“What is it?” she asks excitedly.
“It says ‘Just Married.’ I know it’ll be a few months before I can add that one, but I went ahead and got it so I’ll be ready.”
“Oh, Luke.” She wipes a tear away. “I love it and I love you.”
Taking the bracelet from her hand, I secure it on her wrist before placing a kiss on her palm. “My treasure is wherever you are, because you’re my heart, baby.”
“You can open these two together,” she says, resuming the presents.
Laughing when I see what she got me, I can’t help but shake my head. “You might as well open this one, too,” I say as I hand her the next box.
She tears into it, and we both laugh because we got each other the exact same gift. The newest model of the iPhone. “I wanted us to be able to FaceTime while we’re apart,” she laughs. “Thank you, honey,” she adds with a kiss.
“You’re welcome. Thank you,” I reply and kiss her again.
The second box she gave me is a Beats by Dre Beatbox portable speaker. “I already loaded your phone with several songs, so you can listen to our songs while we’re apart.”
“It’s awesome. You’re awesome. I’d rather hear you sing them to me live, though.”
“I will take you up on that.” She smiles.
We finish opening the other boxes—a huge array of clothes, shoes, and lingerie. Most of which I specifically told Andi she’s not allowed to wear outside of my presence. She laughed at my demand and said, “No one else will ever see these, Luke. You paid for fabric scraps—they won’t cover any of the important parts.”
“That’s the point, Andi. I don’t want any of the important parts covered when you’re wearing them.”
I try to convince her it’s time to retreat upstairs so she can try them on and practice taking them off. But Andi has one more present for me that was well-hidden way back underneath the tree. The hardcover book has a picture of Andi on the front. Her smile is seductive, and most of her body is covered with an elegant white sheet. When I open it to the first picture, my eyes bulge out of my head and my jaw drops to my lap.
I jerk my head up to look at her, and she is nervously chewing the corner of her bottom lip as she waits for my reply. I flip through a few more pages, each one more stunning than the next.
“H-How? What?” I can’t even form a coherent sentence.
“Tania’s photography hobby has turned into a full-time business for her. She took these pictures for me and had them made into a photo book. I wanted you to have these to remind you of me while we’re apart,” she says, her voice unsure.
“First of all, I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear that Tania took these pictures. More importantly, these are incredible. I’m not sure how you expect me to sleep at night knowing that these pictures need to be leered at. Or knowing that I’d much rather have the ‘real Andi’ rather than the ‘picture Andi.’”
This has been the best Christmas I’ve ever had by far, and it’d only be better if she were my wife right now. But the day that we do marry will be the best day of my life, regardless of when that day is. After we clean up the mess from the presents, we spend the rest of the day simply enjoying our downtime. I’m shocked Mack gave me time off just before I leave, but then I guess he wants me as fresh and recovered as I can possibly be. I only have these few days to spend with her.
I dread telling her that I’m leaving one week from today. The day after New Year’s Day, I will be on a plane to Las Vegas and start our six-month separation. The following day, I’ll start my rigorous training schedule, and she’ll be here, preparing for her rigorous touring schedule.
“You’re quiet,” she says.
“Just enjoying having you here with me,” I say. We’re stretched out on the couch, and she’s lying back on my chest. We’re really doing no more than watching a movie, but these are some of my favorite times with her.
“You have that look on your face.”
“How do you know what look I have? You’re not even looking at me,” I chuckle.
“I know you, Luke Woods. You have that concerned look, and you’re avoiding something. What’s on your mind?”
“How do you always know?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“It’s a gift. Spill it,” she demands.
Raking my hand over my face, I mentally prepare myself for the words I’m about to say. “I have to leave earlier than we thought. One week from today, I’ll be on a plane to Las Vegas and start camp the next day.”
She tenses in my arms but remains silent for a few seconds too long. Slowly, she sits up and turns to look at me. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Tomorrow. I didn’t want to tell you on Christmas Day, Andi. That news isn’t much of a present.”
