“Feels like I should be the one thanking you,” I admitted as he squeezed me closer, his husky laugh in my ear saying he thought I meant orgasms. “And not just for the sex. But everything else. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He kissed my ear before releasing me. “That reminds me. I have something for you.” Scooping his jeans off the chaise, he dug around in the pocket before coming up with two cuff links. “For your collection.”
He gestured at the clear case on top of my dresser where I kept my grandfather’s cuff links along with some others I’d found over the years. But somehow, I knew these were more than a flea market find, and I accepted them with a hushed reverence. They were a simple set but heavy, chunky silver steel with a crosshatch pattern.
“Where are they from?” I asked as I gazed down at my palm.
“My attic.” He too was staring at the pair. “I found them when I was looking for the earrings for Elaine. I don’t know exactly who they belonged to as I only saw Dad in a shirt with buttons a handful of times, but Mom kept them with her jewelry.”
“I can’t accept these.” An almost physically painful level of regret laced my words. “Brandon will want them for the wedding.”
Paul shook his head. “I asked. He doesn’t. Too fiddly for him. I told him I wanted you to have them. I trust you to keep them safe for me.”
I sucked in a breath. Once, a million years ago, I’d proposed to Lori because that was what all our friends were doing. Get a ring. Have a nice dinner. Pop the question. But in this moment, these humble pieces of steel felt far more significant and life-altering. And I wasn’t so dense that I couldn’t understand Paul’s subtext here. He wanted me to keep his heart safe. And I would.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I’ll keep them safe.”
Forever. I didn’t add the word, but I felt it deep in my bones. I wasn’t letting the gift that was Paul’s heart go. I carefully put the set in my box right next to the ones my grandfather had worn on his wedding day.
“I wish I had something as significant to give you.” My mouth twisted.
“The dishes you found, those were pretty special,” Paul said as he finished dressing. “But you gave me something even more important.”
“Oh?”
“You gave me back the season. I didn’t even realize how low I’d sunk until you pulled me back out of the pit. Not dreading the holiday, that’s something.”
“Pun intended?” I laughed.
“Pun definitely intended.” He captured me in a fast, joyful kiss, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever been this happy. Like him, I hadn’t realized how badly I’d wanted exactly this until I had it, and now, I was going to cling to it with everything I had.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Good luck to everyone on the road this weekend. Need a ride to the airport? Skip the ride-sharing app. Text me. Looking for a little extra work to pay down the coming credit card avalanche! ~Molly Reed posted to the What’s Up Neighbor app
Paul
“You win,” Elaine crowed with obvious delight at Gideon’s victory with the board game he’d brought over from his place. The well-worn box and his experienced play had made his victory predictable but no less fun to watch.
“Again.” Brandon let out a low groan. Okay, watching Gideon win had been fun for me. Maybe not Mr. Ultra Competitive. “Next time, we’re bringing our favorite game. Then I’ll stand more of a chance.”
“My poor genius.” Elaine wrapped an arm around him. She and Brandon were on one side of the table, Gideon and I the other, the game perfectly placed in the center like the table had been waiting for a night exactly like this. Brandon swiped the last cracker from a board of snacks Gideon had set out, and Elaine laughed more. “Tell Paul you need a gaming rematch as your bachelor party.”
“Paul probably already has Dodgers tickets.” Brandon made a dismissive gesture with his cracker. It was a long, thin gourmet variety that Gideon had picked up on our shopping trip. The festive snack board was another purchase, and this cozy game night was well worth the purchases.
“You have to tell me a date first,” I reminded him.
“Our graduation is May. And trying to do it the same weekend is probably a recipe for disaster.”
“Probably,” I agreed easily. The last two days had been all about wedding debates, and I was more than ready for some concrete details I could plan around. “Pick your date. I’ll have the human Jim to mind things. I’m not going to miss your big day.”
“So we’re thinking last weekend in July.” Elaine leaned forward, all excitement and glowing eyes. “That should beat whatever school schedules we’re dealing with and Gideon’s start of the term rush too.”
“Me?” Gideon made a startled noise.
“You are coming, right?” Brandon frowned around the last of his cracker. “I doubt Paul gets on a plane without you.”
“Oh, and say you’ll come to graduation if you don’t have a work thing yourself that weekend,” Elaine added, reaching across to pat Gideon’s hand. “You might have to rescue us all from Brandon’s cooking.”