“What’s going on?” she asks, noticing how my hands are behind my back.
“For you.” I hand over the flowers and chocolates. The hotel receptionist stored them for me overnight, and the waitress concealed them underneath the trolley when bringing our breakfast to the room.
“I love them.” Astrid buries her nose in the petals. “No one has ever given me flowers before.”
I love that I’m claiming this first too. “They’re already in a vase under the wrapping,” I explain. “The florist said to just top up with a little water, and they should be fine until we get home and you can transfer them to something else.”
“You think of everything. Thank you so much. I—” Her eyes glisten with unshed emotion as she cuts off mid-sentence. “I can’t believe you’ve done all this for me.”
“I have a little something else for you before we leave.” I grab the gift bag from the bed and give it to her.
“Callan. This is too much.”
“It’s really not. You went all out for my birthday, and I wanted to spoil you the same way you spoiled me.”
“What is it?” Excitement lights up her face.
I chuckle. “Open it and see.”
I sit on the bed beside her, nuzzling my face in her neck as she opens her present. I’m addicted to her smell, and I could eat her all up.
“No way!” Astrid screams when she opens the hardcover book and notices it’s a signed copy. “How did you even know about this?” She’s practically bouncing on the bed as she hugs the book to her chest and beams.
“I asked Renee what book you might like, and she told me to get that one.”
“These are sold out everywhere, and I was so disappointed because I have the first two books and I really wanted this special edition so it matches the other ones on my shelf, and oh my god, I can’t wait to read it because the last book ended on a massive cliffhanger, and I’ve about died waiting for this one to come out.”
She says all that without drawing a breath, and it’s beyond cute. Personally, I don’t understand all the fuss. There are hundreds of books with dragons in them, but Renee said Xaden is the ultimate shadow-wielding, brooding hero, and everyone’s in love with him. I almost didn’t buy it for that reason alone, but it’s not like book boyfriends are any competition. I’ve got this boyfriend gig nailed down tight. Some fictional dragon-riding clown isn’t stealing my girl’s heart.
“No way!” she says, removing the other gift. It’s an interior designer box with a bunch of tools every designer needs—apparently. It’s got scissors, a tape measure, wall hooks and screws, pencils, a notepad and project planner, a color wheel, paint samples, material swatches, and a mini steamer. There is a zip-up bag it goes into so she can take it everywhere with her. “This is amazing.” Astrid sets the box and book down and thenthrows herself at me. I fall on my back, laughing as she grabs my face and kisses me. “Callan Hunt, you are so getting laid later.”
40
ASTRID
“Look!” I press my nose to the glass of our private gondola and point with my finger. “That’s MetLife Stadium.”
Callan leans forward in his chair to look. “I see it.”
“The views are incredible from up here.” I don’t want to know how much it cost Callan to have this VIP gondola all to ourselves. Our musical selection plays in the background through Bluetooth, and we got free sodas and access to the snazzy lounge. After a morning spent walking around Central Park, getting to sit on my ass for the thirty-minute Dream Wheel ride is heaven.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been here before.” He rubs his nose against mine. “Some Ferris wheel expert you are.”
“Any time we came to the city, we always went to Coney Island, but I’m definitely telling Mom she has to bring Freja and Alma here.”
I rest my head on his shoulder, and we’re both quiet as we crest the peak, admiring the scenery spread out below us, until Callan clears his throat, gently lifting my head. I frown as I stare at him, wondering why he looks apprehensive. “I have one final gift for you.”
“Truly, this is too much.” He must have spent all the extra money he made from selling his truck, and I don’t feel worthy. He should’ve kept it for college, but I’m not sorry he didn’t because this is the most magical weekend, and I never want it to end.
His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he takes my hand and places a small box in my palm. “Nothing is too much for the girl I love.”
My heart leaps into my mouth, and I stop breathing for a split second. “What?” I whisper, wanting to make sure I heard him right. Tears fill my eyes, but they’re the happy kind.
“I love you, Astrid. I love you so damn much.”
“Callan.” Clutching the box, I fling my arms around him. “I love you too.”
“You’re trembling.” His warm breath fans across the side of my face.
