I let the paper carelessly fall to my feet, shift the lid on the box, and gasp at the beautiful, platinum jukebox necklace inside.
“This way…” Thayne slowly begins pulling my wide-eyed gaze up to his glowing one, “I’m always with you.”
There’s no stopping my shoulders from slumping or me melting onto the bed or my own figure from trying to crawl through the phone like his.
“Will you put it on for me?” He sweetly inquires. “I know my wingspan is bigger than most, but it ain’t exactlythatbig.”
Girlish giggles are all I seem to be capable of.
Words do what they often do.
Escape me.
Him?
He’ll say anything and everything and it’s almost always perfect.
I get nervous or tongue tied or too afraid I’ll ruin something – or more accurately everything.
Especially with him.
He always trusts his vibe.
His instinct.
I still haven’t quite mastered the art of listening to mine.
Out of the dental suite, at least.
The instant the accessory is secured around my neck, he cautiously croaks, “Like it?”
“Love it.” My fingers mindlessly toy with the pendant. “And I love you so so much.”
“Dance with me?” escapes on a sweet, boyish grin at the same time he fidgets with something on the screen. Familiar notes suddenly seep out of our bedroom speakers and romantic lighting swiftly comes next. “Thought we could stay in the spirit of Stevie tonight.”
“Taking him between the pipes?”
“He’s done so many good duets.”
“Favorite?”
“Ooof,” he grumbles out as we stand together in tandem, “Paul McCartney is up there,” the phone slightly adjusts, “MJ,” our frames rhythmically begin swaying together in spite of being miles apart, “hell, Bill Withers. All of which will make an appearance with me out there tonight.”
“I love that you love music so much.”
“And I…” Jukes goofily starts singing, “just called…”
We finish the chorus to the song together.
While “I Just Called to Say I Love You” is about not needing a reason for calling – something that absolutely resonates with us – I am ecstatic he went out of his way to call all day.
To bewith mein spite of not getting to bewithme.
For the first time in thirty-nine years –fuckmeI had forgotten I tacked on a new number – my birthday truly comes first.
Icome first.
And that is the best gift I could ever ask.
