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I blink, looking around We’re in the hotel kitchens, full of light and activity Chefs and busboys are busy working, asse breakfast trays and prep work for the day ahead, but Austin has set up a corner away froredients and cookie cutters, and already, the s

He brings out his phone, hits a button, and then"White Christmas"

I blink, suddenly overwhel," Austin pro pleased "You wanted to wake up to the ss," I finish I can’t believe it I look around, sing back a sudden rush of emotion "Austin, I can’t believe you did this for me!"

"Hey, it’s like you said" Austin looks bashful "It’s time we made some holiday traditions of our own"

We

I try not to focus on the casual way he said it--or how h: thebeside the industrial-sizedthe air

He arranged all this forfor?" I s back the lump in my throat, and push up the sleeves on his oversized shirt "Let’s get baking!"

The cookies are only the beginning After we bake a batch and decorate the and tiny silver balls, we leave a plate by the front desk for the other guests to enjoy Austin tells me to dress war rink at Rockefeller Plaza, I let out a shriek of delight

"Ice skating?" I feel like a little kid again, birthdays and Christmas all rolled into one

Austin smiles "It was next on the list, wasn’t it?"

I look at hiet our passes When I told hiined that he would bring theuy to pay attention like that, let alone go to all this effort