“It doesn’t matter what it looks like,” Kit said. “You kept it all these years?”
I shrugged as Kit opened the envelope neatly, tipping the bracelet out into his hand.
“Always kinda hoped I’d meet someone I wanted to give it to.”
The colors clashed, the knots were uneven, and fifteen years stashed in a drawer hadn’t exactly left it at its best.
But Kit looked at it like I’d handed him the crown jewels.
“Merry Christmas?” I said, hopeful.
Kit sniffed, and I realized he was crying when he wiped a tear away from his eyes.
“Don’t you start, you’ll set me off,” I said, eyes already stinging.
“Andy, I have to tell you—” Kit spoke up, but there was something I needed to say first.
“Wait, let me... let me go first,” I said, clearing my throat and dabbing at my eyes. “I just... I wanted you to know how much you mean to me. Even... I mean, I’m a big fan of getting to kiss you now, but even if I never got to again... you’re my best friend, Kit,” I said, steeling myself for the last part. “And I love you.”
Kit burst into tears, his whole body shaking as he sobbed.
This was a good reaction, right? These were happy tears at the end of a long, hard day.
He let me pull him down onto the bed again, into a tight hug, our legs tangling together, his face pressed against my chest, hot tears hitting my bare skin as he cried harder still.
Whatever this was, he needed it, and I wanted to be here for him.
I stroked my fingers through his hair, breathing a sigh of relief as he started to calm down, sobs turning into gasps, then sniffs, then slow, even breaths as I held him.
“I love you, too,” he mumbled, face still hidden against my chest.
Now it was my turn to tear up, but I couldn’t have stopped myself grinning if I’d wanted to. “I know,” I said. “What did you want to say?”
Kit swallowed, sniffed again, and then sighed. “Nothing urgent,” he said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m only worried about you,” I said.
“Don’t be,” Kit said. “Will you put this on for me?” he added, offering his wrist and the bracelet.
I laughed as I tied the neatest knot I could on Kit’s wrist, smoothing down the uneven surface of the bracelet.
“You don’t actually have to wear it,” I said.
“No one has ever given me a gift more thoughtful than this,” Kit said. “I plan to wear it until it falls apart and then frame it to keep. I wish I had something half so sentimental for you.”
“Whatdidyou get me?”
“Socks,” Kit said.
I burst into laughter.
Socks.
“They’re very nice socks,” he added. “I noticed a lot of yours had holes in them, I didn’t want your feet to be cold. There was also a voucher for a new pair of decent boots, since I know yours are leaking, but I was planning on pretending my parents had sent it to me and passing it on to you because I didn’t have any use for it.”
“You’re such a bad fucking liar,” I laughed again, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“I only ever lie to you because I want you to be happy,” Kit said, suddenly serious. “You know that, don’t you? You understand.”
