He must have mistaken my relief for something else. I stare down at the rose gold jewelry with a little heart pendant. “It’s beautiful.”
He beams down at me. “You like it?”
“I love it.”
He removes it from the box and motions toward my neck as if to ask if it’s okay to put it on for me. I nod and turn around, pulling down the zipper of my jacket, then lifting my hair out of the way to give him access. I’m hyperaware of his warm body, the way his finger tips brush my nape as he works on the clasp. Then when he’s done, I feel his lips on my neck just below my ear. I shiver, turn to face him and kiss him while he kisses me back. It’s sweet and passionate and hot.
Leaning back, I say, “Thank you.” I lift my hand and I brush his jaw with my thumb and smile. “You, Levi . . . appeared from left field. I never saw you coming, but you managed to secure a spot in here.” I press my palm to my chest over my heart. Taking a deep breath, I say, “I know this is probably too fast and, I don’t know, too soon? I feel too much for you.”
His brows shoot up. “Yeah? What do you feel?”
My gaze drops to his neck, mesmerized by the way his Adam’s apple moves. That word . . . why is it so hard for me to say it, yet my heart explodes with that feeling?
“You know how I feel.”
“I need to hear you say it.”
I swallow, then inhale deeply. My mind flips through the memories, from the time Levi and I met in late August. He’s grown on me, gotten under my skin. Then why does it feel weird telling him how I feel? Yes, my feelings for him are different than what I felt for Sol because both men are different in their own ways. Each completes me in a different way.
Stop overthinking, Grace. “I—” Say it. Say what you feel. “Love you.”
His brows dip, obviously catching my hesitance. I’m pretty sure he’s about to say something, but I’m not ready to talk about whatever he wants to talk about.
Quickly, I swing my backpack to my front and pull out a wrapped box, then hand it to him. The frown on his face is replaced by a surprised look, followed by a big grin, dimples and all. “You bought me a gift?”
“Of course. Open it.” I smile at him, eager to see his reaction. Within seconds the wrapper and ribbons are on the ground as he rips open the box containing the gloves. I laugh, enjoying watching him tackle his gift.
He stares inside the box for several seconds, then looks at me. “This is very thoughtful of you, Grace.”
“You like them? I wasn’t sure what to get you and since you love soccer. . .”
“They’re perfect.” He hands me the box, then pulls out one of the gloves and puts it on. “The fit is amazing. They must have cost a fortune.”
“It’s worth the look on your face right now.”
He ducks down and pecks my lips. “You’re a keeper, Miller.”
I chuckle. “I’m glad you love them.”
After gathering the ribbons and wrapping paper and disposing them in the nearest garbage can, Levi slings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close as we head to Josie’s for coffee. I snuggle into him to keep warm as the chilly breeze picks up.
I debate about telling Levi about Sol calling me, but decide against it. Levi and I are in a good place. I have a feeling if I bring up the call, it won’t end well given the way Levi reacted when Sol visited me at James Fredericks. Besides, it’s not like there’s anything to tell.
“I’m going to miss you,” I say. “How long are you and your family staying in Hawaii again?”
He stops long enough to kiss my forehead. “At least three weeks, give or take.” He glances down at the necklace resting against my skin. He reaches down and tugs the zipper up. “It looks good on you.”
I grin. “It feels good on me.” I feel the weight of it warming my skin.
“We’ll talk like every day, right?” he asks.
“Of course, we will.” I tighten my arm around his waist in acknowledgement.
“I’m going to miss you too, Miller,” he says as he squeezes me against him. “Maybe next time you can come to Hawaii with me.”
I nod and smile up at him. “I’d love to. I’ve never been to Hawaii.”
When I get to the dorm hours later, I find MJ curled up on her bed waiting for me. I shrug off my coat and hang it on the hook on the wall next to the door, then kick off my boots and hop in her bed and snuggle close.
“Shit. You’re cold,” she grumbles as she tries to scoot away from me.
Wrapping my arms around her warm body, I pull her back to me with a laugh. “I need your body heat!”
She laughs, pushing me away. Then her eyes dart to my neck and they widen with surprise. “That’s new.”
I lift my hands and touch the pendant. “Levi gave it to me. It’s, um, a gift.”
“Did he like the gloves?”
I nod and smile. “He did.”
Her gaze falls back to the necklace. “Levi seems quite serious.”
I shrug. “It’s only a necklace, MJ. Don’t read anything into it.”
She raises her hands as if in surrender. “I won’t, I promise. I’m just glad you’re finally happy. You are happy, right?”
I nod and hug her close. “I am. I swear.”
“Good.” She pulls me close and kisses my cheek. “Why don’t we go out and celebrate finals being over? We did well.”
“Hell yeah.” I toss away the covers and roll out of bed. “I need to spend quality time with my best friend before you head to New York and I drive to Portland tomorrow.”
Christmas Eve
“We’re heading out now. See you tomorrow?” Mom asks, as she joins Chris on the other side of the counter. They are driving to Chris’s childhood home to spend Christmas Eve with his family and they will be back tomorrow to celebrate Christmas here in Portland.
“Definitely. I can’t wait to spend time with you two.” I round the counter and bridge the space between us, then hug my mom and kiss her on the cheek. When I pull back, Chris is waiting for me with open arms and I step into his embrace. I pull back and glance up at him, then my mother. “Drive safely and please say hello to everyone for me.”
“You can still come with us, kiddo,” Chris says, smiling at me. I’ve gotten to know him over the past few months. He’s been nothing but kind to me. And I love when he calls me kiddo. To be honest, Chris is like the father I never had.
“Rain check? I don’t want to miss Midnight Mass. I can join you and Mom next time.”
“Your mother and I would love that very much. My family too. My parents have been asking about you.” He shifts closer to Mom and slides his arm around her shoulder. “Ready to go, love?”
She nods and flashes him a sweet smile. “Yes, dear.” She turns to me and says, “Lock up as soon as you finish, okay?”
Nodding, I give them a final wave and watch as they walk out the door and toward the parking lot. It’s almost four o’clock in the afternoon. Today we didn’t have a lot of customers, given that it’s Christmas Eve and everyone is probably out running errands or spending time with their family or staying indoors to keep warm, so Mom told me to lock up early and head home.