Page 102 of A Love Like Christmas Time
“I got you something,” he whispers against my lips. When my eyes flutter open, I find him watching me with an unsure crease between his eyebrows, not meeting my gaze.
“Thought we said no presents?” I tease him and arch my eyebrow, but the grin tugging at my lips betrays my mock pout.
“It’s only something small,” he mumbles and takes a step back. I miss his warmth immediately, but he lifts a finger, motioning for me to wait, then disappears into the hallway.
“Here.” He walks back into the kitchen, holding a little box that snugly fits in his palm.
“You weren’t kidding.” I grin and make grabby hands for it.
“Don’t shake it,” he warns before he hands it over, and I hold it extra carefully.
He wrapped it in beautiful deep-red gift paper and bound it with a perfect golden bow. Slowly, I pull at the strings until the knot opens and gently pick the paper apart.
“It’s not much, and I’m not sure you’re going tolike it and-” Caleb rambles.
“Shush,” I say playfully and put my fingers over his mouth. “It’s from you. I’m sure I’ll love it.”
“I hope so.” He can’t help but grumble against my palm, his eyes nervously darting around the room as I carefully open the box.
“Oh my God, Caleb!” I stare at it in awe. It’s an ornament! Carefully, I find the ribbon and lift it out of the box. “Oh, my Santa, this is stunning.”
A heart-shaped gingerbread ornament, complete with a border of icing, sprinkles and plastic candy.
“I saw it at the Christmas market and thought of you,” he admits shyly.
Carefully, I set it right back down in the box before I jump off the counter to throw myself at Caleb, getting on my tiptoes for a kiss.
“It’s perfect, Caleb. I love it.” His hands lock at the small of my back as he hugs me tightly.
“Good. I’m glad.”
I take his hand and pull him with me, finding the perfect spot for it on the tree. Slightly above my head, high enough that the cats won’t reach it and I can see it easily. I lean my back against his chest, grinning as his arms slide around my middle. Gosh, I could look at it for the rest of the day.
“So, what if I told you I also got you something?” I tease, glancing at him over my shoulder. He cocks an eyebrow.
“You hypocrite.”
“Hey, you’re the first one who broke our agreement.” I giggle and step out of his arms, rushing to my library room. I grab both presents, and as I walk back into the living room, his eyes widen.
“Don’t worry,” I assure him, then hand him the bigger one first. “This one is as much a present for me as it is for you.”
There’s some healthy skepticism in his expression; a crease forms between his eyebrows and his grin is only slightly forced.
“Open it.”
It’s not even remotely wrapped as perfectly as his. I don’t have the patience for perfect measurements and using as little tape as possible.
Instead of opening it carefully, he tears the paper open. Once he takes the sweatshirt out of it, he freezes — then bursts into barking laughter.
“Fuck, I should’ve known.”
It’s a Christmas sweater, a deep Christmasy red with white accents and a Christmas tree pattern along the chest.
“I have a similar one,” I explain, and run back to the library to get it. “Look!” I unfold it and hold it up in front of me. They’re exactly the same shade of red, only mine has a gingerbread pattern instead of Christmas trees. “They kind of match.”
“God, you’re ridiculous.” He leans in for another kiss. “In the best way.”
He picks up the second present. It’s around the same size, and he turns it in his hands as if he’s trying to figure out the contents by staring at the box intently. He pulls the paper off to reveal a box, and when he opens it, his eyes widen.
