Page 53 of A Gift of Time
Chapter Fifteen
Iknew it was morning before I opened my eyes. My heart was heavy, and I didn’t want to wake up—to do anything.
What was the point?
Being sad on Christmas was awful. Everyone around me would be celebrating with laughs, smiles, and warm hugs, whereas I’d be trying to hold myself together as best as I could. Without love, nothing else mattered.
I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, not ready to face the day without Caden. He’d always made Christmas day so special, and—
Wait.
Caden!
I wasn’t supposed to still have memories of him.
Opening my eyes, I realized I was in the living room of our old house, lying on the couch. I sat up and looked around, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
The Christmas tree was in the corner exactly how we’d put it up that year, framed pictures of me and Caden hung on the wall, and the fireplace wasn’t the fancy one from my apartment, but it was older and had ashes left in it from the logs that burned the night before.
This is impossible.
As confusion clouded my mind, a noise sounded from the other room. My heart skipped a beat.
Footsteps came down the hall before something clanked in the kitchen. A cabinet opened, followed by the refrigerator open and shut.
My eyes watered, and I leapt off the couch, nearly tripping on my shoes in the floor.
“Cay?” I called as I ran into the kitchen.
He flipped around, and his expression made me remember how we’d left things between us the night before. His eyes were pained, and his chin trembled. He was already dressed, wearing a red sweater and charcoal skinny jeans.
“Sorry I woke you up,” he said before looking away. “I called my mom, and I’m going over there around noon. She was going to come here like usual, but I didn’t think you’d like that.”
Tears blurred my vision.
“Is this real?” I asked, afraid to get my hopes up. “Or am I dreaming?”
Caden hadn’t fallen in love with me in time, so the wish should’ve completed. I shouldn’t be in our house with him.
He looked back and tilted his head. “What? Are you feeling okay? I don—”
Before he finished his sentence, I was across the room and enclosing his smaller body in my arms. And when his confused blue-eyed gaze lifted to mine, I kissed him. I whimpered against his mouth before deepening the kiss.
His lips felt real—soft and warm. He smelled real—like lavender and a subtle hint of his cologne.
Pulling back, I cupped his face in my hands, staring at him like it’d been ages since I’d seen his handsome face. To me, that’s what it felt like.
“I’m so sorry, Cay. For focusing too much on my work, being distant recently, missing Christmas Eve plans, and for arguing with you last night.” The tears in my eyes finally fell. “Fuck, Caden. I’m sorry for everything. I love you so much and never want to lose you again. I’m nothing without you.”
I couldn’t stop touching him. I was afraid if I let go, he’d leave me and I’d wake up in my apartment, alone and miserable.
“What do you meanagain? You never lost me.” He scrunched his brow. “And why are you crying, Jack?”
“I just had a bad dream,” I said, stroking the corner of his lips with my thumb. “But I’m awake now.”
Caden started to smile, but stopped. “What about all the things you said last night? That you hate my traditions and are bored.” His tone became hoarse and his eyes watered. “You’re not happy with me.”
“I was an idiot,” I said, grabbing his hand. “Yeah, the promotion at work would be awesome because I know I’m the best guy for the job, but I’m tired of kissing asses and spending more time with my boss than with you.”
