I laughed and got up onto the couch and took the gift. It was expertly wrapped like he always did. Inside was a folder from a travel agent. “Malachi,” I whispered.
“I spoke to Dad and got time off approved for both of us,” he said quickly. “It’s two weeks in Thailand. A resort with a tropical beach. Please don’t be mad. It’s booked for July. When it’s quieter at work and freezing cold here. And you haven’t had a proper holiday in forever, and Dad said he can get staff from the night shift to fill in. Please don’t be mad.”
I shook my head. “I’m not mad at all. This is . . . very generous. Malachi, this must have cost a fortune.”
“It did. But it’s kind of a birthday present for both of us as well and—”
“And we should use it as a honeymoon.”
He stared. “What?”
“We should get married. In July.”
“This July?” His eyes were wide. “Like seven months from now?”
I nodded. “I would marry you today if I could. Right now, even.”
Malachi suddenly looked panicked. “Julian, how can I plan a whole wedding in less than seven months?”
“Baby, if anyone can do it, you can.”
“Um . . .” He shook his head and studied the ring on his finger for a second. “Okay. Let’s do it. I don’t care if we get married at the mail centre.”
“We’re not getting married at work.”
He smirked. “Well, no. But we’ll make it happen. Somewhere. It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, the wedding doesn’t matter. It’s the marriage that matters.”
I smiled and kissed him. “I love you, Malachi Keogh.”
He gasped. “Names. What are we doing with names? I could be Malachi Keogh-Pollard. With a fancy hyphen and everything.” He stood up quickly. “I need to practice my new signature.”
I laughed. Keogh-Pollard sounded good to me. “Dearest Malachi Keogh-Pollard,” I said.
He came out of the kitchen with a pen and a huge grin. “Yes?”
“Does Julian Keogh-Pollard have a nice ring to it?”
He nodded, getting teary again. “Yes! Dearest Julian Keogh-Pollard.” He threw himself at me and I wrapped my arms around him so easily.
I kissed the side of his head. “Merry Christmas, Malachi Keogh.”
“It’s Malachi Keogh-Pollard.”
“Well, not yet.”
He pulled back, his eyes huge and imploring. “Excuse me, please don’t rain on my Christmas parade.”
I kissed him. “Merry Christmas, Malachi Keogh-Pollard.”
He grinned. “That’s better. Thank you, Julian Keogh-Pollard.”
“You should probably call everyone we know and tell them you said yes. They’ll be waiting to hear.”
“Everyone? Everyone knew about this before me?”
“Pretty much.”
He pouted, then waved his hand at the dining table. “You should probably clean up after breakfast. And then you should probably fuck me stupid until we need to leave for your parents for lunch.”
I laughed. “Is that right?”
He nodded with an adorable smile. “Yep.” He put his hand to his chest and winked. “I’m your Christmas ho ho ho, remember?”
He found his phone and called Moni first, and I smiled at his excited shriek and the string of curses he called her for keeping such a secret from him as I cleared the table.
Would I ever get sick of him bossing me around? Of him being loud and excitable, a ball of energy, or insatiable in the bedroom?
Absolutely not.
I was about to sign up for a lifetime of it, and it still wouldn’t be enough. Not now, not ever. He was going to marry me, gift me with a promise of forever.
I would want for nothing more.
* * *
Merry Christmas to us.
* * *
The End