It’s the tiny green olive branch I needed.
FIFTY
RAFAEL SANTOS
December 25th, 2025
I watchValentina walk into the kitchen, still in her off-shoulder navy sweater, jeans, and red-bottomed heals—you can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl,or something like that.Her ass swishes from side to side, and there's an air of peace around her. I still don’t know everything she and Mateo talked about, but I know when she came back inside, she was happier.
I’m grateful. I was ready to repay the beating he attempted to give me with one of my own.
“Tequila?” She looks over her shoulder at me, half her face glittering in the overhead kitchen light.
“I’ll start a fire.” Putting my jacket back on, I walk outside, grabbing some wood from the fresh pile. There’s a bite in the air, and if I lived anywhere but Texas, I’d wonder if it was about to snow.
Back inside, the fire roaring, Valentina and I settle on the couch, her across my lap in that way that’s become comfortably ours. “Are you glad we went?” I draw circles on her exposedshoulder, watching the flames dancing in the curls of her silken hair.
She nods. “Yes. I didn’t know it could be like that.”
“What? Christmas?”
“Family.” When she looks at me, there’s a fresh sheen in her eyes. I set my glass down and wrap my arms around her tightly. I can’t stand seeing her cry. I press a kiss to her shoulder.
Willy bounds into the room, whooping and crashing into things as he flops around. Valentina relaxes in my arms as we watch the demon puppy sniffing and nipping excitedly at every new thing he finds.
Valentina sits up again, patting my hand in a motion that lets me know I’m to release her. I don’t; instead, I hold on tighter.
“Come on, I have to get your gift.” She giggles.
I groan, rolling my face in her back. “We said no gifts. I didn’t get you anything.”
Guilt consumes me. It’s not that I didn’t want to get her anything; no, it’s that I have nothing to buy it with, not at the standard she’s used to, anyway.
It’s a fact that’s begun to gnaw at me.
Valentina Reyes is used to a life of luxury—of the finer things. I can give her none of that. I’m as poor as they come. I’ve nothing besides my hard work and undying devotion to give her.
She presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I don’t care about any of that, Rafael. I know what you’re thinking, and it doesn’t matter to me. I have enough for the both of us. Besides, I got something for me too.”
I groan.It’s worse than I thought.She knew how I’d feel and prepared a pity gift in my honor.
“Be a good sport, please.” She’s halfway laughing, and I want to melt into a puddle of shame on the floor.
“Fine.” I release her, crossing my arms as if that will keep the unwanted feeling of inadequacy at bay. It, of course, is a hopeless cause.
Valentina hurries from the living room, returning a few minutes later with a large box in one hand and a bag in the other. She’s also removed her nice clothes in exchange for a fluffy robe that looks more like a cloud than it does a garment.
She holds out the box first, her face far too gleeful for me to not fear its contents. I take it, pulling the end of the long velvet ribbon first.
I open it and pause. “It’s a cowboy hat.” It’s more than that—it’s the first cowboy hat I’ve ever owned. It’s a rich felt, tan with a thin black hat band wrapped around the crown—it’s one of the most beautiful hats I’ve ever seen. “It’s too much.”
I pull it out, desperately wanting to put it on but knowing I can’t repay it even if I wanted to. I know the brand, and it’s far too expensive for the likes of me.
“Shut up.” She rolls her eyes, still gleeful. “Put it on, please.”
Valentina claps her hands, giddy even, and I do as she asks. It slides onto my head perfectly, and I already know I’ll never find a better looking or feeling hat.Fuck, she’s good.
“It’s incredible.” I run my hands on the brim, appreciating the craftsmanship.
