Page 5 of One Little Chance
“I feel like at this time of year you’re basically eighty percent cinnamon coffee. It worries me,” Jordan said playfully furrowing his brows. His jawline now more chiseled than when we grew up.
“Yet you’re buying them for me unprompted?” I shrugged and took a warm sip.
“You know this boy can’t resist giving you whatever you want.” Jenna grinned, holding up a pinky. “You have him wrapped.”
“It’s bad. He’s been obsessed with trying to find you the perfect Christmas gift,” Sarah said as she flipped through a baking magazine. “It has to be perfect.”
“Is that true?” I cocked a head toward Jordan, my cup still warm in my hands.
His cheeks went pink. “Well, yeah, I’ve been stumped. I want it to be just right.”
“I relate.” I stepped closer to him. “I’ve had trouble finding the right gift for you too.”
I’d almost bought several things, but it seemed I’d do what I’d done the past several years which was wait until the very last minute to finally settle on something that was onlygood enough. When we were fourteen, I’d given him Cowboys stadium tour tickets that I’d won on a radio contest I’d followed along religiously to win. That was the only gift I’d ever felt was sufficient. Every other one had lived in its shadows since.
“You two crack me up. I’m sure you could buy each other some random junk from one of these airport gift shops and be over the moon because it was coming from each other,” Jenna mused as she tucked a magazine back on the rack.
Jordan’s eyes sparkled with an idea. “What would you get me from here?”
I glanced around the cramped shop. “I have no idea. What would you get me?”
His smile spread. “I don’t know, but I kind of want to figure it out.”
“You want to buy each other Christmas gifts here…at the airport?” I said hesitantly. Because I was a competitive person, even when it came to gift-giving, and there was no one else I cared about winning the prize for more than the guy excitedly looking around the shop in front of me.
“I do. I really do.” He nodded, rubbing his hands together. “Let’s find each other’s present here at the airport—and it has to be something that can only be found here. No cheating by hitting up the Brooks Brothers or something.”
“No Starbucks mug?” I teased, feeling myself getting excited in spite of my better judgment.
“Absolutely not. I want something that looks like you forgot about me and grabbed it at the last minute on your flight home.” He started to head to the doorway. “You ready?”
“I’m ready.” I bit my lip. Jordan made even being stuck at the airport fun.
He headed out the door, and I spun back around in the store. Where to begin?
“I mean, there’s this?” Sarah held up a massive blue mug shaped like the state of Texas. I cringed and headed toward the toiletries.
An hour passed, and I couldn’t find anything. I had scoured multiple stores, bumping into Jordan a couple of times, who would wink at me or wiggle his brows, but I came up empty-handed.
“Back to square one?” Jenna asked, who’d been trying to help along the way. We were back in that first shop where we started the game, standing in front of the same magazine rack again. I took in a steadying breath while “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” blared through the speakers.
“Back to square one.” I shrugged when something caught my eye. It would have to do.
As we settled into our seats on the airplane, Jordan leaned down and whispered against my ear, “Find me a gift?” making my hair stand on end.
I glanced sideways up at him. “I did. You have any luck?”
“I sure did.” He smiled smugly as he buckled his seatbelt.
That night, after we’d finally checked into the snow-laden rustic hotel, Jordan and I nestled up by the lobby fireplace under a heavy quilted throw. The wood crackled and the air smelled of pine and ash as Jordan tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
We’d both brought our presents with us, left in their plastic shopping bags and sitting by our feet. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to exchange presents.” Jordan’s blue eyes gleamed in the firelight.
I’d caught him trying to peek into the plastic bag all afternoon.
“I don’t think you’ll ever get another gift quite like this one.” I lifted my chin. “There’s no competing with the absolute gem I found.”
Jordan ran a hand through his hair. “Enough bluffing. Let’s see the gift, Soph.”
