also have a present, and…we need to talk. Can I please come in? I’m freezing my ass off.”
I opened the door as wide as it would go and then shut it once he’d stepped inside. Though I dreaded introducing him to brothers who’d never forget, I took Nate’s coat to put it on the rack and then headed back to our den with him trailing me. “Mom, Dad, Josh, Mick…this is Nate Marshall.”
Nate stepped up and offered each of the guys a handshake.
“Well it’s about time.” Dad’s words totally panicked me. Was he going to spill the crush beans?
Mom elbowed him in the side. “Nice to see you again.”
Since Nate seemed a little lost, I pointed to the loveseat. “Do you want to sit down?”
He shook his head. “I can’t stay. Neil—that’s my brother—will be home soon, and my stepmom’s cooking something special for us.” He thrust some cash and a small black box at me. “Merry Christmas, Leeloo.”
With my family watching avidly, I set aside the money and self-consciously opened the box. Inside lay a dainty silver chain with a blue crystal faerie dangling from it. I instantly melted in a puddle of goo. “Oh, Nate. It’s perfect.” I gave him a quick hug and then grabbed his wrist. “Mom, Dad, we’re going to my room.”
Dad began to sputter, and, my big brothers, to grin. Mom patted Dad’s leg to settle him down.
“Leave that Xbox alone,” I called as I led Nate down the hall.
Mick’s outraged, “You got her a freakin’ Xbox?” made both of us laugh.
When we got to my room, I smoothed my rumpled bedspread so we could sit on it. “Would you help me with this?” I handed Nate the necklace, turned my back, and pulled aside my tousled hair so he could. Once he finished, I went to my dresser mirror to check it out. “It’s so beautiful. Thanks, Nate.”
He patted the bed. I walked back to him and sat. Clearing his throat as if he were about to make a big speech or something, he said, “Leeloo, I think you’re fae-bulous.”
I groaned and fell back on the mattress, my hands over my face.
“No, no. You have to listen. I’ve been practicing this all night.” He pulled on my arm until I sat up again and looked him in the eye. “You’re not only fae-bulous, you’re fae-nny, fae-thful, and one fae-xy chick. Most of all, though, you’re fae-miliar to me now. So fae-miliar, that I’ve been lost ever since you got out of my Fae-rd yesterday.”
What a doofus. My smile spread so wide it hurt. “Really and truly?”
“Really and truly.” Nate reached out, firmly pulling me up and then guiding me onto his lap. “Remember that couple we were talking about yesterday? The one where the man and woman stick it out instead of bailing at the first sign of trouble?”
“I remember.”
“I want to be that guy.”
I could barely breathe. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I love you.”
I gasped.
Nate’s arms tightened around me as if he thought I might bolt. “I know it’s too soon—”
I stopped him right there, standing so I could turn and straddle his thighs, a bold move that clearly surprised him, at least for a nanosecond. Then he grinned that sexy grin and wrapped his arms around me.
Framing his face with my hands, I said, “Too soon? Nate Marshal, I’ve only loved you since I was fifteen.”
“What?”
“Oh yeah. You’re my wildest dream, my ultimate fantasy, the one. And I want to be the girl who sticks it out with you.” Of course we kissed. And that one kiss became a lot of them, each better than the one before it until we both had to come up for air.
All smiles, Nate tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear to get it out of my flushed face. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
“That I should’ve bought you a Christmas present?”
He cracked up. “No, sil-ly. It means we’re perfect for each other.”
“As in fae-ted?” I touched his cheek.
“Yeah.” He caught my hand and kissed my palm. “For always and always, happily ever after.”
About the Author
Linda Varner Palmer has been writing for many years, ranging in genre from Silhouette romances to YA paranormal romances. She was a Romance Writers of America (RWA) Rita finalist twice and won the 2011 and 2012 Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition (EPIC) awards in the YA category. She was a finalist for a 2013 EPIC Award in the YA category as well as the 2013 Ariana award for YA cover art. Her website is www.lindavpalmer.com.
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