For months afterward, like the nervous Nellie I was, I waited with my metaphorical fingers over my eyes for things to get awkward. As if, one moment we might look at each other and suddenly be filled with regret or longing for the way things used to be.
But no matter how often I looked, that feeling never came.
Every day with Sam was better than the last and all the things I’d loved about our friendship before were made that much better by spending more time together and falling easily into each other’s arms. In the span of two months, we moved in together, splitting my eclectic cozy style with his sleeker taste, and by the end of a year, we were married.
Or rather, on New Year’s Day of the following year.
And now, here we were, on vacation for our second anniversary, carrying our luggage through the warm Hawaiian breezeways as we headed to our room.
“You’re sure you wouldn’t have rather gone someplace cold?” I asked. It was our first vacation since our honeymoon, and back then we’d revisited Colorado—though we’d spent most of our time holed up in the lodge. My skin still tingled at the memory.
“Positive. I think you’ve had to deal with enough of my snowboarding for a while.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. It had been hard enough as his friend to watch him careening down the mountain like a lunatic when we were merely besties. As his wife? It was almost unbearable.
But I did it and never complained…well, hardly ever. Because that same wild spirit was what had earned us this happiness. And man, was it good.
I glanced around, checking out all the vibrant potted hibiscuses and breathing in the scented air.
I couldn’t deny though, a little twinge shot through me as I thought of the city streets glittering with snow back home. It had been a dry year so far, and we hadn’t gotten even an inch until the moment our plane took off. Now, New York looked like it was covered in spun sugar and I was just a teeny bit envious.
I shoved the thought aside with an internal eye roll. We’d have years of winter together and all I needed was Sam. Combined with a margarita on the sandy beach, and it would be paradise.
“I have a little surprise for you,” Sam said as we reached the floor of our hotel room.
My face fell at his words. I hadn’t gotten him a damned thing. “I thought we agreed—”
“We always promise no gifts,” he cut in with a laugh. “And you always get me gifts anyway. But this time? I think I may have finally topped you.”
“Do you now?” I raised my eyebrows.
Sam made his way to the door and opened it just in time for me to hear the gentle strains of the *NSYNC Christmas album.
I laughed, dropping my bag as I clapped my hand over my mouth. From the ceiling hung a thousand tiny paper snowflakes and the palm tree in the corner was decked with Christmas lights, a wrapped box underneath it. It was a winter wonderland.
“Christmas is already over, though,” I said, my voice wobblier than I expected.
Sam shut the door behind us. “Never for you, and I know you love the snow. So, as much as I want to see you in that bikini you bought ASAP, I thought we could make it the best of both worlds.”
“I can’t believe you did all this for me.” I sniffled.
“Baby, I would do anything for you. Now, don’t you want to open your present?”
I gave him a shaky nod and then took the red box from the floor and set it on the bed. Carefully, I removed the bow and ripped away the paper until I found all my Christmas DVDs inside.
“I thought we could have a little marathon tonight. Room service, hot bath.”
I took his face in my hands and pulled him down to kiss me. “You are the perfect man. I love you.”
“I love you, too, beautiful. Always have. Always will.”