“Gift from my mother a few years back,” he answered. “I think she hoped it would make me want to come home.”
I stepped up to the sliding glass door and opened it, and as I did, the noise of the beach down below filled my ears. The wind blew my hair back, and the salty scent of the ocean made me close my eyes.
Peace spread through my bones, my muscles, and over my skin. Peace that I had never truly felt before.
Gavin came through the door and handed me a coffee mug, a large one that said ‘Carpe fucking diem (after coffee)’ on it, and I laughed softly.
“What?” he asked.
“I haven’t drank out of a mug that wasn’t purely for aesthetics in a year,” I said. “It’s nice to see fun ones again.”
“I have a matching set of aesthetic ones if that’s what you prefer,” he said.
“No, I love this,” I countered.
As we sat down at the small table and I tasted that first sip of coffee, I let reality slowly come into focus. The warm drink spread through my insides, the hot ceramic heating my hands. I closed my eyes and let the scent waft into my nostrils.
“I have so much to do today,” I said upon opening my eyes.
“What time is he home?” Gavin asked.
“I think he said after dinner,” I answered. “I don’t know. I need to go back through my messages. I had hoped to pack most of my things, so I didn’t have to do so much while he was there. I did a lot before I came here, but I hate packing.”
A smile slipped on his lips then, one that made my eyes narrow. He settled back in the chair, smug energy radiating off of him.
“What?” I asked.
He glanced at his watch—
The doorbell rang.
I frowned across the table. “Are you expecting someone?”
“I think it’s for you,” he said.
“Why… why would it be for me?” I asked.
His smile widened, and he shrugged as he brought his cup to his lips. “Just a feeling,” he said.
The doorbell rang again. I continued staring at him until he chuckled softly.
“Would you rather I answer it?”
“I don’t think I can handle more surprises,” I said.
“You’ll like this one,” he said, and the doorbell rang three times, back to back. “I think they’re getting impatient.”
I huffed and rose to my feet. “I swear, Gavin, if you’ve done something crazy—“
“Like what?” he asked, following me inside.
“Like… I don’t know… hired a minotaur?” I couldn’t think of anything as I reached for the doorknob. “I don’t know your gift-giving limits yet.”
He was still grinning when I looked at him one last time, and then I swung open the door.
The smirking face of my best friend met me.
“Hey, babe,” Lana said.
