My heart swelled two times too big. Tears bit at my eyes, and there was this weird knot forming in my belly where something fluttered inside.
“Faith wanted to get you something special to put on the tree,” Elle announced with a smile. “We ordered it with fast delivery. She picked something green for you, Jack.”
I had no words. My mouth wouldn’t move, except for this unstoppable twitch at the corners of my lips, which turned into the biggest fucking grin I’d ever experienced. I smiled so wide my goddamn face hurt.
“Wow, Faith...” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “Is this for me?”
“Yes, Mr. Timber.” Faith smiled with twinkling eyes as she held the tree topper up to me. “Would you do the honors?”
I stopped grinning. “No.”
“Why?” Faith’s smile fell. “Is something wrong?”
“No, kiddo. It’s perfect.” I grinned again and picked Faith up. “But I need you to put the star up for me.”
Faith squealed with glee as I lifted her into the air, and I laughed along with Elle. Faith placed the tree topper neatly on top, and bright neon green ruled the Christmas tree. The best decoration I could ever ask for, not because it was greedy but because it was a gift from a little girl who made me into a man I never thought I could be. A better person who did things differently, but I did them for her.
After placing Faith down, smiling in wonder, I felt a light touch against my arm. I glanced over at Elle, who was peering up at me intensely, and my heart leaped up into my damn throat. I couldn’t breathe because the organ wouldn’tbudge with the way she kept ogling me like I had done something right. Something she appreciated because I’d made her daughter happy. The greatest gift of all.
“Thank you,” Elle whispered.
The woman made me experience a joy I had never wanted to until the sensation was present. A glimmer of hope that this elation would last, and I could be free from the bitterness haunting me every damn day. If only I could keep her, hold her, and kiss her for the rest of my life, but this moment in time had to be fleeting. She was my best friend’s daughter. There’d never be Elle and me.
Elle couldn’t see me after I stepped away from the tree. I couldn’t tell if the bitter gesture stung, and I didn’t want to see because her pain would leave this memory tainted. I wanted to keep the gift she had given me, safely locking her present away for all of eternity.
“Drum roll, please!” Elle announced.
Faith tried to create the noise with her tongue but failed miserably. I placed my tongue against the roof of my mouth and made a drumming sound. Faith glanced back at me and followed my lead with a high pitch beat. Elle fell back beside me with her arms around Faith’s shoulder while eager Chip sat beside me, and we all stared up at the tree awaiting its glow.
Suddenly, the tree lit up. Bright, beaming, and as gleeful as could be. The moment left me in awe. I had never seen a Christmas tree like this before, and the wondrous beauty astounded me.
“Wow...” Faith sighed in amazement.
“Perfection...” Elle whisperedin wonder.
“A damn stunner if you ask me.” I grinned, but my gaze fell on little Elle.
She glanced over at me and shook her head with a smile. “Don’t press your luck, Jack.”
Elle gently nudged me, and I gave her a playful shove back.
TWENTY-ONE
Early Morning Text
Jack
Isat at my desk contemplating my life decision to do this goddamn building design. It’s a sophisticated layout for an extremely wealthy customer whom I needed to impress. An associate recommended me to him, but I knew the job would be tricky because I had heard through the grapevine that Mr. Armani was picky.
Gut instinct yelled at me not to fucking take the job after I had a meeting with Mr. Armani, and he expressed his vision. I listened but turned him down even though he threw money at me to take the position. He left my office enraged, with bills littering the floors, and rambled on in some fucking language I couldn’t make out.
I thought I had seen the last of Mr. Armani and his expensive gold rings on every finger.Nope.Unfortunately, he came back, and I thought he wanted the money he had left behind.Wrong. He knew I was the best in my skill set, and he was dead set on having me produce his dream while I kept his cold hard cash. He even promised to pay me triple to complete the project.
Fucker was persistent. I declined again, but Mr. Armani parked his rich ass in my office and refused to leave until I took the job. So, I gave in.
Now?
I deeply regretted my decision.
