It takes Dad all of a few seconds to figure out what’s going on, he narrows his eyes. “You two are high, aren’t you?”
We both freeze.
Celeste swats his arm. “Ashton!”
“What? Look at them! They’re smiling too much.”
“Maybe they’re happy!” she scolds.
I lose it first. Caleb follows. Celeste just laughs, shaking her head, while Dad mutters something about“choosing to go to the mountains to get high over being home with the family”under his breath before leaving the room.
“Be safe and take care of each other,” Mom says, giving me a look that makes me feel like that statement is mostly directed at me.
“Siempre, mamá.”
By the time the call ends, we’re both crying from holding in laughter. Caleb flops back onto the couch, still giggling.
“You realize,” he says between breaths, “Dad’s gonna bring this up every holiday for the next decade.”
“Worth it,” I say, wiping my eyes. “Totally worth it.”
We moveto the living room floor, cross-legged in front of the tree, our pile of gifts small but perfect.
“Okay,” Caleb says, handing me a wrapped box. “Yours first.”
I tear the paper carefully. Underneath is a small cedar box, smooth and dark with a carved design on top. It’s beautiful, a bunch of trees with a wolf. I lift the lid, and the rich scent of wood hits me. Inside are little compartments—one for a lighter, a grinder, rolling papers, and space for bud.
“You made this?”
He looks shy suddenly, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Had it made. Custom. I thought it might look good at your condo… you know, instead of everything scattered in the junk drawer.”
I run my hand over the lid again. “Caleb, this is perfect.”
“Yeah? I know it’s not a lot…”
“Yeah.” I lean forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “It’s the best damn box I’ve ever seen.”
He smiles, relief showing in his eyes. “Your turn.”
I grab the two boxes I’d hidden behind me and hand them over. “Big one first.”
He rips into it, eyebrows lifting when he sees the soft grey fabric. “A blanket?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s one of those weighted ones.”
He runs his hands over it, smiling softly. “It’s heavy.”
“That’s kind of the point.”
“Yeah, I know.”
I grin. “It’s for when you’re away. Games, dorm nights, whatever. I, uh... Slept with it before I wrapped it, so it smells like me.”
His mouth drops open in disbelief. “You did not.”
“Did too.”
“That’s... Really thoughtful.”
