Kat laughed and went back to the kitchen to put the groceries away. The lush domesticity that swept through her was as familiar as it was welcome. Living with Carter had been trying at first, but after almost a year, they’d finally found a new level of comfort that Kat cherished. Sure, his obsessive cleanliness and OCD habits still drove her crazy, but it was most definitely worth it.
They split their time between the beach house and the TriBeCa apartment, which they used primarily during the week and whenever Carter was needed at WCS. The beach house, however, would always be most special to them: a precious getaway they both treasured.
Once she was done unpacking, Kat poured two large glasses of milk and tucked the pack of Oreos under her arm. She handed one glass to Carter and sat down next to him, putting the cookies between them. Carter took all of two seconds to rip the pack open and begin devouring the contents.
“So, look, I was thinking while you were at work,” he mumbled before swallowing the cream from his cookie. “I was thinking that we should exchange gifts today. You know, to celebrate your vacation time.”
Kat looked at him askance. “But it’s not Christmas for another four days. Can’t you wait?” She’d caught him at least half a dozen times shaking and touching the parcels under the tree they’d decorated together two weeks before. “Besides, Nana Boo, Mom, and Harrison will be here then. I’d like to have some gifts to open with them.”
Carter shot a longing gaze at the beautiful Christmas tree. “But …”
Kat laughed. “Oh my God, you’re such a child.”
He grinned, blue eyes sparkling. “Does that mean we can?”
“Okay. Fine,” Kat caved. “But you only get to open one.”
“Yes, Boss.” He sprang up and hurried over to the gifts.
*
Carter kneeled next to the tree, pretending to search through the copious number of packages underneath it. He shook, poked, and prodded, and, once he was satisfied he’d made enough of a show, he picked up a small silver package and beckoned Kat over. When she was seated at his side, looking decidedly exasperated, he passed it to her.
“This is from me,” he said softly, kissing her. “Merry Christmas, Peaches.”
“Merry Christmas.” She smiled, excitement creeping in, and began ripping the paper open.
“Oh, Carter,” Kat gasped when she saw the miniature Alice in Wonderland statue, an exact replica of the one in Central Park. “It’s perfect.”
“Really?”
“Really,” she answered, leaning over to kiss him.
“I wanted to get you this because Alice has seen us through so much.”
Kat hummed. “I guess she has.”
“And,” Carter continued, “I thought she should be here for this part, too.”
Kat looked quizzical.
Carter’s heart almost burst from between his ribs as he pulled his hand from his pocket and held out a small blue Tiffany box.
Kat’s eyes widened and snapped to his. “Carter, I—”
“Take it.”
She did and, slower than Carter could bear, she opened it and gasped. The three-carat diamond-and-platinum ring sparkled perfectly under the Christmas lights.
Breathing deeply, Carter took her shaking hand, letting his thumb trace the cursive C she’d had inked on the inside of her wrist as a birthday gift for him. It was the sexiest fucking thing he’d ever seen.
He picked up the Alice statue. “I want you to look at this and remember how far we’ve come. Alice was there when we had our first non-date and I stole the best kiss of my life. She was there when we danced in the rain and I hummed Otis Redding in your ear. That was the same night I told you who I was, and you let me make love to you all night.”
He put the statue down. “I was so broken when you found me again. But you put me back together and made me realize that the mistakes I’ve made don’t define who I am. You believed in me when no one else would.” He kissed her palm. “I know I’m a pain in the ass. I’m far from perfect. We both are. Your cooking leaves a lot to be desired and you leave your dirty laundry on the bathroom floor every morning and it drives me insane!” He chuckled when she pushed him playfully.
“But I love living with you, Kat. I love waking up with you every morning and seeing you smile, and falling asleep with you in my arms, knowing that I’ve never felt safer. I love our lazy days. I love laughing with you and fighting with you, because I know it means we get to make up. I love riding Kala with you. I want to put up a Christmas tree with you every year for the rest of my life.”
His throat became thick and he squeezed her hands. “I’ve loved you every day since I was eleven years old. Will you marry me?”
Kat laughed through her tears. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
Carter laughed with her and pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply.
Her lips and body merged with his so perfectly, so beautifully, as they always had. Pulling back, Carter took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. Staring at it, he knew it was always meant to be there. Staring at it, he knew he was finally home.
He cupped her face and kissed her again.