ETHAN
The blowing wind was crisp, the scent of snow heavy in the air, promising more than just the fluttering flakes we were enjoying now.
It was dark, but there were so many lights the streets glowed.
“Are we almost there?” Fletcher was impatient against my ear.
Pausing to hike his slipping body higher on my back, I said, “Almost.”
“Just tell me already!” he implored, releasing the grip he had around my neck.
“Don’t even think about it,” I told him.
He made a rude sound, but his arms looped around me once again.
“This is ridiculous,” he grumbled.
“You love it,” I teased.
“Me?” He scoffed.
“You mean being given a piggyback ride through the streets of New York City while being blindfolded is not something you love?” I stopped walking. “My apologies. I’ll just turn around and go home, then. You can remove that blindfold.”
I started lowering him to the ground.
“Wait!”
I paused, grateful he couldn’t see my wide smile. “Change your mind?”
“Keep going.”
Adjusting him again, I started off.
Up ahead, Rockefeller Center sat like the centerpiece it was. The seventy-nine-foot giant tree was lit with thousands of colorful lights, and the glowing star on its top was a pride of the city. It towered grandly over The Rink, a famous ice skating rink, which glowed from purple LED lights and was surrounded by well over one hundred flags furiously flying in the wind.
Slowing my footsteps, I came to a stop, enjoying the feel of Fletcher against my back, legs wrapped around me and impatient breathing at my neck.
In my quest to give Fletch a memorable Christmas, I’d also given one to myself.
“E…” Fletcher worried. “I said keep going. I’m not embarrassed.”
I laughed beneath my breath. “Why on earth would you be embarrassed?”
“Because I’m a grown man getting a piggyback ride through the city.”
“Down you go,” I said, lowering so he could stand.
“No!” He clung tighter, refusing to put his feet down. It was a good thing I did so many squats at the gym. “I said I want to see my surprise.”
“We’re here.”
He paused. Then, “Oh.”
When he was standing, I turned, smiling at how he was turning his head like he was gazing around even though he still had on a blindfold. “How’s the view?”
His lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Not funny.”
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