“Of you getting a new phone.”
I ran a hand over my hair. “I told you I’ll–” I stopped midsentence when he brought his right hand between us and wiggled the box he was holding in it.
“What’s this?” I asked, and raised my brows at him.
A Cheshire-cat grin took over his face. “My way of speeding up the process.”
“Gall…” I looked between him and the beautifully wrapped box in his hand. “If this is what I think it is, then…” I shook my head.
“Then what, Zaira?” he questioned me with challenge in his eyes.
I sighed and shook my head. “You don’t have to do these things for me, Gall; I’m not into materialism when it comes to relationships.”
“I know that, seriously. But it’smyfault that you broke your phone, Zaira, so I think it’s only right if I take the responsibility of getting you a new one.”
I gazed at his hard expression, at his clenched jaw. “You’re upset,” I said.
He swallowed and wiped a hand over his face.
Oh man, he was frustrated too.
“I just feel like a fool right now for thinking, andhoping, that you’d be excited to get your first present from me. I’ve been working on it for a week now, and you just…” He shook his head and took a step back. “You blew me off by implying that I thought you’re a material person, andthat’swhy I got you a new phone, which is not at all true.”
The hurt on his face shocked me. “Gall, I’m…I…” Shit, what do I say to him that’ll make him believe I didn’t mean what he thought I did?
“Save it, Zaira,” he said. “Once again, your presumption about me turned out to be wrong. I just hope this shows you that I’m not a walking and talking cliché.” He turned to leave, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him to me before pressing my lips to his.
“You think you can just walk away after blindly assuming that I thought you were a Hollywood snob? You think I’m so shallow, that I’d look at you in such bad light? Is that what you think, Gall?”
He worked his jaw as he scanned my face. “What else do you want me to think? I didn’t bring you a phone because I wanted to gain your affection or attention, Zaira; I did it because I wanna be able to contact you whenever I want. I did so because it’s hard for me to function when you’re not with me. I don’t know what you’re doing to me, but whatever it is, I absolutelyloveit. I can’t help myself; I act on how I feel. Maybe it’s impulsive, but fuck if I give a damn about it.”
My lips twitched. “Christ, you’re so dramatic, Underwood.”
He tried to hold it in, but his smooth laughter slipped through anyway. “It was a little too much, wasn’t it?”
“Reminded me of the Snickers candy-bar ad, is all I’m saying.”
He laughed harder. “Sorry. I had a lot of work-related pent-up frustration that wanted out.”
I smirked. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you decided to fall back into rationality.”
He rolled his eyes. “Jeez, Zaira, thanks.”
I chuckled, and then grabbed the gift box from his hand. “I’m accepting this,” I told him, and brought the box up, “but if you buy me any more expensive shit in the future, I’ll dick-punch you without a thought. Clear?”
He grinned. “God, why did that threat turn me on so much?”
I laughed and pushed at his chest. “You’re a weirdo, Gallan Underwood.”
He grinned. “Only for you, though,” he said.
“I can’t believe you were going to walk out on me just a moment ago,” I said.
“I wasn’t.” He chuckled. “I was going to play hard-to-get for a second, and then I was going to turn around and come back to you anyway.”
I laughed and shook my head, and then began unwrapping the colorful paper from the gift box.
Gallan scratched the back of his head and stood next to me in complete silence, almost as if he was nervous.
