Page 80 of Impossible Love

Cal laughs. It’s a deep and warm sound, full of sincere amusement that I find irresistible. “I like the way you think, but I mean that I have an actual gift for you. Hold on a second.”

He stretches a long arm to the built-in seat next to the hot tub. He dries his hand off on a towel and then slips his fingers into the pocket of his jeans.

When he pulls his hand free, I see a little a little square box, wrapped in shimmering lilac color paper and tied with a large white bow.

“I hope you like it,” he says. “And when you wear it, I hope you’ll think of me.”

Chapter 41

Victoria

I stare at the wrapped gift. My brain is humming and my heart is galloping as fast as Trixie, the horse from hell. I’m terrified by the little box he’s holding out to me, though I don’t want Cal to see the fear I feel. And the confusion,

Why would he hand me this after the conversation we just had?

“It won’t bite. Take it,” he says.

“Let me dry off first.”

I step over him. I grab a towel from the nearby stack, dry off, and then wrap it under my arms. Cal steps out too, and I take the gift from him.

“I’ll open it inside,” I say, walking quickly into the house.

I feel the weight in my palm. It’s the exact size of an engagement ring box. I wasn’t imagining it. I plop down on the sectional, and Cal joins me. He grabs a blanket from the armrest and wraps me up in it.

“This is so sweet,” I tell him, handling the box. “You don’t need to give me presents.”

Cal cups my cheek and turns me. His gaze is soft. It connects with mine and holds me there. “I don’t need to do anything. But I want to give you this.”

“This thing between us—” I start, but Cal interrupts me.

“I know.”

“It’s…”

“I know.”

“You know a lot.”

He shrugs. “I do, but there are some things I just can’t wrap my head around, no matter how hard I try.”

“Like what exactly is happening with us and what we’re supposed to do with it.”

“Exactly.”

“But then—”

He kisses me softly, cutting off my question. He pulls back and says, “Just open it.”

I unwrap the gift with trembling fingers and let the paper float to the floor. A purple velvet jewelry box is revealed. I take a deep breath, steady my hand, and open it.

It’s not an engagement ring. It’s not even a ring.

I lift the chain in my fingers and hold it up to the lamp light. It takes my mind a moment to process what I’m seeing. I let out a surprised laugh.

“Oh, Cal…”

It’s a dainty gold chain with an elegant pendant. A perfectly arranged selection of gemstones creates a redheaded woman at the piano, a crescent moon hanging overhead.

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