“What do you think?” I ask Harris as he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. I’ve finally finished putting the last touches on the tree. I’m excited to spend this Christmas somewhere that I actually want to be. I’m both excited and a ball of nerves because I want everything to be just right.

“It’s perfect.” He kisses the top of my head. “Like you,” he adds, making me smile even bigger than I already am. A happy buzz floats around me as I look at the dancing lights on the tree, really taking it in.

“It’s not…” I search for a word. “Extra?” I bite my lip and look over my shoulder at him. His eyes are back on the tree. I see him fight a smile. He’s trying to spare my feelings, or maybe spare himself so I don’t make us start all over again.

“It is, isn't it?” I let out a long sigh and glance around the rest of the living room that was once bare of human touches. “It looks like Christmas exploded in here,” I admit. Owning what I’d done in here. Harris’s body shakes as he tries to keep his laugher in. After a moment I can’t help but join him because it’s so over the top in here. I’m pretty sure some of the stuff like the giant light-up candy cane I sat next to the fireplace was meant for outdoors.

“This is your fault!” I try to defend my decorating abilities. “Who closes down a store and tells someone to get whatever they want?” I remind him of his ridiculousness in indulging me. For Thanksgiving we flew out to his parents’ home and we met and spent time together.

They called not long after everything happened at the music hall. Like everything in this city, the news about us had spread like wildfire. We still keep making the papers here. Unlike I feared, our story was made into a sweet love tale. Neither one of us was dragged through the mud. The only downside has been my mother crawling out of the woodwork. It was jolting when she strolled right up to me outside our building. As quick as she was there, she was gone again from my life. I have a feeling it was Harris’s doing. I didn't ask. I tasted a life too sweet. Had met parents that were truly kind and loving. I wasn’t going back to that life.

“I wanted to put you at ease. Besides, who wants to fight the holiday crowds?” I snort at his ridiculous reasoning and throw my hand over my mouth to muffle the sound. I don’t care how many times Harris tries to tell me it’s a cute sound coming from me. I’ll never buy it. “I didn't hear you complaining as you ran up and down the aisles grabbing everything,” he reminds me right back.

I can’t even argue that point saying he’s exaggerating. When we left his parents’ we all made plans for them to come to us for Christmas. They’re going to stay into the new year. They both want to get to know me better. His mom was already hinting at grandchildren not even ten seconds after I met her in person. I was shocked with how easily they both welcomed me into all of their lives without question. You would have thought I’d been there for years.

I’d come up with the nerve to finally ask Harris’s mom the second night we’d been at their house why she so easily took to me. She looked at me and simply said, “If my son chose you, then I know you’re the one. That boy of mine has always known what he wants and goes for it.” I understood what she was saying. If Harris told me something, I took it as gold, too. Then she’d added, “It doesn't hurt you’re the first girl he’s ever brought home or talked about, for that matter.” If Harris hadn’t already made me feel special every day and I wasn’t already madly in love with him, that would have sent me over for sure.

Now they’re coming here and I’ve been wanting everything to be perfect. As perfect as the Thanksgiving they shared with me. I want to show them I care.

When I started talking about how we needed to do something about his condo to make it festive, Harris hadn’t missed a beat in making that happen. The next day I was running through a holiday store like I was on a shopping spree show, finally putting the credit card Harris gave me to use.

“We never set them up. My mother always hired people. I like this way better.” I let out another small laugh. “Even if it looks extra.” It does look a hot mess and it’s growing on me quickly. No, it’s not perfect like a professional would have done, but it’s ours.

“Told you, sweetheart. It’s perfect.” He turns and brushes his lips against mine. He’s right. It is perfect. “Thank you for caring so much about making this a perfect Christmas for my parents.”

“I want them to want to come here,” I admit. Meeting Harris’s parents showed me what parents could really be like. I enjoyed being with his mother. She doted on me and made me feel like I was her daughter. I look forward to her phone calls every few days. His dad was just as sweet as his mom. He reminded me so much of Harris with how he treated his wife.

“Oh, they’ll be coming. I think the only reason they haven’t come sooner is Christmas was so close and I told them I wasn't ready to share you yet.”

“You’ll never be ready to share me, so you might as well get used to it,” I tease, breaking from his hold to go get my coat for our date night. I don’t make it two feet and he’s pulling me back into his body.

“I won’t. Not even after I take my last breath on this earth. I’ll still want more.” His mouth falls onto mine as my heart gives a flutter. It always does when he talks about us as a never-ending love. That we would always be together. He hasn't asked me to marry him, but he tells people I’m his forever. I try not to think why he hasn't asked me. I know he loves me and that’s all that matters.

I sigh when we pull apart, looking forward to coming back home and we haven't even left yet. “Sloan,” Harris warns. We both know where this is headed. It isn’t unusual for us to miss a date night because we end up in bed.

“Then let me get my coat,” I sass.

“I’ll get your coat.” He takes my hand and leads me towards the door. It doesn't take long and we’re in the back of a town car. It makes me think back to when I was driving people around. I didn't hate the job, though I wore myself out doing it. I was always on the go, trying to make every penny I could. Maybe I’d even miss it if it wasn't for Harris. The man keeps me busy in all ways.

Our passion for the city has melded together. I love helping him here and there. I brought up finding another job since he hated me driving around and letting random people into my car. He was sure someone would just take me. I have to admit it doesn't hurt my ego that he thinks everyone wants me. It’s a nice change from feeling like no one wants to be seen with me. He always does that, though. He heals parts of me that I didn't know had been damaged.

He told me he needed me at his side. I was happy being there, so I didn’t bring it back up. I wanted to be at his side, but I wanted to make sure he wanted that, too.

Not to mention I'm pretty sure I’m pregnant. I haven't even told Harris yet. With Christmas only days away, I think I’ll do it then. I know he’ll be happy. His lack of care when it comes to protection makes that clear. So do all the dirty things he says when we make love. He said he was going to knock me up a dozen times while we made love. Every time it would send me over the edge of orgasm.

My mouth falls open as we pull up to the old movie theatre. It’s one I drove past many times. “Harris?” I ask. He gives me a smile and pulls me from the car.

“You said you thought it needed some love.” He shrugs. “So I bought it. If it needs some love, we’ll give it that.”

“You just bought it? Just like that?” My eyes water. He stops walking and pulls me into him.

“Sweetheart, you know what your tears do to me.”

“They're happy tears. They don’t count.” I say the same thing I always do when he gets me all choked up.

“Come. There is more.” When we enter the theater, I can tell someone has already started cleaning the place up. I gasp when we walk into one of the rooms. Rose petals are strewn on the aisle. The room is filled with light from candles everywhere.

“Harris. You’re really not going to like this,” I tell him as the tears leak down my cheeks. He smiles at me before placing kisses on my cheeks to stop them. When I finally think I’ve got it under control, he does it to me all over again when he falls to one knee.

“I’ve been dying to ask you something, sweetheart. The wait almost killed me, but I wanted to make this perfect for you.”

“For me.” I repeat his words.

“Always.” He slides the diamond ring onto my finger. “Tell me you’ll marry me,” he demands.

I want to tease him, but I don’t have it in me. I throw myself at him. He catches me easily, kissing me deeply.

“I’ll marry you,” I blurt out when our mouths finally part. “Now take me home and make love to me.” It’s me issuing the demand this time.

“Are you sure? I had plans for us.” I start to respond but stop when the screen at the front of the theater lights up. A gasp leaves me when Annie starts to play.

“You remembered.”

“Remembered?” He barks out a laugh. “I don’t just remember when it comes to you, Sloan. I wanted you to see that I’ll spend my life making you happy. Tonight was a taste of what we’ll have together.

“We’ll have it all,” I finish for him. “And maybe one more.” It takes him a moment for my words to sink in.

“And then another,” he adds. I burst into a fit of laughter.

“Let’s focus on one,” I say.

“Or we could practice for more.” He lifts me off my feet, and we end up missing the movie. We’ll write our own happily ever after.