Page 115 of The Casanova Complex

Oh God, I’m going to cry. I’m going to actually fucking cry.

God, this man. This freaking man and his big, bleeding heart.

That he has no problem showing to those that he cares about.

Of course this gift is too much. I would have never in a million years expected him to do this.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the thoughtfulness that he went into picking this for Elliott.

It’s not about what it is or how much it costs; it’s the fact that he knew it was something that Elliott really wanted. Because he pays attention. Because he’s taken the time to get to know him.

It’s generous and sweet. He makes sure to include my brother and never make him feel like he’s tagging along in the way that Blake did. Like he was an inconvenience.

Elliott thinks of Bennett as his friend, and tonight? Bennett showed that he listens, and he cares, and it’s not just about our relationship. It’s theirs too.

Elliott tugs on the sleeve of my sweatshirt, and I tear my gaze from Bennett and back to him. “Can I please go play for just a little while? We can do our movie marathon a little bit later. Please? Please, please?”

“Duh.” I nod, giving him a smile. “Of course. Yeah, go, go, go. We’ll be here when you’re ready. But you can’t be mad that we’re starting Krampus without you.”

“Krampus?” Bennett squeaks beside me. “Isn’t that the creepy, weird Santa?”

I don’t even bother hiding my smirk.

“He’s a demon who accompanies Santa,” I say matter-of-factly, and Bennett groans, dropping his head back onto the couch.

“You said Christmas movies.”

I shrug. “Well, you didn’t ask for specifics.”

“Going now, bye!” Elliott says, but he’s already halfway up the stairs. He pauses on the fifth step and leans over the railing. “Thanks, Bennett. You’re the freaking GOAT.”

I can practically feel Bennett preening beside me as he says it, and I laugh, turning to face him. “You know you didn’t have to do that, right? I know it was so expensive, and I mean, obviously, judging by his reaction, he loves it, and I know he appreciates it, but you didn’t have to spend so much money. I feel bad.”

He shakes his head. “Do not feel bad. Look how happy it made him. I’d do it ten times over if I knew that it would make him that happy. Baby, it’s not just you that I care about. I care about Elliott and your dad too. Plus, I had some endorsement money come through for something I did over the summer, and it was nothing.”

Lifting onto my knees, I lean forward and grab the present off the coffee table that I hastily wrapped for him earlier today.

It took me forever to think about what to actually get him because he feels like the kind of person who would love anything.

Gift giving is absolutely my love language, and it’s my favorite way to show those around me that I love and appreciate them.

And I wanted this one to be special.

I tuck my hair behind my ear, holding it in my hands. “Okay. This could be totally dumb, and you could totally hate it, but this is for you.” I hold out the box toward him.

He takes it from me, and he shakes the box a little bit, trying to figure out what’s inside.

“No shaking it!” I laugh. “Just open it.”

The smile that he gives me has butterflies fluttering in my stomach. The wrapping paper I used is some that I found buried in the back of the hall closet that’s bright green and has video game controllers on it. A paper I used to help Dad wrap Santa presents for Elliott a few years back. Not my best work, but I made do with what I had.

I watch as he carefully tears the paper off, taking care to pull off the tape and open the box, clearly heeding my no-shaking warning. And when he gets to the gold tissue paper inside, he gingerly picks it up and starts to unwrap it.

He lifts his eyes to mine in question.

“It’s your very own good luck charm.”

He picks up the small goalie mask inside and smiles. God, the smile lights up his entire face, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never been so proud of anything in my life.