Emmett: Yeah. Come over before you leave? I have something for you.
Joelle: Is that code word for your dick?
Emmett: Maybe.
Joelle: Be there in ten.
I finish packing, zip up my suitcase, and check the time. We don't leave for the airport for another two hours. Plenty of time to see my man before I go and give him my Christmas present.Which isn't my vagina.I made him something, and I hope he likes it. I grab the wrapped package from my dresser and head down the hall to Emmett's apartment. I knock and he opens the door immediately.
"Hey." He pulls me in and gives me a kiss. His hand slides to the small of my back, holding me against him for a moment longer than necessary.
"I'm going to miss you," he says against my lips.
"Me too." I've been enjoying sneaking around, especially when we are home and not travelling. It's a little harder when we are away to get time together without being seen. Because I'll be having Christmas with my brothers, we agreed to only message each other at night before bed. All it takes is a message to come through at the wrong time to blow our cover.
He takes my hand and leads me to the couch. "Sit. I have something for you."
"Should I be worried?" I chuckle.
"Never."
He disappears into his bedroom, and I set my wrapped package on the coffee table. My heart is already racing. What did he get me? We didn't discuss presents. I wasn't sure if we were at that stage yet, which is why I made him something instead of buying anything too extravagant. He returns with a small wrapped box. My heart accelerates even more. What is this?
"Merry Christmas," he says, presenting me with the box.
It's heavy, wrapped in silver paper, and tied with a red bow. I take it from him, our fingers brushing. "Can I open it now?"
He nods, sitting down beside me, his thigh pressed against mine. I carefully unwrap it, peeling back the silver paper. Inside is a velvet jewelry box. I glance at him, his expression is soft, nervous almost. I've never seen Emmett Black nervous. I open the box. Inside is a silver charm bracelet with six charms already attached.
"Emmett ..." It's beautiful. The kind of thing I'd never buy for myself but always wanted.
"Let me show you. It has a story." He takes it from the box and holds it up so I can see each charm. His thumb brushes over the first one. "This one is for London, where we met." He points to the tiny double-decker bus. My throat tightens. "This hockey puck is me." He moves to the next charm. "The band-aid is for you taking care of me, even when I'm being stubborn." Tears prick my eyes. I blink them back, but they keep coming. "This red heart is because you have mine. Completely."
I gasp. "Emmett ..."
He smiles and keeps going, his voice soft. "This phone is for all our late-night texts. The conversations that kept me sane when I couldn't be with you.”
I'm crying now. Full tears streaming down my cheeks.
"And this snowflake is for our first Christmas. Even though we're apart."
Oh, my goodness. This is the most heartfelt present I've ever received. No one has ever put this much thought into something for me. No one has ever seen me the way he does. He takes my wrist gently, his fingers warm against my skin, and clasps the bracelet around it. The charms catch the light.
"I'm going to keep adding to it," he says softly. "Every moment. Every milestone. Until it's full of us." He runs his thumb over the charms, then looks up at me. "It's the only way we can publicly be together, until summer."
I can't speak, I can only stare at this beautiful bracelet, at the thought he put into every single charm. At this man who sees me. Who wants a future with me.
"Do you like it?" he asks, his voice uncertain.
"Like it? Emmett, I love it. It's perfect.” I throw my arms around him, tears falling down my cheeks as I pepper his face with kisses. His cheeks. His forehead. His nose. His jaw.He laughs, pulling me closer. "Thank you," I manage between kisses. "This is the most thoughtful gift anyone's ever given me."
"Good." He catches my face in his hands, wiping my tears with his thumbs. "Because I have plans for this bracelet."
"Plans?"
"Lots of charms. Lots of memories. Our whole story on your wrist."
My heart is so full it might burst. "I have something for you, too." I pull away reluctantly and grab the wrapped package from the coffee table. "It's not as amazing as this, but ..."
