“Trust me. I’ve been resting. Mimi’s been doing everything and so has your mom.”
“I’ll make sure and thank them.” It was good to know I could rely on my family to help when I couldn’t be here.
She nodded and her eyes glossed over.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Her voice squeaked. “Just give me a minute…stupid hormones.” She wiped under eyes and then reached behind a songbook, retrieving a piece of sheet music.
“Meghan Trainor and John Legend?” I released a low chuckle, recalling the first time I heard her playing a John Legend song. This woman knew how to capture my heart.
“Any chance you know the words?” She positioned the papers in front of us.
“I think I’ve heard it on the radio enough times to get by.”
“Don’t be shy, okay?” She elbowed me.
“No shyness here, baby.”
We laughed and then she placed her fingers on the keys. She took a deep breath and exhaled. I wasn’t sure why her hands were trembling. I’d heard her sing and play enough times.
It took her a few seconds before she started playing the song. Once her fingers started moving, she began singing. A sweet melody filled the air — a sweetness that could only come from her. Her voice wrapped around my heart, filling it with an insurmountable amount of love; love I felt through each stroke on the piano.
When she reached the chorus, she turned to me, connecting our gazes. Without faltering, she poured her heart and soul into each word. It touched me deep inside, shaking me to the core. Lexi was doing more than singing to me — she was telling me something. Something I’d been waiting to hear for months.
The song transitioned to the male vocal part and I picked up immediately where she left off. I did my best not to mess up. Telling her I felt the same way. Tears dripped from her eyes, but that didn’t stop her from joining me at the right time. With our hearts connected, we filled each other with the right words — words that said exactly what we wanted from each other for the rest of our lives.
We were going to love each other like we could lose each other tomorrow. We’d hold each other every chance we got, and never take each another for granted, because who knew what tomorrow would bring.
We ended the song in a perfect rhythm. My heart was thundering in my ears and my stomach was in knots. It was worse than being on the field with seconds left on the clock and the ball in my hand. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but I had an idea what was coming next.
“Wow. Lexi. That was intense. Beautiful.” I cupped her check. “Just like you.”
“Thank you. I wasn’t sure I could get it right, but I guess I did.”
“You did more than get it right, baby. You nailed it.”
She smiled. “You did great yourself.”
“Not as good as you.” I placed a soft a kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She pulled away slowly. “I have something else for you.”
“You’re full of surprises tonight.”
She winked and then went to the Christmas tree. Reaching behind it, she retrieved a small box. My heart about leaped out of my chest and I felt like a girl about to get proposed to. Sitting next to me, she inhaled a deep breath and then exhaled.
“Raven,” she tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up at me, “we’ve been through hell and back and it’s been a rough ride. But it’s been worth it. You’ve been worth it.” Her voice squeaked, but she managed to keep the tears back. “And I know I can’t ever be without you. I need you — our children need you. Over the past several months, you’ve proven to me you deserve to have my heart.” She popped open the box, showing me a wedding band crafted in a thick black tungsten carbide. Tears seeped from my eyes; there was no holding them back. I loved Lexi so much, and I was completely overwhelmed.
“I’m willing to give it to you for good, if you want it. So, I guess what I’m saying is, will you marry me, Raven? Will you promise to be there for me, for us, for our children, no matter what happens? Will you be my happily ever after?”
I gathered her in my arms and stared right into the center of her big, brown eyes. “I would love to be your husband, Lexi. And I promise to love you no matter what life throws at us. I will be here for our children and you. I will give you that happily ever after until God takes me from this earth.”
Her lips trembled, but curled into a huge smile. “I love you so much.”
I wiped her tears with the pads of my fingers. “And I love you, Lexi Ann Davenport. You’ve made this the best Christmas ever.”
“I’d have to agree that in New Orleans, it’s definitely been a different Christmas.”
The End
Need more of Raven and Lexi?
Read the entire Univesity Park Series.
Now available in a box set.
Read the entire series from Raven’s point of view in
A Different Side.
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About the Author
CM Doporto
Born and raised in the United States of America in the great state of Texas, CM Doporto resides there with her husband and son, enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Red Head Parrot and several fish. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, where she is associated with the Young Adult Special Interest Chapter. To learn more about her upcoming books, visit www.cmdoporto.com and sign up to receive email notifications. You can also like CM Doporto’s fan page on Facebook and follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Web/blog: http://cmdoporto.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/cmdoportowriter
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Twitter: @cm_doporto
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Other Books by
CM Doporto
YOUNG ADULT
The Eslite Chronicles
The Eslites (short story prequel)
The Eslites, The Arrival
The Eslites, Out of This World (Coming Soon)
NEW ADULT
The Natalie Vega Saga
Element, Part 1
Element, Part 2
University Park Series
Opposing Sides
The Same Side
The Winning Side
A Different Side
A Different Christmas
My Lucky Catch (Spring 2016) - Luke and Delaney’s Story
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
About The Author
A Different Christmas (University Park #5) Page 12
