December, 25th (Part II)

We were alone. I turned around to Adrian. “I saw your story on Instagram. I didn’t want to come at first because you really hurt me. I felt betrayed all over again, even after I’d opened myself up to you. You knew how much it took me to trust you, to let you in, and you still kept a secret from me. But… I’m here to listen to you. Because… maybe it’s just me who felt it, but… I don’t want to give up what we had, either.”

Adrian nodded slowly. He went to a table full of candy canes, brushing them aside so we could sit. Then he looked at me again, eyes pleading. “You know, the reason I started this account was because I was so lost after my grandpa died. I was scared I’d lose some of his magic in my grief. So the only solution I could think of was to convince other people to love Christmas as much as I did. As much as my grandpa did. So I started this challenge with a friend of mine, took him to several places on Christmas Day, posted it on Instagram. And for some reason, people loved it. That’s why I did it again the following years, now letting followers volunteer for the challenge. Until this year…”

“When you met me, and decided to make me your new… project.” I crossed my arms.

He nodded. “That’s the part you read in my story. But what I didn’t say there, is how much work I put into preparing activities for you. Yes, some of them I’ve done with others before, but the amount of time I spent googling, checking out locations to find something you might enjoy… The more effort I put into this, the more I realized that the challenge became secondary. It was about you the whole time. I wanted you to enjoy our time together. Because I knew that I enjoyed it, more than I’d ever done. That’s why I didn’t tell you about my account. Because the more time we spent together, the more I knew I didn’t want to blow this. This between us… that was – is – real. And I was…”

“…scared,” I finished the sentence for him, swallowing. “So was I. That’s why I ran away the other day.”

“I’m so sorry, little elf.” Adrian shook his head, his hand softly taking mine. He looked at me to see if I was okay with this. I nodded. “Do you… Do you think you can forgive me? Give me a second chance? I want to do this the right way. No wager, no hiding behind Christmas this time. Just you and me. Because, Emily, it’s not just you who felt it. I don’t know when or how; all I know is that I’ve fallen for you. Hard.”

My hand was slightly shaking in his. A tear escaped down my cheek, but Adrian captured it. I looked into his sparkling blue eyes, and I knew. I’d fallen for him, too. “You know, I will insist that you work on your ice-skating skills.”

A happy grin spread across his face. He bowed to me, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes – the one I loved so much. “I think that can be arranged.”

Then he shifted closer to me – one hand resting on my cheek, the other one slipping around my body safely – and kissed me, right on this table, both of us dressed in ridiculous, flashy green elf costumes. And never in my life had I loved Christmas more. Maybe Adrian was right. If your life happens to turn green, you don’t need to give up on love. You can always choose to be Santa’s elf instead.