Rebel Without A Claus

“I think it was just rum,” he agreed. “At least you’re not drunk now.”

“Don’t. I think I’ve had enough rum to last me a lifetime.” I yawned, and he wrapped his arm around me, cuddling me into his side.

He offered me his cup of coffee, and I took it, taking a few sips, and handed it back.

“I didn’t expect to find you out here,” I said after a moment.

He chuckled. “Your sister is going to kill you for that recorder.”

“I know. She almost broke my toe for the drum kit.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

“Neither can I. It was a great present, just like the recorder. Although this one might have to stay here with the baby.”

He laughed softly and leaned back. “I would say it probably does, yeah.”

I closed my eyes as we sat for a while, neither of us saying a word. We didn’t need to—the delightful off-key harping of Jazzy on the recorder was quite enough noise, and it continued on until Gramps said he was going to shove the recorder.

That was where Mom stopped him, anyway.

We both laughed quietly, and Nicholas put his mug down on the side table.

“So, I’ve been thinking about something,” he said quietly.

“Very dangerous,” I quipped.

He pressed a finger against my lips. “I didn’t tell you this before because I didn’t know what to do, but I left my job in Illinois before the holidays.”

I sat upright and stared at him. “Are you kidding?”

“Hear me out,” he said, turning and holding up his hands. “I was struggling a lot in that school, and I had several applications in to other schools in the area. I had every intention of going back when I arrived here.”

I stared at him.

“Then I saw Grandma’s house and everything like that, and you were here, and I wondered if going back was the right thing to do.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Oscar’s aunt is a teacher at the high school here and he heard there was an opening for a science teacher. I didn’t expect anything, but I applied anyway.”

Oh.

This was all making sense.

“Mrs. Nix. That’s why she was at the grotto, wasn’t it?”

Nicholas nodded. “She came to offer me the job.”

I stared at him. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t have as much experience as some of the other candidates, but she liked that I have the sports experience and can help out coaching football, too.”

“What did you say to her?”

“I accepted the offer.”

I looked down, and he reached up to cup the side of my face. I turned my face into his touch and whispered, “Does that mean you’re staying in Snow Cove?”

“It means I’m staying in Snow Cove,” he said, meeting my gaze. “I had to speak to my mom first. She’s happy for me to take Grandma’s house and fix it up, then we’ll figure out how to make me the owner at a later time. I have a house, I have a job… I don’t need to go back to my old place.” He paused. “Well, a lot of my stuff is there, so I do have to go back, but—”

I leaned forward and kissed him, pressing my hands to his cheeks. “You’re staying.”

“I am.” He brushed his thumb over my cheek. “I have a house and a job here, Quinn. Now all I need is you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want you to think I could stay. If I didn’t get this job, I probably would have had to leave because I had an offer from a school back there.” He brushed hair from my face. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It caused a lot of stress, didn’t it?”

I shrugged. “Maybe, but the other option wouldn’t have been better, would it? If I knew you could stay but you had to leave. At least this way we always knew you leaving was more likely.”

“I suppose you’re right. But I’m not. I’m not going anywhere.” He cupped the back of my head and drew me in for a kiss.

I leaned into him until I was on his lap, straddling him, with my arms wrapped around his neck. “I’m happy about that. Wait, was this my Christmas present?”

He grinned against my neck. “Maybe.”

“I suppose it’s only fair if you give me you for Christmas. I only got you me, after all.” I grinned down at him. “I can’t believe you’re staying. After all that.”

“Believe it, Azazel.”

“Not that again.”

He kissed me. “Just one more thing.”

“What?”

“Be my girlfriend.”

I tilted my head to the side and smiled down at him. “Are you sure? I’m a lot of hard work, and it’s not been that long since you came back. You haven’t even scratched the surface of me yet.”

“That’s fine. I’m pretty sure I’ll love you even when I do.”

I drew in a sharp breath. “Those are fighting words.”