His question makes me roll my eyes. “Debatable.”
“You wound me. Don’t be such a Grinch.”
“I’m not! I actually brought you something.” Pulling the small, badly wrapped gift from my scrub pocket, I set it in his lap. “Don’t get too excited.”
He fidgets, adjusting the cap on his head, and smooths hismatching loungewear set like he’s not sure what to do with his hands. “You didn’t have to?—”
“I wanted to,” I say, glancing at the raised edge of the hospital bed. “Is it okay if I sit with you in bed for a minute?”
“Please,” he says, squeezing his body to the other side to make space.
I lower the rail and take my shoes off, curling my legs up as I ease in. He carefully unwraps the box. When his fingers land on the item inside, his brows shoot up in puzzlement. “What is it?”
“A MP3 player.”
“No fucking way.” He grins widely, turning it over in his hands like treasure. “These still exist? I haven’t used one since, what, 2010?”
“This brand was the best option because it has buttons instead of a touchscreen. It’s connected to my phone and has a voiceover playlist navigation when you press here,” I guide his index finger to show where. “I also created a curated playlist with close to three hundred songs, so you shouldn’t get tired of it anytime soon.”
“You’re kind of amazing.” Awe colors his voice, his eyes sparkling. “Now that my headaches are easing, I was hoping for something to do besides sitting here in silence. This is perfect. Thank you, Ivy.”
I’m glad he likes it as I wanted to give him something that I love. Music has always been my safe place. He taps the play button, and a song starts playing through the in-ear earbuds connected to the device. I recognize it as “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World, one of my all-time favorites.
After the first chorus, he pauses it. “What type of music does it have in addition to this absolute banger?”
“Mostly rock with a bit of alt and emo—the stuff I grew up on. There are some indie tracks you might not have heard, too. If you want to remove some songs or add more, let me know and I’ll take care of it.”
He turns his head toward me, appreciation clear on his face. “This means a lot.” He reaches under his pillow. “Alright. My turn.”
A shocked gasp leaves my lips. “You bought me a gift?”
“I wanted to show my appreciation," he hands me a jewelry box. “Because without you, this place would feel much colder and emptier.”
The sting of tears comes quickly, blurring my vision as I carefully lift the lid. Nothing could have prepared me for the stunning silver bracelet with two delicate charms. One of them is a snowflake and the other is a tiny lightning bolt, matching the one we both have inked on our bodies.
“Teddy, it’s beautiful. I—” I stop mid-sentence, using the sleeve of my scrub top to wipe the falling tears.
Teddy wraps an arm around me, pulling me to him. “Hey, don’t cry. It’s supposed to be a good memory.”
“The best,” I manage, though my voice wavers. “I love everything about it.”
My fingers linger on the charms, still shocked at how he picked such a perfect gift. The bracelet catches the light, a shining reminder that he sees me in a way few people ever have.
“I chose the lightning bolt because it means strength and you should never lose yours.” He clears his throat. “Then, I got youthe snowflake to remember our first snowfall together. That memory will probably stay with me for the rest of my life. I want you to remember it, too.”
“I will. You got it exactly right,” I whisper, fastening the bracelet onto my wrist.
Relief softens his features. “Good. I was nervous, if I’m being honest.”
“You, Theodore Seaborn, nervous?”
“Shocking, I know. I second-guessed every decision while picking the gift, wondering if it was too much or not enough. Believe it or not, I almost went with a cookbook instead.”
An unladylike snort leaves me. “I hate to break it to you, but I’m a terrible cook.”
“That’s settled; I’ll never buy you anything for the kitchen.”
“Smart man.” I take the MP3 player from him, popping in one of the earbuds. Tapping his hand, I offer him the other. “You ready for more music?”
