Her hands are on mine while she hops, telling me about the outdoor shooting range she hopes to build behind the greenhouse one day.
“Wouldn’t that be dangerous so close to the greenhouse?” Em asks, adjusting her glasses.
Kaye bats her lashes, preening at her. “Em, if that’s your offer to help me plan it out, how can I say no to my genius bestie?”
I smile, listening to them talk, while Kaye shares her plans to “whip this hellscape into shape!”
It’s obvious that she hated growing up here, but her improvements on the estate have been surprisingly impressive.
That reminds me…
“Hey, Em, wanna check on the nursery?” I ask.
Kaye sticks her neck out, her scowl back. “Fine, I get it. I’m going. I guess I’ll go bother Dae.”
She waves us away. Damon’s on her the next second. No lie, I can detect almost anything, but I didn’t see him move.
I look over at Em, who’s smiling and whispering to me about taking the longer route to avoid the crowd.
Feeling warm in the face, I think I don’t see my surroundings well when Em’s in my sights.
I almost miss Sterling standing over by Elle’s side while they negotiate with Stan to stop hogging the bounce house.
Em and I take the long route around to reach the double doors that get us back inside the mansion. It’s the only way to avoid having to greet everyone who wants to shake my hand, even though I literally don’t know who they are.
Stan said the more the merrier, and the more free stuff we get as gifts. I don’t really want them, so he can have all of it.
I’m more interested in getting to call the two I want to grow old with, as officially mine.
The door closes behind us with a muted click, and the noise from the gardens dulls into something distant.
Em slows her steps, then stops entirely. I take a few steps before realizing she’s not beside me anymore.
When I turn, she’s facing me, hands folded in front of her. There’s a tiny envelope tucked between her fingers.
“Congratulations,” she says with a sweet little smile.
I crease my brows. “That’s for me?”
She nods. “Yes, it’s for you, Lix.”
I take it, peeling the flap open.
The gift card in it looks homemade, but the print’s nice and clean. The garage name jumps out at me, since I know it’s in a place called Crimson.
I look up at her. “You know that place’s in a rough area, right?”
She nods again. “I do,” she says. “Though, I’ve done my research, read reviews about them, and checked their certifications. They’re under-marketed, but they’re the best in the Greater Darkhaven Region.”
Can’t help but smile when she’s talking like picking a gift has a process and system in her brilliant mind. She put in all this effort for a gift she didn’t need to give me at all. She’s already given me a lot. More than I could’ve ever dreamed of.
“They do full detailing,” she adds. “I thought you’d appreciate that for your motorcycle.”
I lean in and kiss her cheek. “I really do, Em.”
Her shoulders stiffen, and her glasses slide a bit down her nose, so I kiss that too.
“Thank you, beautiful,” I say, hoping I’m not turning red. “This is a seriously thoughtful gift.”
