But since we learned the date of the surgery, something in him changed. He still reads, of course, but not like before. Back then, reading had been his outlet, a way of expressing emotions he couldn’t define otherwise.
He would go to book fairs, attend conferences, and especially book presentations—whether from emerging or famous authors. He was a regular at the library and a loyal customer at the bookstore downtown.
Now, though, it feels like the bakery’s his entire world. He doesn’t think about anything else. We barely spend time together anymore, and when we do, we argue. I just wishhe would take better care of himself—that he’d understand weakness isn’t a flaw, that it’s okay to need help, that he can lean on me. I wish he’d realize work isn’t everything—thathecomes first.
So the fact that he bought two identical books just so we could spend more time together fills me with joy. I know how much his work means to him and that this is the hardest time of his life, but I wish he remembered that he’s only twenty-three, not fifty.
“Thank you,” I whisper, burying myself in his arms. Steven takes my face in his hands and kisses me gently. “It was Vincent who suggested it,” he whispers with a smile.
I wish he hadn’t said that.
“Oh...” I murmur.
“What’s wrong, babe? Did I say something bad?”
I shake my head quickly. “No, no. It’s fine.”
I don’t want to make a scene in front of our friends, especially not over something like this. Friends often give each other gift ideas. It’s not a big deal that Vincent told Steven to get me a book we could share. Still why didn’thethink of it himself? Doesn’t he realize we’re drifting apart? He’s my boyfriend, not Vincent.
These days, I can’t even join him in the kitchen, and most nights I only see him when he comes over to sleep after work. I miss our quality time. Honestly, I’ve spent more time with Vincent in the past month than with Steven in the last six.
I put on a radiant smile and kiss his cheek. “It’s a beautiful thought, really. At least we’ll get to spend some time together.”
Steven nods and leaves another quick kiss on my lips before handing me the last package from the bed. “The final gift.”
I nod and take it. It’s wrapped in purple paper covered with daisies. For a split second, I clutch the beaded necklace around my neck.
Why does he have to do this? Doesn’t he realize how much his actions affect me, making me feel like such a terrible person?
I unwrap the paper and find a CD:Rumoursby Fleetwood Mac. I raise an eyebrow as I pull it from the box—it’s slightly bigger than the one I already own.
I glance at Vincent, confused. I appreciate the thought, but I already have every possible version of this CD—even the vinyl—and he knows it, since he was the one who gave them to me. Maybe it’s a new deluxe edition.
“Open it,” he says.
“Hm?”
“Open it.”
I nod and do as he asks. The moment I crack it open, the first song from the album starts playing in the room, but instead of a physical CD, there’s a video: me at seventeen, dancing in the rain whileTemporary Oneplays in the background. I remember that night like it was yesterday. At the end of the video, I run toward the person filming, and then it cuts out before starting all over again.
I look up at Vincent again and he gives me a small, almost shy smile.
“How...?”
He shrugs, absently stroking Fleur’s fur as she curls in his lap. “My dad ordered something similar for his wedding anniversary last month, so I asked if the site could make one for you, too.”
“That’s—I don’t—I don’t even know what to say. It’s beautiful,” I murmur.
I can feel our friends’ eyes on me, but neither Vincent nor I look back at them. The first notes ofDreamsfill the room, and Sam’s voice cuts through the awkward silence:
“Evangeline and I thought you might like celebrating your birthday at the beach, Nova. What do you say?”
“You and Evangeline? You didn’t think of shit. That was my idea,” Maggie mutters, twirling a lock of pink hair.
“I supported you,” Sam retorts.
She rolls her eyes and throws one of my pillows at him. “None of these assholes objected to my idea.”
