Margot climbed into bed with Chloe and snuggled up next to her. “And you were right. Everything is going to be okay. Actually, much better than okay.”
Chloe sighed into her sister’s arms. “I knew it,” she whispered and then drifted back to sleep.
36
Ethan
The sound of voices woke Ethan from his slumber. He was wrapped in a blanket snuggled on the leather couch in the Price’s living room. Last night after tucking Chloe into bed, he’d returned to his room to find Margot and Owen sleeping together in Owen’s bed. The moment seemed too peaceful and intimate to interrupt so Ethan had returned to the couch.
He’d been tempted to crawl into bed with Chloe, but Ethan didn’t want to push his luck. He’d told her he’d wait for her and he’d meant it. Ethan knew that he wanted all of Chloe and that there was no need to rush. They would have plenty of time together once she moved to the city. Maybe even a whole lifetime.
The hope that filled him was a pleasant surprise. He wasn’t used to waking up with a chest full of optimism. Ethan yawned, stretching as he sat up. He’d actually never slept better. After knowing this thing with him and Chloe wasn’t one-sided he’d finally been able to silence the disquiet that had been growing in his newly exposed heart. When he finally focused on his surroundings, he was greeted with another pleasant surprise.
Chloe stood at the edge of the couch holding a mug of coffee. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“Good morning, gorgeous,” he said, pulling her onto his lap.
She giggled and let him nuzzle her neck while she carefully balanced the hot coffee.
The sound of Mr. Price clearing his throat brought Ethan back to reality. “Merry Christmas,” he said, entering the living room followed by the rest of the family.
Chloe slid off Ethan’s lap and took a seat next to him on the couch.
“Merry Christmas,” Ethan replied.
“Okay, presents first or breakfast?” Mrs. Price asked as she bustled into the room carrying a tray of freshly baked cinnamon buns.
“Presents!” Margot exclaimed.
Ethan watched patiently while the Price family exchanged gifts. Surprisingly, they didn’t buy a lot for each other. Ethan had remembered an abundance of extravagant gifts under the tree when his mother had been alive. But as he recalled, the gifts hadn’t been what made Christmas feel special, it had been his mother who did that by the way she’d always made him feel loved.
As he watched Chloe’s family together he realized it wasn’t the gifts that made them so happy, it was this precious time they were spending together. Chloe opened a new stethoscope from her parents and squealed as she thanked them, telling them it was the exact one she’d wanted. Of course it is, Chloe. They love you.
Ethan found that thought warmed his heart. It made him happy that the girl he loved was so loved by others. He only hoped one day he would know her as well as her family did. That he would be able to read her mind and get her the exact things she wanted without her having to ask.
As the gift-giving started to wind to a close Ethan began to feel more apprehensive about his gift. Maybe he shouldn’t give it to Chloe. He still had time to back out. No one would be any wiser. Well, Margot and Owen would, but they seemed so wrapped up in each other that they probably wouldn’t notice if the roof caved in right now, let alone if Ethan bailed on his gift idea.
It had seemed so perfect when he thought of it yesterday . . . but maybe it was stupid. Chloe said she wanted to move forward and he had bought her a gift from the past.
Before he could think much more about it, Chloe bounded over to him, a shiny red box in her hands. “This is for you,” she said, grinning.
“You got me something?”
“Of course.”
Ethan tried to keep the shock from his face. It had been a long time since anyone had bought him a Christmas gift. He and Owen didn’t exchange them. It didn’t seem right given their feelings about the holiday. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Chloe said, teasingly.
Ethan unwrapped the box and pulled back the white tissue paper. When his fingers met the thick red wool and tiny bells his heart felt too big for his chest. Chloe, you didn’t.
It was the sweater. The one from that first night in the kitchen. The one everyone in her family wore when they worked at the lodge. The same one that captured Everett’s Christmas cheer.
“Welcome to the family,” Chloe whispered as she placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
Ethan couldn’t speak. Instead he yanked the sweater over his head and then pulled Chloe to her feet. “I have something for you, too. All of you actually,” he said, speaking to her family.
Chloe
Chloe followed Ethan to the mudroom. She was about to ask him what he was doing when he opened the door and she saw six pairs of shiny new ice skates lined up in a row, each with a red velvet bow tied to the laces.
“Ethan!” She gasped. “Did you do this?”
“I wanted to make this your favorite Christmas.”
She took his hands in hers as tears swam in her eyes. “It already is,” she whispered. “Because I’m sharing it with you.” Then she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him in front of everyone.
Ethan
After Ethan got over the shock of Chloe kissing him in front of her entire family, he managed to find his voice after clearing his throat several times. “I, um, got skates for everyone.”
“Sweetheart, you didn’t have to do that,” Mrs. Price said.
“I know. But Chloe told me that her favorite Christmas was the one when you all skated on the frozen pond. When we took the snowmobiles out I noticed that it was frozen.” He shrugged. “I thought maybe we could recreate a little Christmas magic.”
Chloe’s father looked at his daughter with pride. “I remember that year. You were ten. You spent more time on your rear end than your skates, baby girl. That was really your favorite Christmas?”
She nodded. “Absolutely. It was the last time we all took the entire day off to be together as a family.”
Chloe’s parents shared a look. Then her mother spoke. “Well, then I think we’re well overdue for a family outing.”
“What about the lodge?” Chloe asked.
“Family comes first,” her mother replied without pause.
Chloe grinned and started passing out the skates. Ethan helped her, but when he handed Margot her pair, she frowned. It made Ethan pause. He knew he hadn’t gotten her size wrong. Margot was the one he’d asked for the shoe sizes when he came up with the idea while picking up the ice sculpture with Owen.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked her.
Margot reached for Owen’s hand. He smiled at her and nodded. Margot swallowed hard and handed the skates back to Ethan. “I’m really sorry to ruin your incredibly sweet plans, Ethan. This was such a wonderful gesture, but I can’t join you on the ice.”
Chloe was suddenly by Ethan’s side, looking concerned. She linked her fingers with his and mouthed, ‘are you okay’ to her sister.
Margot nodded. But now everyone was looking at her. Owen squeezed Margot’s shoulder and kissed her temple as he whispered something to her that no one else could hear.
“Why can’t you join us?” Mr. Price asked.
Margot blew out a deep breath. “Because I’m pregnant.”
Ethan felt his knees buckle. If he hadn’t been holding Chloe’s hand he was sure he would’ve stumbled, but she held him up. “What?” he whispered.
But Ethan’s question was swallowed by the boom of Mr. Price’s voice. It raised with each word he said, as did the red color of his face. “Excuse me? You’re what?”
Mr. Price made to take a step toward Owen, but Mrs. Price stopped him.
“Tom,” she said, placing a gentle hand on her husband’s arm.
Again they shared a look and this one somehow took all the fight from Mr. Price. He ran a hand over his face, looking five years older when he was finishe
d. He sagged back against the doorframe.
Mrs. Price walked across the room to her daughter.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Margot whimpered. “I know you didn’t want this for me.”
Mrs. Price frowned. “Margot, the only thing I’ve ever wanted for you is happiness.”
Margot swallowed hard, swiping at her tears. She looked at Owen for a moment, then back at her mother. “I am happy, Mom. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“Then I’m happy, too.” Mrs. Price opened her arms and Margot darted into them.
Ethan felt his heart crack wide open. What he wouldn’t give to have a hug from his mother right now. There truly was nothing like family. But with that thought came a strange realization. Ethan’s family was growing. His real family. His blood. He was going to be an uncle. He looked at Margot with fresh eyes, realizing she wasn’t stealing Owen from him at all. She was giving Ethan more of Owen to love. A nephew.
He looked down at Chloe who was already smiling. “You knew.”
It wasn’t really a question but she answered anyway. “Since yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but this was their news to share.”
Ethan just stared at Chloe, shock and revelation making his heart pound so loud it drowned out the other conversation going on in the room.
“Are you mad?” Chloe asked.
“Mad?”
“That I didn’t tell you?”
Ethan looked down at Chloe, a million happy thoughts exploding in his chest at once. Chloe, I could never be mad at you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“I am?”
Ethan was startled that she responded. But then he realized that he’d said his thoughts out loud for once and he couldn’t stop the smile that slid into place. He pulled Chloe into his arms. “Absolutely. You, Margot, and your whole family. You have no idea what you’ve given me.”
Chloe blinked up at him, reading the answer in his smile. But Ethan wanted to be sure she had no doubts. “You gave me somewhere I belong, Chloe. And I will always love you for that.”
She grinned. “Good, because we’re family now. And that’s forever.”
“Forever?”
She nodded.
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I like the sound of that, Chloe.”
She kissed him back. “Me too.”
Epilogue
Chloe
Chloe laced up her skates, tugging to make sure they were tight.
“Quit stalling,” Ethan teased, pulling her to her feet.
“I’m not,” she argued. “I’m just taking it all in,” Chloe said, looking over the perfect ice in awe. “I’ve wanted to do this for a very long time.”
Ethan grinned. “Me too.”
He held Chloe’s hand tightly as she stepped onto the slick surface of the ice. At first she felt unsteady, but with Ethan by her side she knew she had nothing to fear. It had been that way ever since last Christmas.
Chloe could hardly believe another Christmas was just around the corner. She looked at the smiling faces of all the people on the ice at Rockefeller Center. The first snow of the season had just begun to fall. She couldn’t believe she was actually here.
Ever since she was a little girl, Chloe had wanted to come ice skating in New York City. Now she was living here. She’d moved into an incredible apartment with Ethan, Margot and Owen. It was close to their campus. And she loved all of her classes. She even got to intern two days a week at a hospital. She was living her dream.
And if that weren’t enough, she was dating her soulmate. She and Ethan had been dating since last Christmas and in that time, she’d seen him blossom into the most incredible man. Before him, she hadn’t really known if she believed in miracles or a higher power, but now she did.
It had been an absolute Christmas miracle that blessed Chloe’s family with the Hall brothers. She hated that it had taken them being abandoned by their birth family and adoptive family to bring them to hers. But she was glad for it, too. Because Chloe couldn’t imagine her family without them.
Margot had given birth to a beautiful baby girl a few months ago and it had brought their already close family closer. And watching Ethan with his niece made Chloe fall in love with him all over again.
The broken boy she’d met almost a year ago was a ghost now, who rarely visited. Together, her family had helped Ethan grow into the strong, confident, caring man he was always meant to be.
After spending all of his school breaks helping Chloe and her family at the lodge, Ethan changed his major to hotel management. She loved watching him chat animatedly with her parents about ideas for their business. Sometimes, on days when Ethan was feeling even more joyful than usual, he talked about the future he wanted with her. ‘Let’s move back to Pine Island and have lots of kids. We can help your parents run the lodge and make them babysit so we can take the snowmobiles up to the ridge.’
On days when he said things like that, Chloe thought her heart might burst. And she finally understood what her grandfather had meant about smiles ending famine. Because Ethan’s now easy smile, would sustain her for a lifetime.
“What are you thinking?” he asked as they glided around the rink.
Chloe felt tears prick her eyes. “I’m thinking about how much I love you.”
He gave her a breathtaking smile. “I love you more.”
She shook her head. “Not possible.”
Ethan turned his skates abruptly and skidded to a stop. Chloe laughed as he pulled her into his arms so swiftly she lost her balance. But not once did she worry he would drop her. She knew he never would. They were bookends, designed to hold each other up the way no one else could.
“So, what do you think?” he asked. “Was it worth the wait?”
“Rockefeller Center? Absolutely.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “I’m glad you like it, but I was talking about us.”
Chloe planted a sweet kiss on his lips. “Ethan, you are everything I hoped for and so much more. I’d wait for you forever.”
He kissed her deeply before steadying her onto her feet. Then, with a smile bright enough to melt all the ice in New York City, he dropped to one knee and pulled a ring from his pocket. “Waiting is overrated.”
To my readers,
I want to personally thank you for taking the time to seek out this great little indie book. Writing is truly my passion. I believe each of us can find a small part of ourselves in every book we read, and carry it with us, shaping our world, our adventures and our dreams.
Following my dream to write frees my soul but knowing others find joy in my writing is indescribable. So thank you for your support and I hope your enjoyed your brief escape into the magic of these pages.
If you enjoyed this story, don’t worry, there’s plenty more currently rattling around in my rambunctious imagination. Let me and others know your thoughts by sharing a review of this book. Reviews help shape my next writing projects. So if you want more books like this one be sure to shout it from the rooftops (or social media.) ;-)
- Christina Benjamin
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW HERE
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank everyone who made this book possible.
To my husband, whose unyielding belief and encouragement forces me to pour my best self onto each and every page, and to all the time and effort he dedicates to making my musing into actual tangible dreams.
To Molly and Megan, who always say yes when I hand them yet another pile of pages.
To Vince for literally sitting by my side during every word, edit and rewrite. You helped breathe life and authenticity into Darcy and every pet I write. You are the stinky heartbeat at my feet and I wouldn’t trade you for the world.
To all the strange places I lock myself away to write, to Nancy, my write-or-die girl, and to my NINC guys for challenging my writing sprints to reach new limits.
To New York City, for all the wonderful memories I acquired on each childhood visit. T
here is truly something magic there, especially around Christmas time.
To my little brother, who loves a good snowball fight and anything chocolate. Thank you for showing me how awesome it is to have a little brother to plot and laugh with.
A huge thank you to my parents for giving me a childhood in the northeast, surrounded by snow, sleigh rides, frozen cheeks, hot cocoa and real Christmas trees—even if we had to dig them up ourselves. Thank you for teaching me to believe in the magic of Christmas, look for everyday miracles and the people who need them most, and best of all thank you for teaching me that love conquers all.
Lastly, thank you to all of you who are taking the time to read this to the very end. I hope your holiday is merry and bright and full of the magic of Christmas.
Also by Christina Benjamin
YOUNG ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
(All Boyfriend Books are Stand-Alone Novels and can be read in Any Order)
The Practice Boyfriend (Book 1)
The Almost Boyfriend (Book 2)
The Goodbye Boyfriend (Book 3)
The Holiday Boyfriend (Book 4)
The Stand-In Boyfriend (Book 5)
The Maybe Boyfriend (Book 6)
The Accidental Boyfriend (Book 7)
The Summer Boyfriend (Book 8)
The Wedding Boyfriend (Book 9)
The Winter Boyfriend (Book 10)
About the Author
Award-Winning author, Christina Benjamin, lives in Florida with her husband, and character inspiring pets, where she spends her free time working on her books and enjoying a macaron with a glass of wine.
Christina is best known for her bestselling Young Adult romance novels, The Boyfriend series. The Boyfriend series proves that book boyfriends are like Chocolate… you can never have enough. Check out the Boyfriend series for fast, fun, YA romance reads. These stand alone novels let you fall in love with new characters every time.
The Winter Boyfriend: A Stand-Alone YA Contemporary Romance Novel (The Boyfriend Series) Page 18
