Page 103 of Infatuated as They Come
“You caught me,” she said.
“I did,” I said. “Those are for your parents?”
“Nope. These are for you and I can’t wait to see you open them.”
Ah, shit. “Allof those are for me?”
“Mhm.”
“Baby, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. It’s Christmas. And Christmas is for spoiling the ones you love.” She took out yet another gift and I was starting to wonder how she had managed to fit so much inside those goddamn bags. “And I love you, so I’m spoiling you.”
“That’s a lot,” I said, watching her get out more presents. “That’s… That’s a whole lot.”
“And you deserve all of them.” Finally, she zipped up the bag. “I’m so excited for tomorrow. Our first Christmas together. I’m so glad we finally get to have some time together, especially since…”
“Since what?”
Her head shook. “Nothing. I’m just excited for tomorrow. For us to betogether.”
“I’m excited too,” I said. “Can’t wait to give you your gift.”
She grabbed the gift I got her, the wrapping job not nearly as good as hers. “Ooh, so heavy. I wonder what it is,” she said, giving the box a tiny shake.
“Go easy, princess.” Thankfully I didn’t hear anything break. “What are you doing tonight? Something with your parents?”
“Um, I don’t think so. Why?”
“How about we start that new tradition?”
“Today?” She clasped her hands together.
“Yeah, today. I still owe you dinner, don’t I?”
“You want that to be our new tradition?” She smiled. “We can just do something here. We can eat cookies and drink hot chocolate and watch all theHome Alonemovies. The first two, I mean. I don’t acknowledge the other ones.”
Those suggestions all sounded so simple.So low budget. I shook my head at her. “We’ll make it our thing. Every Christmas Eve, you and me will go out to some fancy place and have dinner.”
“It doesn’t have to befancy.”
But it did. “You pick a place and we’ll go.” I watched her stand up and move over to me, my hands instantly finding her waist. “I owe you this. It’s been a long time coming. So we’ll go out and for a little while…”We can pretend your dad thinks I’m good enough for you and that I have a million bucks. “It’ll be just you and me…”And the outside world won’t be able to get in. “And it’ll be nice.”
She hummed. “Well, okay. If youreallywant to go out for dinner, we’ll do that. I’m in the mood for pizza.”
“No pizza,” I said, the words coming out too rushed.
“No pizza?”
“No. Pick some place, you know, classy.”
She arched a brow at me. “Why does it have to be classy?”
“Because you’re classy.”
“Why can’t we get pizza? It doesn’t have to be some lavish place.”
But she didn’t get it and I could feel her dad’s words from last night—and every conversation we’ve ever had—weighing there on my chest, all painful and heavy. “Pick some place nice, okay? No fast food, no pizza, no places without the waiters who put the napkin on your lap. Let’s go to… I don’t know… the country club or whatever.”
