“But I didn’t come to your shop everyday over the last year for the food, Petal. I came to see you.”
She let out a small gasp.
I stepped closer to her, wanting to see her green eyes even better. “You bewitched me long before the Halloween party. I wanted more between us. I always wanted more, but I meant it when I said I didn’t want to lose our friendship either.”
“Cy.” She said as she stood.
“Let me take Bertie,” April said, coming between me and Petal to take her son.
“But now I’m risking it because I don’t want to be just friends,” I continued.
Her eyes welled with tears and I hoped to hell they were happy ones.
With hope in my heart, I pressed on. “I have no idea how you feel about me—”
“I love you.”
Her words washed over me like a soothing wave. “And I love you. So much.”
She let out a sound that was a mixture of a laugh and cry as she rushed to me. I reached for her, and finally, finally, she was in my arms. I wrapped her up tight. I held her hoping she understood that I wasn’t ever going to let her go.
“Petal and Cy? I didn’t know they were a thing,” August said.
“Finally,” April said.
“You’re right, they totally make sense,” Jude said.
I pulled away from Petal enough to cradle her face in my hands. “I’m sorry I was so dense and a coward.” Then I leaned forward and kissed her. The taste of her lips fed my soul. I hadn’t realized just how empty I was until that moment when her essence filled my heart.
“Dinner is ready, if you’d like to stay Cy. Or maybe you two need some time alone,” April said.
I wanted to take Petal home, but I couldn’t very well pull her away from a party.
“I think it’s time for us to go,” Petal said.
I smiled. “Can you give me a ride? I had to Uber it over and he left.”
We said our goodbyes and Petal drove us back to her place. I stared at her the whole time.
“You’re making me self-conscious,” she said, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink.
“I’m just wanting to make sure this is real.” I had a real fear that all this was a dream. That I’d wake up and discover I was at home in my bed alone.
“Is it? I’m afraid I’m dreaming too.”
I took her hand. “Dreams can come true, Petal. Do you believe it?”
She glanced at me. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
We arrived at her apartment, and a part of me was desperate to kiss and touch her, but it was also important that she knew my desire for her wasn’t just a physical lust. She was necessary to my being. So instead of accosting her once the front door shut, I simply pulled her to me and held her again.
“Is your mom okay?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around me.
“She told me she wanted me to have it all for Christmas. The only way I could have that is if I had you.” I kissed her temple and then leaned back to look at her. “I’d like to fly back tomorrow early. Could you come with me? All we both want for Christmas is you, my sweet Petal.”
Her smile lit up my soul. “Yes.”
I kissed her then, still intending to take things slow. Petal on the other hand, had different ideas as she took the kiss deeper, hotter. Her body pressed against my erection.