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“No, that was a Monday present.”
I smiled. “You’re ridiculous. I don’t need a present. I didn’t even really get you anything.”
“I beg to differ. As far as I’m concerned, that lingerie is now in my control and I’m going to make you wear it all the time.”
I laughed.
Adonis reached over to his nightstand and opened the drawer. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to me.
I pushed myself up. “What is this?”
“Your present.”
I pulled out the card and laughed. It was one of those silly Valentine’s Day cards you got when you were in like kindergarten. There was a big green monster on the front with the words “Nom, nom, nom,” coming out of his mouth. I laughed. “This is ridiculously cute.”
He sat up too. “When I was little, I always agonized over which of those cards to give the girl I had a crush on.”
I smiled. I remember doing that with guys I liked too. Yeah, this was the cutest present ever.
“But they’ve gotten weirdly dirty,” he said. “Turn it over.”
I flipped it over. The card said, “I hope you enjoy your HUGE, GIGANTIC, MONSTROUS Valentine’s Day treat.” But “treat” was crossed off and Adonis had written in “dick” with Sharpie beneath it. I laughed.
“I think that monster is supposed to be you on the front,” he said.
I shoved his shoulder. “I do not lot look like this. And I have to say, I’m a little disappointed it didn’t come with an actual treat.”
“It doesn’t say treat.” He pointed to the change of word.
“I’m very aware.”
“But fine, I got you that too.” He opened up his nightstand drawer again and pulled out a box of chocolates.
I laughed. “Thank you.” This was seriously very sweet. I lifted the lid and plopped a chocolate in my mouth.
He grabbed one too. “Oh and I have one more thing for you.”
“Adonis, you’ve already given me a bunch of stuff.”
“It’s not a big thing. Hold on a sec. I know I left it somewhere.” He pulled on his boxer briefs and lifted up the pants he’d been wearing earlier. He tried one of the pockets. “No, not there.” He grabbed another pair of pants off the floor.
I laughed. “Do you want some help organizing your room?”
“It is organized.”
I looked around at the chaos. It most certainly wasn’t.
“Wait, here it is.” He grabbed something off of his desk and walked back over to me. “And before you start accusing me of things because it’s not in a box, the name kind of proves I didn’t steal it.” He tossed something gold at me.
I caught it and stared down at the pen with Ariti inscribed along the side.
“To replace that old one you use all the time.”
The one with Mr. Halifax’s initials on it. Did Adonis give me this because Mr. Halifax’ pen was old? Or because he’d seen the initials on it? I wasn’t even sure why I was still using it. I should have packed it away as soon as Adonis asked me to be his girlfriend. There was something wrong with my head. I’d get rid of the pen as soon as I went home.
“Thank you,” I said. “I needed a new pen. But for the record...just because it has your last name on it doesn’t mean it was yours to give.”
“Sure it does.”