But this moment probably tops them all. Knowing that I’ll never have this man for myself.

God, this infatuation is definitely not going away anytime soon.

But as long as it stays one-sided, everything should be okay. Protecting Aaron is the only thing that matters.

Finally forcing myself to take a step back, I bring my attention to the drawing again. It’s even more impressive on the second look. The more I study it, the more I wonder how he made something that looks like a real-life photograph with simple strokes of his hands. There’s more to it than skill. There’s passion, and a gift too.

“Aaron,” I say, “you can’t give this up.”

“What do you mean?”

I look up. “Your art. You’re too talented to stop.”

Scratching his head, he says, “I’ll keep it as a hobby. Don’t worry.”

That’s not what I meant, and he knows it. He needs to keep his job. No one with this kind of genius should step away like that. Plus, he loves it. It’s written all over him.

But tonight isn’t about having hard discussions. Aaron is here, after driving two hours on Christmas night, to celebrate with me.

So that’s what we’ll do.

“Come on,” I say, cocking my head toward the dining table. “Let me try that puerco something.”

Aaron laughs, the sound warmer than anything I’ve ever experienced.

* * *

A warm nuzzle touching my hand jerks me awake.

As I scan my surroundings, it takes me a second to remember where I am.

In my apartment, on my couch, Molly and Maybelle at my side. I must’ve fallen asleep after…

My head snaps toward Aaron, whose small, tired eyes are on me from his side of the couch. His hair is mussed, and a crease of pillow lines his golden cheek.

“Were you watching me sleep?” I say, skin warming up.

“Couldn’t pass on the opportunity.”

My deadly stare makes him chuckle, the low sound vibrating through my entire body.

“Kidding,” he says. “I just woke up too.”

I blink a few times as I look down at my watch. It’s almost four in the morning. We must’ve fallen asleep at some point during the night.

After I ate all the food Aaron brought me earlier—it was so good I couldn’t stop—we sat at the kitchen table and talked for hours. It wasn’t festive per se, but it was enough to make me happier than…well, come to think of it, pretty much happier than I’d ever been. I wasn’t alone. For this moment in time, I was part of something bigger than my own tiny life. Rarely had I felt something so refreshing.