“Merry Christmas.” Her eyes fluttered to mine, her hands behind her back.
“No,” I caviled. “I told you I do not need anything this year.”
“Don’t worry; I didn’t spend a dime,” she laughed. She took my left hand. “Close your eyes.”
I sighed but gave in to her request. She pinched around myfourth finger. When I opened my eyes, a ring lay there. It was a gold band with small diamonds and a ruby stamped within small, engraved designs. The circular ruby was placed in the middle with a smaller diamond on either side. The gold gave it an expensive glow. I already knew it was too much.
“Before you scold me about money”—Phoebe held my hand tightly—“it was my mother’s. I came across it recently when going through some of my things. I am not a fan of rubies, but I didn’t have the heart to sell it. I thought it would look best on you.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to. I don’t trust anyone but you to do it justice.”
“You are a sap.” I smiled, hugging her tightly. “It is lovely. Now I have a total of two pieces of jewelry,” I laughed.
“I wanted to give it to you before I started carving the geese,” she giggled. “Go relax. Rest. Enjoy the holiday for once.”
“You say that like I have become elderly.”
“Twenty-five is quite a rickety number.”
“We are the same age.”
“I’m about ten months younger, if we are going to nitpick!” She pulled away to begin prepping.
I played with the ring, spinning it on my finger with my thumb to watch it shine, abandoning my original reason for going to the kitchen.
As I turned to enter the archway to the living room area, I bumped into a hard chest.
“Did the raven find something shiny?” Silas purred.
“Gifted, not found,” I corrected.
That is when I remembered.
I was supposed to get Silas a gift.
I gulped, fidgeting with the ring, hoping he wasn’t bold enough to expect anything more from me. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was staring expectantly.
He placed his hands on my waist and stepped forward, making me take a few steps back to meticulously place me in one specific spot on the floor.
“What are you doing?” I mumbled, glancing at his hands on my hips, keeping me firmly in place.
He smirked, then he tipped his head, staring directly above us.
Hanging from the wooden beam on the ceiling was a piece of mistletoe, neatly wrapped in a black ribbon.
“If I give you this, will you leave me alone?”
“If you don’t, does that mean I get to bother you for the rest of the night?” His voice was just above a whisper, lingering above me. “Well, that seems more fun, if you ask me.”
He tensed under my palms as I smoothed them over his shoulders.
I stood on my toes, whispering close to his ear. “Must everything be a game to you?”
“It seems to be the only way to keep you interested.”
“You’re lucky I entertain it at all.” My voice was so quiet, the words almost didn’t manifest as my lips hovered over his.
