Page 56 of The Ballad of Us
They exchange glances, and from the looks on their faces and the way Andrew shrugs, it’s clear they have no idea what they're doing.
“Okay.” I switch into assistant mode. “Let's start with who you need to buy for. Andrew, who are you buying for?”
“My parents, everyone here, and the road crew...” Andrew's list trails off despairingly.
“Parker, what about you?” I steer the conversation toward one of the guys who may actually have his life together.
“I need something for my sister and her kids. And maybe something for Emma?” The last part is said with careful, casual hope that fools absolutely no one.
“Aw, Parker has a crush,” Zep teases, earning an elbow.
“What about you, Sir Galahad?” I turn to Zep. “Planning to impress a certain diner waitress and her adorable son?”
Zep's cheeks turn pink in the dim light of the car. “I might have been thinking about getting Jake a few things for Christmas. If that's not weird. Is that weird?”
“It's sweet. What five-year-old doesn't love presents from a knight in shining armor?” I reassure Zep.
“Gray needs to get something amazing for his girlfriend.” Cody pipes up from the front seat.
The word 'girlfriend' hangs in the air, tugging at both old wounds and new hopes. I’m reminded of last Christmas, which was long and full of small disappointments with a fragile wish for things to change.
Gray’s hand finds mine in the dark, his fingers weaving through mine in silent reassurance. “No pressure there,” he jokes, but his tone rings with genuine understanding. He knows exactly how it used to feel, and how it feels to hope for something better.
“What about y’all? Who are we shopping for?” I ask Cody and Wyatt.
“Parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. The usual suspects.” Wyatt is the most thoughtful gift-giver, so I know he has a better idea of what he’d like to buy than the rest of the band.
“Same. Plus, I want to get something for Mrs. Patterson because she always asks about my health like I'm her actual grandson.” Cody is so stinking cute.
My heart melts a little at the thought of Cody picking out a gift for our favorite coffee shop regular. “She would love that.”
Our first stop is the electronics store, which is packed despite the early hour. The guys immediately scatter like excited children, drawn to different displays, while the focus of serious researchers remains undivided.
Parker surveys the rows of headphones, genuine puzzlement on his face. “Why are there so many kinds?”
“Well, people have different preferences. Some are for working out, some for travel, and others for professional audio...”
“Which would Emma like?” he presses, hope in his eyes.
I study his hopeful expression and try to gauge what's really happening between him and my friend. “What's she like when she's making coffee? Does she wear headphones?”
“Yes, often. She says it helps her concentrate when she's creating new drinks. Then you want something that sounds good but doesn't completely block outside noise, so she can still hear customers.” I point to a mid-range pair with excellent reviews. “These would be perfect.”
Parker looks at me like I've just solved world hunger. “You're amazing.”
I stand on my tiptoes and look over the display to search for Gray. I find him staring at smart watches with the intense concentration usually reserved for song lyrics.
“Fitness tracker?” I bump his shoulder with mine.
“I was thinking about one for Andrew. He's been talking about getting back in shape, but he's terrible at keeping track of exercise.” His bewildered expression is adorable.
“That's thoughtful. The kind of gift that says, 'I care about your health' without being preachy about it.”
“Exactly.” He turns to look at me with an expression that makes my stomach flutter. “You're really good at this.”
“At what?”
“Knowing what people need. Seeing them clearly enough to find the perfect thing.”
