The best man

Chapter 15

December has been perfect. Ethan and I have been spending nearly every day together. After work, he picks me up, and we go back and forth between my apartment and his. We've built this little routine—cooking together, cleaning up, eating, working, and cracking jokes. Even mundane things feel special with him around. On weekends, we hang out with Shelly, James, and little Thomas. Conor, surprisingly, enjoys being an "uncle" to Thomas too. He even shows up with toys, grinning like a proud godfather.

But what stands out most is how selfless Ethan is. He never makes things about him. It's like I'm getting the chance to experience life with this amazing man, and I thank God every day that we managed to fix things between us. I don't have time to dwell on past drama like Conor anymore. All that stuff feels so far away now. With Ethan, it's just pure happiness, and honestly, it's a blast.

Now, with Christmas around the corner, we've taken on the challenge of hosting. We've been to the stores, checked off every item on the list, and are fully prepared. It's going to be perfect.

Today is the 23rd, and it's snowing heavily outside. I'm freezing despite all my layers, but Ethan? He's out there, like a kid, rolling up snow to build a snowman. I watch from the window, laughing at how excited he is, like he's rediscovering winter all over again. He looks up at me and waves, his grin making me melt even in the cold.

I pull out my phone and snap a picture, keeping it for later. He's adorable like this.

When he finally comes inside, covered in snow, he brushes himself off, grabs my freezing hands, and says, "Okay, hot chocolate time."

A few minutes later, we're sitting on the couch with mugs of hot chocolate, a fire going, and "Home Alone" playing in the background. The lights from the tree make everything feel so cozy.

Out of nowhere, he leans toward me, his voice full of playfulness, "So, tomorrow... I'm taking you out."

I look at him, raising an eyebrow. "I thought we were having dinner at your place tomorrow!"

He flashes that mischievous grin of his. "Changed my mind."

Ethan casually sips his hot chocolate, leaning back into the couch like he just dropped the most normal news in the world. "Oh, I also invited Shelly and James, and Charlotte, Agatha, and... our parents."

I freeze mid-sip, staring at him in confusion. "Wait, what? You invited everyone for tomorrow? Why?" My mind races—Christmas isn't even tomorrow. Why would he invite them for the 24th? This is definitely strange. Ethan knows how much I love the 25th for family time, so why are we gathering early?

He shrugs, but I can see the glint of mischief in his eyes, betraying his nonchalant facade. "You'll see," he says, smiling as he takes another sip of his drink, like he hasn't just upended my plans. Ethan isn't good at lying, and right now, he's the worst at keeping something hidden. I know him too well—there's something going on.

I narrow my eyes, leaning closer to inspect his expression. "Christmas isn't even tomorrow, Ethan. What's going on? Why are we having this impromptu gathering the day before?"

His smile widens just a little, but he tries to hide it behind his mug. "I don't know what you're talking about. We're just... you know... having a nice little pre-Christmas get-together."

"Uh-huh," I say skeptically. "A get-together with *all* those people? Our parents, too? This is weird, Ethan. Really weird."

He just chuckles softly, reaching over to play with a strand of my still-damp hair. "You're overthinking it. I just thought it would be nice for everyone to hang out before Christmas."

I tilt my head, not convinced. "You're acting suspicious."

"I'm not!" he laughs, but there's that teasing tone again, the one that tells me he knows something I don't. I start to piece things together in my mind, but it still feels vague. Is he planning something? A surprise? My curiosity skyrockets, and now I'm stuck thinking about what he could be up to.