Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
And I certainly wouldn’t be as happy as I am now if I fulfilled my original dream of traveling the world and hooking up with all the hot guys I wanted. Nico's warmth managed to melt even the ice on my stunted heart. And isn’t that what life should be all about?
I watch him oil the wheel of the toy train, all focused, and I smile at a family watching him through the shop window, because this makes me remember that he’s the source of joy for so many more people.
And yet, he’s mine. I’ve seen men (and women) hit on him more or less discreetly, and he’s always so proud to say he has a boyfriend. It makes me feel appreciated.
We spend some more time discussing what bread I should try making next as Nico fixes the train. Once he gets it going, a few people come in to see the miniature town and clap. Even though it’s time to close the shop and I’m itching to show off my early Christmas gift, I let Nico finish the day at his own pace, because watching him share festive joy with a kid is priceless. He lets the boy push the button responsible for the train’s whistle, and I smile at the absolute glee on the kid’s face.
Nico ends up gifting the boy a pin marking him as Santa’s Express Train Conductor, but in the end, the family leaves, we close the shop, and I wonder how incredible it is that I’m so happy sweeping the floors while Nico polishes the counters.
I know he’s tired and wants nothing more than to settle on the sofa and rest, but I hope the surprise I have for him will recharge his batteries. I slide my arms round him just as he places the cleaning supplies back in their usual spots. He still smells of his cologne, but there’s also a note from the cinnamon aroma of the coffee he had right after closure. I love it so much.
“Soo… how about a very short walk?” I offer.
He squints at me, then peeks through the window, but it’s not snowing like it had earlier. “How short?” Nico asks even though I already know he can be convinced.
“Extremely. You might not even need a coat,” I tell him and wink. “It’s a surprise.”
“Okay, but you are taking a hat,” he says and grabs the beanie he knitted for me from under the counter. It’s brown, has small ears, and makes me look silly, but I love it anyway, so I don’t complain when he puts it on my head. “I won’t have you ill again. You’re a very miserable patient.”
“Guilty as charged,” I tell him and get to my toes so we can kiss. But then I grab his hand and pull him toward the exit as excitement explodes inside me like fireworks.
He says nothing, no doubt trying to show some enthusiasm for my sake, but I know he will love my Christmas surprise. As soon as we lock up after ourselves, I take the ten steps separating us from the closed bakery next door and open it with a key I’ve been hiding from him for two weeks now.
“Merry Christmas,” I say, pushing him out of the frosty street and into the empty shop.
“Wh-what?” Nico asks, throwing me a suspicious glance. “You didn't…”
“Yes, I did!” I slap the light switch and make a little dance in front of the counter, which not that long ago held so many breads and pastries. “Think about it. It was the best bakery in town. We could reopen it, expand the shop, since you said you need more space, have some sort of customer loyalty program for both places. Aaand, maybe host baking workshops and stuff like that?”
Nico runs his fingers through his hair, looking around the dusty space. “And you bought it? This isn’t rented?” he asks in disbelief as I nod.
“Yep, the whole building.”
“This is incredible, Blake.” Nico’s smile widens and he turns to me. “We could knock down this wall, connect a cafe to the shop, and serve Christmas-themed treats all year round!”
“And expand our apartment,” I add, since that was the first thought in my head when I found out Mrs. Sally was selling her place and moving south to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.
I love Nico with all my heart, but I want another damn room up there.
Nico picks me up and twirls us like I’m some Disney princess. “Yes! A massive open-plan kitchen, just for you and your recipe experiments.”
It’s so sweet that he thinks of me first that I have to lean in and kiss him or I might just cry.
We’re perfect together.
The end