Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Are you telling me I just stole some random hammer from Paul’s garage and gave it to you as a Christmas present?”
“Pretty much. You’re a thief now.”
“I’m … I’m gonna put this back.” I start to get up.
Samuel yanks me back down by the wrist. “No, no you don’t. That’s my hammer now.”
“Hey! It’s not yours!”
“It’s my new favorite hammer, I just decided. The one that my boyfriend valiantly stole from the mayor’s husband’s garage.”
“It’s Mr. Strong’s!”
“Doesn’t he have enough? The guy’s got a whole wall of ‘em, not to mention the world’s tiniest little sledgehammer! You saw it yourself!”
“Let go of me!” I laugh as I try to break free, but Samuel is too strong and gets me on my back, right under the sparkling lights of the Christmas tree. “Hey! Not fair!”
He climbs over me and pins me down by the wrists, grinning. “What? You think you can get away from me?”
I smirk. “Not with you sitting on me like this.”
“Hey, this is kinda like how we were.”
“How we were when?”
“When we first looked into each other’s eyes.”
All of the laughter ends. I stare up into Samuel’s dreamy eyes, those pretty, blazing blues that caught me the moment I was freed from this tree and fell on top of him. He gazes right back down at me, lovingly, sweetly, adoringly. He brushes hair off my forehead and caresses my cheek.
I’m never going to forget this Christmas.
Never going to forget this moment.
“I’m going to get you a better present,” I promise him.
“You can give me one right now with your lips, and I’ll be just as happy as if this really was my favorite hammer.”
My life feels limitless now. Totally borderless. No ceilings or walls. Just the twinkling lights around us, my thumping heart, and whatever awaits me.
Whatever awaits me on Christmas morning, when we wake in each other’s arms.
Or the week that follows, as I work with Nadine and wonder what new direction my life will take as I settle here in Spruce.
Or New Year’s Eve, when I stand by Samuel’s side to watch the sky turn into colorful glitter at midnight—Samuel, the man who just took away all my inhibitions.
I already know what my New Year’s resolution will be: to never lose hope again. Who knows what’s coming my way next year, or the many years that follow?
I hook my hands behind Samuel’s head without warning and bring his startled face to mine for a gift that promises to fill both our hearts—under the sparkling light of the Christmas tree that started it all, with two lost, lonely boys, still very much caught in Spider Santa’s Web, with no chance of escape.
The End.