The jumbotron illuminates as Bianca hits the beginning notes of her Christmas anthem, “Mistletoe Memories.” The arena goes wild. It’s loud and raucous as they sing the anthem. Of the thousands of people cheering and whistling, I’ve only got eyes for one.
“Mistletoe memories of just us two.” Riley throws her head back to belt out the last word before turning to serenade me. “Baby, no matter the season, I love you.”
She shuffles toward me with her arms outstretched. As I pull her flush against my chest, we rock back and forth to the beat. Riley peppers soft kisses on my lips, working her way behind my ear and down to my throat and I groan, closing my eyes.
“Hey. Be good,” I say.
She pouts. “You’re no fun, Santa.”
I twist her around in my arms so her back rests against my chest. I tighten my grip and nuzzle the delicate curve of her neck. “We’ll see about that tonight. I’m putting you on the naughty list.”
Riley giggles, squirming against me, but I feel the slight shift of her body. Her shoulders tense. She’s been keeping a watchful eye on Keira all evening. We first met Keira’s date, Thomas, at the restaurant before the ball. He’s average height and stocky with close-shaven hair…decent looking. There’s really nothing threatening about him so far, but Riley had her guard up. Out of respect for her sister, though, she remained tight-lipped, keeping her judgments to herself—well, between us.
“Are you doing okay?” I ask.
Her response comes in the form of a squeeze to my forearm.
“I’m really proud of you, babe. I know how much your sister means to you.” I kiss her hair. “You’re doing the right thing letting her make her own decisions.”
“Is it just me, or does their chemistry…does it feel off to you?” She blows out a sigh, and I know it’s killing her not to be able to give Keira advice. “I hate it, but I know she’s got to learn to trust her own instincts.”
Bianca kicks it up a notch, bouncing across the stage.
Riley and Keira both break out into screams, jumping up and down as they sing along word for word. Both of their hands are in the air, swaying side to side, and my girlfriend is absolutely radiant. Her locs are twisted up in a ponytail and she’s wearing her trademark red dress and matching lipstick.
Thomas shoots me an amused look like he’s wondering how he managed to get talked into this. I won’t tell him I volunteered, or that many Christmas-crazed people are jealous of us since it sold out—including a very pregnant Kim.
A laugh bubbles up inside me. It’s a mix of nostalgia for the past and for the future. I miss my mom, but I love what Riley and I are building. Christmas Eve, Riley visited her parents and sister, and I spent the day with Dad, Todd, and Kim talking about the baby and starting new holiday traditions. That sort of cemented it for me. I want real love where you sit around with your other half planning a future full of holidays and vacations. I want to make real, lasting memories with Riley.
When Riley and Keira wind down, Riley finds her way back into my arms.
The mic crackles to life, and then Bianca, who’d twirled off stage, reappears in a glittering red gown. She tucks a long curl behind her ear and blows the audience a kiss. “Merry Christmas, Las Vegas. I just want to take a few minutes to thank you for spending your holiday with me. I want to dedicate this next song to all the lovers out there.”
She takes her time singing the silky harmony of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
Riley clasps her hands behind my neck and softly brushes her lips over mine. “I got you something,” she says between kisses.
“Hmm?”
“Well, two things.” She pulls her lower lip between her teeth and pins me with her stare. “I’ll let you choose. Have you been naughty or nice, Mr. Campbell?”
I flit a glance over at Keira and Thomas, who are singing along.
“That depends.” I seek and find her lips, devouring her mouth with sweeping strokes of my tongue. “How much longer is this Snowball Jam?”
Riley kisses me back, but she’s smiling as her mouth moves against mine. When I pull back, her eyes are hooded with heat pooling in them. “It’s Christmas, and I may or may not have gotten one of those naughty Mrs. Claus outfits you mentioned.” Her lashes flutter up at me, sending my pulse into overdrive. My cock twitches. “It has bows and comes with a reindeer whip.”
Defenseless against her tactics, I take a deep breath and step back, needing the distance between us to think clearly.
She laughs a warm, musical giggle as her eyes dart to the growing hard-on tenting my jeans.
“You know you’re wrong,” I say with a breathless chuckle. “That’s just dirty when you know I can’t do anything about it here.” I crack my neck and bob my head. “Okay, let’s go with nice. Door number two has got to be better.”
All the light-hearted humor drains from Riley’s expression as she erases the space between us. “Well, I’ve been thinking about us. Actually, a lot about us.” A smile quirks at her lips.
I gently rub her back, urging her to continue, but also still nervous about getting too close, lest we have an inappropriate situation at a family concert.
“Chase, I know it’s kind of soon, but…” She fishes her hand into the small clutch clasped to her wrist and pulls out something silver. “I was hoping you might want to make our own holiday tradition. It’s an ornament. I thought maybe it could be the first in our collection together. Every year, we’ll get a new one to add to our tree.”
Our.
Every time she says that word, I feel my hopes rising and my spirits soaring.
With my free hand, I tenderly pluck it out of her palm. My insides flood with warmth as I examine its inscription.
The Two of Us.
“You never know what we’ll be celebrating next year,” she adds, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
My heart gives a small lurch as I bite down on my bottom lip. “I love it, Riley, and I love you.” Emotion clogs in my throat. “So much, it scares me.”
She stands on her toes, kissing away a tear that’s slipped free. “I’m scared, too, but in the best way possible. I know without a doubt I want a future with you, Chase Campbell.”
As we hold each other, swaying to the music, joy wells up in my heart at the future she’s painting for us. I want it all—the bright, vibrant colors of every season, the laughs and pranks. Every moment.
As long as it’s the two of us.