Page 2 of Unsaid Things

“Of course. But I also like to guess. It’s a win for me either way. If I guess right, then I get to be right. If I’m wrong, then I’m surprised.” She pursed her lips and tapped one finger against them. “Hmm. Is it bigger than a book?”

Lance laughed again, shaking his head. “Books come in a lot of sizes. What kind of book are we talking here? A large textbook? Mass market paperback? Standard hardcover?”

Abby stuck out her tongue at him, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it driving in the dark. “Fine. I’ll go with standard hardcover. Is it bigger than a standard hardcover book?”

He shook his head again. “I’m not telling you anything, Abby.”

The blinker click-click-clicked, and they pulled off the freeway, surprising Abby at how fast their drive to the airport had gone by. She gulped the rest of her coffee, not wanting to deal with it in the shuttle from the long term parking lot. “Well, at least tell me it’s not something crazy expensive.”

Lance glanced at her, not answering until they’d made it to the parking lot just outside the airport. When he turned off the car, he turned to look at her, his face serious in the glare from the light shining through their window. “Abby, I’m not going to give you any hints about your present. Not the size or the cost.” He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, his hand resting on the back of her neck. “And I’ll damn well spend as much money on your Christmas present as I want. I don’t care how independent you like to be. It’s a gift, and you’re not allowed to complain about how much you think it cost. Got it?”

“But—“

“No buts. Promise me you won’t complain about how much your present costs when I give it to you.”

She stared at him for a minute, but his stare remained hard and unflinching. There was no arguing with him when he got like this, she’d learned that much over the last several months. She let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. I won’t say anything.” Narrowing her eyes, she thought for a second. “Of course, that means I’ll probably think it’s too expensive. For someone who isn’t going to give anything away, you just gave me a big clue.”

A grin flashed on his face for a moment before he pulled her in and kissed her. “You might think so. Either way, we gotta go. Come on.”

With that he got out of the car, went around the front to open her door, then popped the trunk and pulled out their bags. She gave him a cheeky grin as she grabbed the handle of her suitcase and started for the waiting shuttle before Lance could say anything.

Their conversation about Christmas presents hadn’t done what she’d hoped. She was still nervous about meeting Lance’s family, more so now that they were on their way. And now she had to worry about how much he’d spent on her present, and if he’d be okay with the digital photo frame loaded with pictures of the two of them that she’d gotten for him to keep it on his desk at work. Would she embarrass herself on Christmas morning with his family when she opened something extravagant from him and all she gave him in return was something simple?

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