Page 41 of Fall Into You
“No,” I shake my head. “This is something…different. A real present.” I pick up the rectangular velvet box from where I left it on the couch cushion, and she gasps.
“Matt, a velvet box almost always means jewelry,” she says carefully, eyes widening.
I need to tread lightly, make it sound like I was thinking about her but that it wasn’t necessarily a big deal—although, it kind of was a little bit. Liza pinches the lid of the box, but doesn’t open it, hesitating, as if there were a chance that something could jump out of there and attack her.
It kind of stings.
“It’s nothing huge.” I shrug as casually as possible. “I just know you were really upset when you lost the necklace your dad gave you, so I asked my mom if she had anything similar to it—you know, since she’s a jeweler,” I lie. It was actually kind of a whole process. I couldn’t remember exactly what it looked like, so I had Danielle describe the medal on the necklace in as much detail as possible in an email, which I then forwarded to my mother so she could custom-make a replica of the original. Plus, I had to rush order it and everything.
Explaining why I needed my mother to do this for me was also a whole trip. She and I don’t really have that much of a communicative relationship, so it was difficult to open up and tell her about my relationship with Liza. We’re still so new—I don’t want to jinx us.
Liza’s eyes start to water, and she carefully—and may I addslowly—opens the box. She gasps and brings the fingers of her right hand to her mouth.
“Matt…” she says, her voice breaking. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You can say you’ll wear it tonight,” I say hopefully. “Only if you like it, of course. It’s okay if you don’t.”
“Are you kidding? Iloveit.” A tear slips from her eye, and she pats it dry. My heart squeezes in my chest, and I smile down into her beautiful dark-brown eyes, a swirl of browns and golds. “Oh crap, you couldn’t have given this to me before I did my make-up?” she jokes with a sniffle as she lifts her face to the ceiling. “I’m gonna ruin an hour’s worth of work here.”
I laugh and cup her face in my hands, tilting her face so I can lay a sweet kiss on her lips.
“Here, put it on for me,” Liza says, handing me the box. She turns her back to me and lowers her head so I can place the necklace around her neck and easily secure the clasp shut. I place a soft, open-mouthed kiss on her shoulder and wrap my arms around her waist, breathing her in.
“Mmm, I love it when you kiss my shoulder like that, even if your beard tickles a little,” she sighs.
“Yeah?” I smile against her skin, kissing her the same way again, feeling how good she feels. Liza turns in my arms and clasps her hands behind my neck.
“Matt, this is so sweet. I can’t believe you did this.”
“It was nothing,” I say against her lips. “I’m so happy you like it.”
I love you.
IGUESSI shouldn’t be surprised by how amazing Liza is with complete strangers, but honestly, she’s been a dream. In the past, whenever I’ve taken a date to one of these things, it’s been difficult to get them to mingle with other doctors and hospital administrators. I don’t know whether it’s because she’s used to doctors because of her brother or whether it’s her natural people skills, but she’s become every person at our table’s favorite guest. She doesn’t just participate in conversation, she makes sure everyone is included. She’s charming and funny and smart, and the head of cardiology, Dr. Parker—my boss—is absolutely smitten with her.
I wrap an arm around her shoulder, lightly tracing patterns on her skin as she talks to him about future hospital renovations. I smile when I see my touch raise goosebumps on her skin.
“She really is something,” Parker says at one point in the conversation after she makes him laugh.
I smile proudly at her and bring her left hand to my mouth to kiss. “She definitely is.” I don’t let go of her hand as they ease comfortably back into their conversation, and I marvel at how easily people open up to her. She’s going to be an amazing therapist, getting to help people every day.
At one point in the night, they open up the dance floor for guests—an opportunity I make sure I don’t pass on. I pull her into my arms, where she lays her head on my chest, and we sway to Sinatra.
“You having fun?” I ask in her ear. “I know these things can get really boring—especially when you don’t know anyone except for your date.”
“Are you kidding? Your boss is a trip. Did you know he collects backgammon sets? He’s also part of a club where they meet up twice a month to drink and play all day. The stories he told me about the guys who are part of that group were hilarious!” She laughs.
“I think you now know more about Parker than I do, and I’ve been working at the hospital for months,” I say, shaking my head at her in disbelief.
“Ohmigod, he’s so nice. You’re so lucky to have a boss like that—seriously.”
Now I really laugh. “Parker is known to be a hardass with a short fuse,” I tell her in a whisper, looking around to make sure no one can hear. “Tonight is the first time I’ve ever seen him smile. I think he just fell in love with you, and you brought out his nice side.”
She snorts, like the thought of anyone loving her is completely ridiculous. “No such thing as love at first sight.”
I smile, deciding to take a risk. “I can’t say I agree with that statement,” I say, my lips at her ear, pulling her closer to me. Not quite those three little words, but close to them. Her skin erupts in goosebumps again, and I feel like I’ve been hit by lightning. She liked it.
Liza reaches up to kiss my neck, and I swear I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am now.
