He’s holding a bouquet of a variety of yellow flowers and assorted throughout are tiny white flowers. They’re beautifully wrapped in a cream-colored paper, with a pastel yellow bow holding it together. In the other, he’s holding a large brown paper gift bag.
“Hi, pretty girl.” There’s a rough edge to his voice, and his smile looks strained, like he’s forcing it to stay up.
Heat spreads throughout my body, and I’m smiling uncontrollably as he walks to me.
“Hi.” I push the word out of my mouth, feeling unsteadily happy. My legs wobble and my stomach somersaults when he stands in front of me. There are so many things my mind is screaming at me to do—jump on him, hug him, kiss him—but I can’t do anything because I feel stuck.
I’m never like this and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little overwhelmed by how much happiness I feel right now. I can’t even find a way to sabotage this moment because my brain is obliterating any negative thoughts.
I’m actually enjoying this. I’m really happy. I think I might cry.
Don’t be weird.
“You make me so happy,” I stupidly blurt out.
The tension on his face melts, and his smile is as blinding as the sparkle in his eyes. With everything still in his hands, he envelops me in a hug. It’s different from any other hug we’ve given each other.
It’s all-consuming, and my heart, mind, and soul feel entwined to his. I’m so deeply absorbed in him, I don’t know what else to feel other than pathetically and ardently—no, that feeling is too soon. We just began dating. There’s no way Iactually feel that. I can’t feel that; I don’t even know what that feeling actually is.
I pull away, realizing the song is about to end and rush over to the stereo to turn it off.
He grins, eyes sweeping over me again. “You make me so happy.”
I’m crushing so hard for him, it’s insane. I’m blushing and smiling so much, I think I’m actually crashing out. This can’t be healthy, can it?
“What are those for?” I eye the gorgeous flowers in his hand.
“You know I love a good holiday.” He sets the gift bag on the sectional, drops his duffle on the floor, and stands in front of me.
“Holiday? I don’t think there’s a holiday today.”
“It’s Josie said I’m Her Boyfriend Day. This is one the biggest holidays of them all. So naturally I had to getmy girlfriendthese.”
The backs of my eyes burn. “But you got me flowers last month—a lot of them…”
Don’t cry!
“That was last month, and they’re dead now. This is this month, and next month will be next month.”
I laugh. “Don’t you dare get me flowers next month.”
“If it means I get to see you smile like this, expect them every month.” He kisses the crown of my head then retrieves the gift bag. “I also got you this.”
Daniel takes the flowers from me and hands me the bag. “You understand you don’t have to get me anything to like you, right? I really don’t?—”
He places his finger on my lips, keeping it there to shush me. “Whatever I buy or do for you is nonnegotiable. Don’t make this difficult. Accept the gifts, Josie. They’re going to keep coming whether you want them to or not.”
I softly swat his hand away. “Okay.”
“Now if you could kindly hurry up because I’m really struggling here.” He clears his throat, gaze drifting to my chest where the first few buttons are undone, exposing my cleavage. “I didn’t know you owned two of my jerseys?”
I only had one but after sitting out in the sun for almost three hours, I had started to sweat. I bought another, showered when I got home, and put on a matching green bra and thong.
“It was hard to pick one. You guys have so many.”
“I will get you the rest if you promise to wear them all the time.”
I smirk. “You improve in the pool and I will.”
