“When did you go out to get coffee?”
He’s definitely up to something, smiling and avoiding eye contact. “I got up before you. Let’s go.”
I take the coffee from him and take a sip, groaning as the sweet taste hits my tongue.
“Christmas cookie? You remembered.”
His hand finds my lower back as he guides me out the door of my apartment. “Of course I did. I’ve paid an inappropriate amount of attention to you over the years.”
Gabriel pullsopen my door and holds his hand out, helping me climb out of his truck. He brought us to the lake, which has long since frozen over, and the sun is just now cresting over the horizon, the first rays of color coming into view.
“I cannot believe you made me get up this early,” I grumble, my coffee long gone. If I could’ve injected it into my veins, I would have. “Nosunrise can be worth this.”
He laughs and guides me closer to the lakeshore. “I promise you’ll never forget this one.”
I’m about to respond with something snarky when I see a figure sitting on a bench, staring over the water.
I’d know her anywhere.
“Clara’s here,” I say, turning my head to look at Gabriel.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the small gift bag that holds Clara’s necklace and holds it out to me. “Why don’t you go give her her Christmas present?”
I take the bag from him and turn my attention back to Clara. My thoughts stutter over one another. Why would he bring this?
Did he know she was going to be here?
I turn to ask him, but he is already walking away, back to his truck.
The bag crinkles in my tightly clenched fists. Can I do this? Can I give her this locket, tell her to open it, and finally show her how I feel?
I think I have to.
Whether it’s Gabriel’s meddling that has kept me from spiraling and overthinking this moment, or the pink and orange that streaks the sky in a romantic backdrop, something in my gut knows that it’s now or never.
So, I’m going to choose now.
TWENTY-FIVE
CHRISTMAS EVE
“Hey.”
I startle at the soft word spoken a few feet away from me.
I’d know that voice anywhere.
“What are you doing here?” I ask my best friend, turning sideways to see him better. “And how are you up so early?”
He laughs and takes another step closer to me, the snow crunching under his boots. “Gabriel got me up for the sunrise. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Sylvia called me in for work, but ended up not needing me. She suggested I come out here.”
The words hang between us for a moment before we both start laughing.
“Oh my God, they played us,” I say between gasping breaths. “They planned this, didn’t they?”
“They must have. Gabriel brought the present I got you.”
