The Geek Who Saved Christmas

by Annabeth Albert

“I say thank you a lot to everyone.” His tone shifted to something more solemn. “Not just you. You only get so many chances in life to say it.”

“I don’t want you to come for help.” I needed Gideon to get it through his head that I wanted him, not his impressive organizational skills. “I want you to come because Brandon’s right, I don’t want to go without you. You belong there. With me.”

“Paul.” Brandon gave me a stern look. “You gave up two decades of your life for me. I can shovel a little snow.” My eyes burned, and all I could do was nod. Under the table, Gideon grabbed my hand, laced our fingers together.

“I love you, Gideon.” Paul’s rough whisper hung between us, warm words cutting through arctic air. “It’s so soon.” Like him, I was whispering, terrified that if I spoke too loudly, I’d discover this was all a dream. Next to me, he shrugged before tugging me closer. “And yet not nearly soon enough.” “True.” It had been a whirlwind month for sure, but in other ways, this moment had been years in the making. And I couldn’t deny the truth in my own heart. “I love you too. Maybe it’s not too soon. But it’s still scary.”

“I’m all in, Gideon.”