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“She loved that tea you picked out for her.” Ruslan must’ve eavesdropped at some point to know what tea she’d been looking for because she’d been amazed. “You did a fabulous job so far. It’s her favorite part of Christmas this year.”
I couldn’t tell him that while her parents had money, they didn’t have common sense or empathy because she was just getting cash at Christmas and his presents would be the only ones she’d get.
Knowing all the gossip on campus could be stressful sometimes.
“Stop talking. I’m still deciding if I’m going to kill you and you’re too good at distracting me.” His glare was adorable but I was smart enough not to point that out. “You rigged everything just so you’d get to be my Santa.”
“What did I say about guessing that?” Jamie’s slightly high-strung tone had both of us wincing. “That is not part of the game. I’m so disappointed in you, Professor Winslow.”
As she kept going, getting all her stress about life out as she lectured Ruslan, I finally noticed the twin troublemakers in the corner staring wide-eyed at Ruslan. When Max leaned over to Adam, I knew it was going to be good. “I told you he wasn’t a sub. He’s got to be a switch at least, so we’ve still got a shot.”
Oops.
“Oh, chocolate brownies.” One well-timed and very hungry freshman popped in the door and saved the day, distracting everyone around us. “I brought special ones.”
And poof, suddenly we weren’t the most interesting people in the room and the party officially had started as everyone tried to decide what special meant in that context.
There was enough mac-n-cheese and edible desserts that everyone nearly rolled home at the end of the night. Of course, there were some questionable offerings as well and a few brave souls even tasted them.
But not me.
No, I had better plans for the evening than ending up on the toilet all night, so I avoided anything that looked questionable…and it seemed that Ruslan was feeling the same way because he was also careful about which ones he picked.
He still managed to get enough food and presents to feed his little side, though, because Russie nearly popped out several times. He loved the party atmosphere and the mac-n-cheese and the brownies I’d made just for him because his eyes had lit up when I’d stolen the biggest one to give to him.
But Ruslan managed to hide it for the most part. The only obvious note that I thought anyone really caught was the way he’d taken my hand as we’d finally left the party because the way he was swinging it hadn’t been subtle.
I was waiting for panic to set in eventually, but we made it all the way back to his place with him alternating between chattering and just enjoying the walk. “At some point, I’m going to have to ask you for help with the twins, but I’m not going to worry about that yet.”
He grinned sheepishly when I chuckled. “They’re stubborn.”
“And head over heels for my man, so we need to find a distraction for them.” My teasingly gruff response got a blush from Ruslan.
“Yourboy.” He squeezed my hand as he looked ahead and did his best to avoid my gaze. “Partner or boyfriend would work too.”
Adorable.
“My boy, huh?” His blush came back as he looked over at me. “Even in university parties and through gossip?”
A mix of nervousness and something like desire peeked out of his gaze. “Even in university parties and gossip…and through nosy students and slightly strange baristas.”
And then he kissed my cheek, right there on the street.
Chapter 23
Ruslan
“Nope, no asking if I’m okay.” I was used to being the ridiculous one, so it was hard not to laugh. “If you need to ask me anything you can ask me how it feels to have been right all along. I knew you were my Secret Santa.”
At some point, he was going to tell me where he’d found someone to make me a Mac-n-Cheese Man superhero shirt, but for the time being, I was just glad he’d said not to open it in front of other people.
“I was very sneaky. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Dante smiled, getting distracted from his worries for the moment. “But I might have a Mac Daddy T-shirt that matches your new one very well.”
He was so funny.
“Matching sounds like fun.” Daddy or just Dante, I couldn’t wait to see him wearing it.
“But how are you feeling about me asking you to open your present more privately? I know that it might not have been—”
