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You hadn’t been together long, just shy of two months. You had met Matt at a Halloween party hosted by your coworker’s cousin. You’d been running late at work so your costume consisted of your work attire. You hoped you could pull off “sexy executive”. You’d grabbed a pair of reader glasses at the drugstore on the way to finish off your ensemble. Matt had been dressed as a vampire and it had been an instant attraction between the two of you.
Now it was the first night of Hanukkah and Matt is making his famous hot cocoa in your apartment. To be fair, it is just the instant packets with marshmallows on top but it’s the thought that counts. Plus he’s a hazard in the kitchen and you don’t trust him with much else. The hot water is dangerous enough. You smile to yourself and think you wouldn’t have him any other way as you watch him sliding across your kitchen floor in his fuzzy socks.
He’s bringing two steaming cups into the living room when you get up to light the first menorah candle.
“What are you doing?” Matt asks with a cocked head, his hair flopping into his eyes slightly.
“Lighting the first candle for Hanukkah.” you reply, placing the lighter down and turning toward him.
“Oh my god, how could I forget!! I’m so sorry love.” Matt places the mugs down on the coffee table and grabs your hands.
“Matt, it’s ok.” you laugh, “I know you’re not Jewish.”
“But you are and I’ve made a mess of it already.”
“You’re here and that’s what matters.” You pull Matt into a hug.
“I promise to do better love.” He responds as he kisses the top of your head. You smile as you sink deeper into his hug.
The next day you open your door…to what looks like a Christmas tree. Matt’s head pops up from the side. “Look Y/N!”
“What’s all this Matt?”
“It’s a Hanukkah tree!” Matt says gleefully as he starts bringing it into the apartment. “It even has a Star of David on top!”
“Oh Matt, I love it!” The tree is white and almost as tall as Matt. It’s covered in blue and silver ornaments. There’s even some Hanukkah specific ornaments like menorahs and dreidels.
“Where did you find it?”
“I went to a few different places to find everything…” He says as he’s fluffing the branches.
You jump hug him from behind, wrapping your arms around his waist.
“I hope you like it.” he says quietly.
“It’s perfect.”
“I know you said your family had a Chrismukkah tree when you were growing up so I thought you should have one now.” Matt explains.
“I love it…thank you so much.” You’re moved by the fact that he went to all this trouble in one day and remembered a story from your childhood.
“Only the best for you love.” he says sincerely with a kiss to your forehead.
Three days later, Matt surprises you again. As he has been doing daily since the start of Hanukkah. You wonder how you got so lucky.
“Hey you.” he says when you open the door.
“Oh my god! Matt! What happened to your hands?” He has white gauze wrapped around his palms.
“I tried to make potato latkes.” he replies sheepishly, offering the plate to you. “But I think I burned them.” he added.
“Looks like you burned yourself as well.” You take the plate from him and usher him toward the couch.
“It’s a possibility.”
“You’re a menace in the kitchen Matt.” you start to unwrap the gauze to have a look for yourself, dabbing the grease burns with some salve you grabbed from your first aid kit.
“That is also a possibility.” he admits.
“Oh Matt, does it hurt?” you ask, kissing the backs of his hands, staying away from the burns.
“No. Not a bit love.” he’s looking at you so deeply, you look away and blush.
It’s been another two days and you’re sitting in the living room playing dreidel. Matt pushes up the sleeves on his Hanukkah sweater. There’s a picture of a menorah with the words “Too Lit to Quit” emblazoned on the front. You’d nearly died when he’d showed up wearing it.
“I don’t think pushing up your sleeves is going to improve your luck.” you quip.
“This game is rigged.” He huffs, crossing his arms across his chest.
“No, you’re just really really bad at it.” you giggle. He had insisted on playing it *as it is tradition* but he couldn’t get the hang of the rules. And you were loving every minute of it.
“Are we playing until the sun comes up?” he asks as he spins again.
“Your tokens would never last.” You had decided to use gummy bears as your tokens. And his stack of was much smaller than yours.
“And neither will yours!” Before you can stop him, he reaches across the table and puts all of your gummy bears in his mouth.
“Matt!!” you reach for him but he’s too quick. He grabs you and pulls you into his lap. He swallows the gummies and then kisses the tip of your nose, “Game over love”. You’re not even mad.
It’s the last night of Hanukkah and you’re unwrapping a package from Matt that he has clearly wrapped himself.
“This wrapping is exquisite.” you tease.
“Hey now!” Matt responds playfully, bumping your shoulder. He’s acting a little nervous though, anxiously spinning the ring on his pinky finger.
You finish unwrapping the gift to reveal a lovely silver picture frame.
“It’s a picture of the day I knew I loved you.” he explains quietly.
“This is from the day we met. From the Halloween party.” You remember fondly.
“Yes I know…”
“Wait!” Your eyes widen. The meaning behind his words hitting you.
“Hmmm…?” he hums with a shy smile, looking at you expectantly.
“Did you just say…”
“Yes. I love you.” he responds, emphasizing the word “love”. You’re dumbfounded.
“It’s ok,” he continues, “You don’t have to say it back. It’s early I know. But I wanted you to know I felt.”
“Matt. I….love you too. How could I not??”
He leans in and places a sweet kiss on your lips. He touches his forehead to yours. “There’s more.” he says gently.
You pull back to look at him, a question forming on your lips.
“Turn it over.” he says, making a motion with his hand.
You turn the frame over. Taped to the back is a key.
“It’s a key to my place,” he explains, “So you can come and go as you please. Or just…*stay*…if you want.”
He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until you wrapped your arms around his neck suddenly, “Ohmygod yes Matt!” the excitement evident in your voice.
“You don’t know how happy you make me love.” His lips find yours and he wraps his arms around your waist. He deepens the kiss and you grant his tongue entrance. You both start to make your way toward the bedroom, never breaking the kiss. He doesn’t go home that night.