Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65346 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
None of that compared to the stunning Christmas tree sitting next to the fireplace, a tall and bushy tree with thick pine needles and a perfect arrangement of golden lights twinkling between them. The ornaments were blue, silver, and gold, all three of which happened to be my favorite colors. The star sitting on top glowed like a bright crown, casting rays of light onto the ceiling.
“I can’t—this is—” I put a hand on my mouth, unsure if the next thing out of my mouth would be words or a sob. “Nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
Okay, not a sob. My throat did get hitched on a few words, though.
“Oh, good, so you like it.”
“Are you kidding me? I love this.” I made a full circle, taking it all in, Mariah belting out exactly what she wanted for Christmas.
“I got nervous, Thanksgiving being two weeks away and all, but I thought you deserved a little bit of holiday joy. Who cares if Santa came early?”
“I don’t care at all.” I turned to Rex. “As long as he comes twice.” A wink his way got his cheeks turning red.
Good, that’s a little payback.
“Seriously, what the fuck.” I put my hands behind my head, an insurmountable level of love rising inside me. “This is amazing.”
I went over to Rex, who stood admiring the scene like a proud artist looking at his work in a gallery. I fell into his arms and looked up, seeing a mistletoe conveniently placed directly above us.
“You planned to stand here the entire time, didn’t you?”
He smirked. “Maybe.”
I kissed him—mistletoe or not, there’d be no way I wasn’t getting his lips on mine. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight, his lips pressing against mine, same as his body. His beard scratched against my stubble. The kiss was soft and slow, our lips only barely parting, but his taste still flooded through me.
I really didn’t think this day could get any better. Like, at fuckin’ all. This felt like the peak. There’d be nothing that could happen that would make this an even better day than it already was.
“Benji,” Rex said, his blue eyes locked on mine, lips shining under the shifting lights. “I’ve got to ask you something.”
And then, just like that, I was about to be proven wrong.
20
Rex Madison
Thank God, he loved the surprise. I worried for a second that it might have been too much. Too extra.
But he loved it, and it showed through the glow in his eyes.
Hopefully he loved what came next equally as much.
“Benji,” I said, my heart rate spiking and my mouth going dry, “I’ve got to ask you something.”
He cocked his head, still smiling, still shining. “Yessss?”
“Well.” Shit. I didn’t even think of how I was going to do this. I’d been so focused on pulling off the Christmas surprise, I didn’t think about what came next.
Looking into Benji’s eyes, his hands in mine, it made me realize that I didn’t need to plan this part. I let the words flow. “Ever since that night you asked me to be your boyfriend, I’ve been hating myself. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. It was a reaction that came from fear and self-doubt, all of my own bullshit that I projected onto you. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right.” I lifted his hands in the air, pushing my fingers through his. “That’s why I want to make things right. So, Benji, would you be my boyfriend?”
There, the words came to a rolling stop. My nerves rocketed through the stratosphere. I’d been on a roller coaster these past few hours. With the recent text threat still feeling like it had a tightening grip around my throat, this moment only heightened the anxiety roiling around inside me like a wild tornado. Benji’s face, although still smiling, was slightly unreadable. He seemed to be in a little bit of shock.
Crap, was this a bad time? Was this all too much?
Fuck, fuck, fu—
“Yes, Rex, let’s make this official.”
—ck yes!
I went in for a kiss that sealed the deal. The dotted line was signed, sealed, and delivered.
“I’m done with hiding, Benji. I’m going to come out, post about our relationship, and end all the stupid rumors. I can’t let my dad keep affecting me like this. If it messes up his career, then he can go reinvent himself with an Etsy store or something. I don’t care. I just want to be happy, and the only way that happens is with you.”
Benji’s smile only widened.
“I’m so fucking happy we got a second chance at this.”
“Almost feels like the third, and we all know what they say about that.”
“Coming in third is for the turds?”
That got a belly laugh out of me. Benji’s laughter joined mine, his hands falling to my hips.