Chloe

Their second attempt at making s’mores was much more successful. Mostly because Chloe didn’t allow herself to touch Ethan. She was learning very quickly that it was easy to get carried away with him.

“So, what do you think?” she asked when Ethan polished off his peanut butter cup s’more.

“I can’t believe I’ve been missing this all my life.”

She laughed. “I told you.” Chloe shook her head. “I still can’t believe you survived nineteen years without experiencing this.”

“I’m learning there’s a lot I haven’t experienced, Chloe.”

“Well, you’re going to have to make me a list so we can work on making you a well-rounded human.”

He bunched his eyebrows together. “I’m well-rounded.”

“No, you’re stuffy. You grew up with a kitchen staff. I bet you even had a butler.”

Ethan smirked and she knew she was right. He ate his last bit of s’more and lay down on his side, propping his head up on his fist. She loved how relaxed he looked lounging by the fire. The playful smirk on his face told her he was in a teasing mood and she was game for keeping things light.

“So, how many butlers are we talking?” she teased.

His face pinked. “Six.”

“Six!”

“Shhh,” he hissed shoving her knee. “It’s not that big a deal. They’re just like the concierges at your lodge.”

“That’s a hotel, Ethan. It’s supposed to have staff,” she replied. “Oh no, you’re super rich, aren’t you?”

He shook his head.

“Yes you are. You’re a spoiled rich boy from Manhattan,” she teased.

“No I’m not,” he pulled her toward him, tickling her until she was breathless and snuggled against him.

“I can’t believe I’m falling for a stuffy, rich kid from the city. I’m going to have to show you how to live, aren’t I?”

He grinned. “I wouldn’t say no to that.”

She kissed his nose. “Good.”

“Ya know, I don’t think you’re allowed to call me rich?”

“Why’s that?”

“Have you forgotten I’ve seen that Christmas monstrosity you call a lodge? Your family seems to be doing pretty well for themselves.”

“Yeah, they do alright.” Chloe hugged a pillow and rolled onto her stomach.

“Can I ask you something?”

She nodded.

“Why do you guys live in this tiny little cabin when you have an amazing hotel right next door?”

She shrugged. “The lodge just opened a few years ago. Most of my life the family business was just the Christmas tree farm.”

“But things seem to be going well at the lodge.”

She nodded. “They are. I think my parents are just being cautious. Plus, my great-great-grandfather built this house. It has sentimental value.”

“I get that,” Ethan said pulling Chloe into his arms.

She sighed, loving the feel of having him so close. He undid the clip restraining her hair. It cascaded down around her shoulders and Ethan spent a few silent seconds just letting it slip through his fingers. Chloe could’ve laid there with him forever, nestled in his arms in front of the fire while he stroked her hair.

She didn’t think she’d ever felt so comfortable before. But as the silence stretched out she could almost feel the cloud of doubt settle over Ethan. She propped herself on her elbow to look at him and saw he was frowning.

“What’s wrong?”

“If I really were rich, would that change the way you feel about me?”

“Ethan, you already know how I feel about you.”

“Do I?”

“I thought I made it pretty clear in the kitchen.”

He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You did, but I wouldn’t mind hearing you say it.” His sad eyes seemed to be saying, I’ve been wrong before, Chloe.

Ethan

Ethan gazed at Chloe trying not to need her confirmation. But he did.

I’ve been wrong before, Chloe. I need to hear it. Just once.

Ethan felt his chest tighten as he waited for Chloe’s response. Why had he just asked her to spell it out for him? What if she didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear? They’d only known each other for a few days. What did he expect? A declaration of love?

Chloe opened her mouth to respond and Ethan willed his ears not to listen. Please don’t break my heart, Chloe.

“Ask me what my favorite Christmas memory is,” she said.

Ethan blinked at her. That hadn’t been the response he expected at all. Did she not understand the question? “You already told me. Ice skating with your family when you were nine or ten.”

She grinned and sat up. “I love that you remember that. But I need to change my answer.”

Ethan sat up, too. “Okay. What’s your favorite Christmas memory?”

“This one, right now. Sitting in front of the fire with you, knowing that having you come into my life is the best Christmas gift I ever could’ve received. I don’t think I’m falling for you, Ethan. I know I’ve fallen completely. And you make me never want to let go.”

Ethan felt his chest tighten near bursting. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. But he didn’t need to. Just like always, Chloe knew what he needed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. His own arms responded naturally, crushing her to him.

He sucked in a deep breath as he buried his face in her neck, holding her tighter as his body began to shake with relief. He hadn’t realized how terrified he was of losing this incredible girl who’d somehow stolen his heart until that exact moment when she told him she wanted him, too.

Chloe pulled back gently and brought her hand to his cheek to wipe away a tear he didn’t even know he’d shed. “It’s too soon to say it,” she murmured. “But I feel it, Ethan.” She pressed her hand to his heart. “And I don’t ever want to lose this.”

He nodded, afraid if he spoke he would shatter. But he knew she understood. How could she not? Her hand was directly over his pounding heart and he could see into her beautiful hazel eyes. Every thought of hers mirrored his own. He loved her. He needed her. He never wanted to let her go.

“I know you have to go back to Manhattan in a few days. But I’ll be moving to the city for college in few months. Do you think . . .” Chloe looked down, her rare vulnerability showing.

Ethan stroked her petal-soft cheek. “What?”

Her eyes met his and the spark between them grew. “Do you think you could wait for me?”

Chloe

Chloe was greeted with the first full smile she’d ever gotten from Ethan and its sheer beauty was breathtaking. Her heart caught in her throat as he dazzled her with his grin. “Chloe, you have no idea how long I’ve waited for you. A few months longer is nothing.”

Pure, unaltered joy coursed through Chloe’s veins as Ethan pressed his lips to hers.

The rest of the night was lost in a blur of blissful moments spent kissing beneath the fire’s glow. Chloe didn’t remember it burning out or when Ethan carried her to her bedroom, but she woke up in her room, wrapped in a blanket, with Darcy curled up at the foot of her bed. At first, she wasn’t quite sure what had woken her, but then she saw Margot creeping into bed.

“Go-Go?” Chloe whispered, her voice heavy with sleep.

“Go back to bed,” Margot whispered, kissing Chloe’s forehead.

“Wait. Did you tell him?”

A huge smile lit up Margot’s whole face. “I did.”

“And?”

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.