Ari – 6 months later
Christmas morning, Ari awoke to the rhythmic sound of waves crashing on the beach. She and Xavier had surprised his family by arriving in Grand Cayman just in time for Christmas Eve dinner. It was still dark, but she could see the sheer white curtains fluttering at the slightly ajar door to the balcony.
Rolling over, she tapped on her phone—six o’clock. Sunrise would be soon, and she wanted to start the day by watching the sun paint the ocean and horizon. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched her arms. It excited her to have a week of nothing except Xavier, his family, and the beautiful beach just outside the door.
After taking a quick shower and pulling on sweatpants and a hoodie, Ari wrangled her hair into a messy bun and made her way to the balcony. The horizon was just beginning to lighten when she perched on a stool and rested her feet on the railing.
A tap surprised her. It was early for someone to be knocking at her bedroom door. She padded through the room, but no one was in the hallway. Closing the door quietly, she’d started back to the balcony when she heard the tapping again.
This time, she realized it was coming from her closet, not the door. Confused, she went to the large walk-in and opened the door, shocked to find Xavier standing there with two insulated coffee mugs and a huge grin.
“What in the world are you doing in my closet?”
Xavier chuckled. “Merry Christmas, love.”
“Merry Christmas to you.” Ari grinned and leaned in for a kiss. “But seriously, what are you doing in the closet? How did you get in here?”
Xavier waggled his eyebrows and leaned forward, looking around conspiratorially. “Secret passage,” he whispered.
Ari gasped, stepping into the closet to inspect the wall. “You’re telling me this whole time, there’s been a secret passage between our rooms?”
Xavier shrugged, smirking. “What can I say? Titan family traditions are built on mischief.”
“And you decided now is the time to share this little detail?” She poked a finger into his chest.
“Well, I had to make sure you wouldn’t run away before I revealed my best secrets.”
Ari rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. “You’re ridiculous.”
He leaned down, brushing his lips against her ear. “But you love me anyway.”
“I do indeed,” she said softly, leaning into his chest.
She gave the closet wall one last look and shook her head. She didn’t see a door or passageway, but that was a problem for another time. What was he doing here at the crack of dawn?
As if reading her mind, he said, “I wanted to see if I could talk you into watching the sunrise with me. Are you up for an early walk on the beach?”
“That sounds great. I’d just perched myself on the balcony to watch it, but seeing it from the beach with you sounds even better.” She took one of the mugs from him. “And coffee makes it perfect.”
He laced his fingers through hers, and they quietly made their way down the stairs and out the sliding glass doors to the patio. The air was fresh and cool, waiting for the sun to warm it up. Xavier picked up a blanket, then they walked down the steps to the beach, the cool sand crunching beneath their bare feet.
They walked a few yards down the sandy stretch, then Xavier spread out a blanket. Ari was glad she was wearing warm long sleeves. Even though the day would warm up quickly, at the moment, there was a slight chill in the air.
When Xavier ran his thumb over her knuckles, warmth spread up her arm, curling deep in her chest. The way he held her hand wasn’t casual—it was like he was anchoring himself to her. As if, even in the quiet dawn, he needed reassurance she was here, she’d chosen him.
“I haven’t spent Christmas morning with my family in a long time,” he murmured. His voice was rough, but underneath it, Ari could hear something—relief, longing.
“You were on your way here when you and Emily were in the accident?”
Xavier nodded, and Ari lay her head on his shoulder, lending her support. The warm air caressed her cheek, the scent of the sea mixing with the lingering aroma of the tropical blooms in the yard behind them and the strong scent of coffee as Xavier sipped.
“Thank you for bringing me here and letting our first Christmas together be with your family.”
Xavier’s arm pulled her closer as the first streaks of gold and pink broke the horizon. The water transformed into a shimmering canvas of rosy pink, lavender, and soft orange, the pastel colors a shimmering reflection in the gentle waves. Palm trees, silhouettes in the early morning light, swayed in the morning breeze, their fronds whispering, as if welcoming the new day.
“They seemed to take it well that we aren’t engaged anymore,” Ari said.
“Yeah, I think Grandma figured us out, but I appreciate nobody really asking questions. I think they’re just glad we’re here and don’t care about the details.”
“Your mother noticed I didn’t have the engagement ring on when she hugged me at the airport.”
Xavier turned his head to look at her. “Really? She didn’t say anything.”
“She did to me.”
“Oh? What’d she say?”
“I don’t see an engagement ring on your finger,” Pegs had whispered, her gaze soft and knowing. “But I see the way my son looks at you. He’s happy, and for that, I thank you.”
Ari had smiled, warmth spreading through her. Xavier hadn’t needed a grand gesture, a ring, or a title to make her feel chosen. He’d already made her dreams come true. Swinton-Wilson Publishing had opened their doors two months earlier. She saw his love in every look, every touch, and she knew exactly where she belonged.
Ari could see his smile in the faint morning light, and his arm tugged her a little closer.
“I am happy, you know,” he said softly.
The wind lifted a strand of her hair, brushing it across his cheek. Xavier caught it between his fingers and tucked it behind her ear with a slowness that sent a shiver down her spine. His touch lingered, his gaze searching hers, as if he were memorizing the moment.
Xavier wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as the first light of dawn kissed the water, the golden light of the sun breaking over the horizon, spilling warmth across the water, chasing away the night. Ari let it settle over her skin, sink into her bones, fill her with something she hadn’t let herself name before.
Hope.
Love.
The promise of something new.
Xavier turned to her, his gaze drinking her in, as though she was part of the sunrise itself.
“I love this,” she whispered, curling into his warmth. “Just us, before the world wakes up.”
His lips pressed her temple, his voice a breath against her skin. “Then let’s make it a tradition. You and me.”
With the day beginning, birds began to stir, their chirps and squawks blending with the rhythmic lap of the waves. A lone pelican glided in front of them, low over the water, scanning for an early bite.
She’d spent so many years searching for something. She’d tried to create a stability, a future she could claim as her own in her career. But sitting here, wrapped in Xavier’s warmth as the sky transformed before them, she realized the truth. She wasn’t just visiting. This wasn’t a vacation, a temporary escape. This was home. Not the island, not the sand beneath her toes—the man beside her.
Xavier gently nudged her and tilted his head to the side, indicating a tiny crab peeking out of a hole in the sand. It scuttled quickly, leaving delicate footprints in the sand. Streaks of gold stretched across the sky, chasing away the last shadows of night, the golden warmth touched and transformed everything in its path. The deep, almost purple water, turned again to the glowing turquoise she remembered from her last trip.
As the sun slowly crested the horizon, Ari breathed in the salt-kissed air, letting it settle in her chest. This—this moment with Xavier beside her, the world quiet and untouched—felt like the start of something new. Something permanent. A home tied not to a place, but to a person.
“We should probably head back up. Christmas breakfast will be ready soon,” Ari said.
“Just one more minute.” Xavier took her hand, squeezing it tight. “I want to remember every moment of our first Christmas together. And…I want to see if you’d be willing to take this back?” He pulled the engagement ring from his pocket and held it out to her.
Ari looked at it, confused. “But they know we’re not engaged. We don’t have to pretend.”
Xavier pulled her closer, his lips brushing the top of her head. “This isn’t pretend,” he murmured. “I want to spend every Christmas for the rest of my life with you.”
Ari’s heart swelled as she turned her face up to his, feeling the golden morning light warm her skin. “That’s convenient,” she said softly. “I want to spend every Christmas with you too.”
Xavier slid the ring on her finger. “Now it’s right where it belongs.”
“And I’m right where I belong. With you.” Ari reached up and pressed her lips to his. “Merry Christmas, love.”