I love you.
I didn’t know why the thought made me more sad than happy. After never having been in love before, it seemed like I should’ve been overjoyed.
Because I was a coward, instead of telling them how I felt, I thanked Hugh for his work on my nails. “Thanks. You put a manicurist to shame.”
“Should we show him now?” Linden asked Hugh.
That perked me right up. “Show me what?”
“Don’t get all excited. It’s not that big of a deal, but Linden and I think you’ll like it.”
“I like everything you do for me.”
Hugh smiled sweetly and kissed me before climbing out of bed and pulling on a T-shirt and some sweats.
Linden also threw on some clothes quickly.
I was careful not to ruin my paint job as I got out of bed and put on some clothes before I followed him to the spare room, my room that I never used. The door was closed, so Hugh opened it and stepped aside so I could walk in first.
The first thing I noticed was the easel leaning against the wall, and next to it were a paint case and some canvases. I walked over to it and lovingly caressed the wood. All my newfound stresses and worries vanished as soon as I saw the beautiful gift.
“We’ve been taking up a lot of your time. Linden and I talked, and we thought you might like to do some painting if you want a little break from us. We don’t want to take you away from your own passions.”
I turned to look at them both, frowning, and my eyes watering. “Why would I need a break from you? I… really like being with you.” I almost told them I loved being with them instead. Jesus. “This gift is precious. ‘No big deal,’ he says.” I shook my head at Hugh.
Linden stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my front, resting his chin on my head. “I have the same setup at my place.”
“God, you two spoil me. Truly.” My stupid fears were unfounded. They didn’t have to do those things for me, but they chose to anyway. Their trying to keep me happy meant everything. “Thank you for this.”
Hugh walked in and lifted a large box sitting in the middle of the bed, which I hadn’t even seen. “You missed this one.”
I smiled shyly up at him, feeling oddly emotional, and doing all I could to keep from bursting into tears. What they’d done was so damn thoughtful. Yes, they cared about me. I wasn’t there to be the glue that only boundthem. God, I was being an idiot.
“Thanks,” I said and took the proffered gift.
Hugh tucked his fingers underneath my chin and dragged his thumb across my bottom lip. “Before you open this, please know that Linden and I aren’t trying to change you.”
“O-kay.” What was he saying?
I unwrapped the silver paper and lifted the lid off the box. Pulling back the matching silver tissue paper revealed an entire outfit. Sitting on top was a sheer blouse with opaque horizontal stripes in navy teal.
“This is stunning. Thank you.”
I held it up against me. “Linden picked it out, and the color, too. He was right. It’s beautiful on you.”
“I’malwaysright.”
Hugh scoffed and rolled his eyes.
I laid the blouse down on the bed, careful not to wrinkle it, and lifted a pleated black miniskirt. “Oh, so cute!”
“This was what I was talking about. Would you consider wearing it one night? I’m not trying to make you a woman, At. I just…” He looked down at the skirt in my hands with his brows dropping low, fingering the fabric. “Sometimes I think I’m strange. It just turns me on.”
This vulnerable side to Hugh was not expected in the slightest.
Linden rushed to him and sat him down on my bed. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where did that come from?”
I sat next to Hugh on the other side and rested my head on his shoulder. “I love them.”
