Nothing Left to Lose (Guarded Hearts 1)

“I don’t want you to keep buying me things,” I grumbled.

She flopped down onto the bed beside me and leant in, kissing me softly on the mouth, silencing my protest. “Please don’t start. You’ll hurt my feelings. I put a lot of thought into each one, and I wanted to get you them, so please just shush,” she ordered, smirking at me. I groaned as she picked up the three smaller packages, placing them in my lap. “Open them, and smile please?” she pouted and gave me the damn face that I couldn’t resist.

I rolled my eyes and ripped open the first one. Out fell James Patterson’s new book. I grinned excitedly. We’d spoken about this a couple of weeks ago and I’d told her I wanted to read it. “This is great, thank you.” If she’d only bought me this, it would have been the best gift I’d ever had.

She smiled. “I thought you’d like that one. Open the next one,” she breathed excitedly, motioning towards my lap. I grinned and opened the next one; it was The Peacemaker on DVD. I laughed as I looked it over. “I didn’t know if you already had it, but I saw it and wanted to get it. I hope it’s the right one. You said it was your favourite movie,” she waffled, playing with her necklace like she did when she was a little nervous about something.

“It’s definitely the right one, and no, I don’t have it.” I turned it over, looking at the back. I genuinely loved this movie.

“Next one,” she prompted.

I laughed at her enthusiasm and tore the paper from the last small package, revealing a black square jewellery box. I frowned down at it curiously as I lifted the lid. A chunky silver watch was nestled inside. My eyes widened at how expensive it looked. I flicked my eyes up to her and shook my head because it was too much, I couldn’t accept it. Before I could say anything though, she held up one hand to halt my protest. “Before you say no, hear me out,” she pleaded. “You don’t have a watch. You’re always checking the time on your cell phone. I really wanted to get you something you could use, and I saw this and really wanted to get it for you. Everyone needs a watch. Please just accept it in the manner which it was given. I want you to have it.”

I gulped. “Anna…”

She pouted. “If you don’t like it, you can change it,” she offered.

I looked down at the watch. It was perfect, incredible even, and something I would never have purchased for myself in a million years because I’d never have this kind of money to spare. “I love it, it’s just-”

Her hand closed over my mouth. “If you love it, then just put it on and smile. I wanted to get it for you.”

I could see how much she wanted me to accept it, clearly it meant a lot to her, and she’d obviously put a great deal of effort into buying it and choosing it. I sighed and pulled her hand from my mouth. “Thank you,” I conceded.

She squealed happily, clapping her hands excitedly as she nodded towards the medium sized package. “Great! Now do that one.”

“These were enough, you shouldn’t have bought me anything else,” I scolded, leaning over and kissing her lips gently. In all honesty, that kiss would have been more than enough for me.

“Just open it or I will. I’m not good at waiting for presents to be unwrapped. You should see me at Christmas, I can do a pile of presents in like a minute flat,” she stated proudly. I didn’t doubt her words at all.

“Calm down, anyone would think it’s your birthday,” I joked.

Her face fell, and her eyes tightened. “I don’t like my birthday, so I like to celebrate other people’s.”

Understanding hit me like a ton of bricks. Her boyfriend had been murdered on her birthday, and she’d tried to kill herself for the last two years on the anniversary of it. Christ, how stupid could a guy get? “I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I shouldn’t have said that.” I took her hand, looking at her apologetically.

She shook her head and smiled again. “Just open it!” she cried, pointing excitedly at the present.

I laughed and ripped open the packet. My eyes went wide at the picture on the box. A camera. I couldn’t speak. This was just the perfect gift; no one could have picked anything better for me. I desperately wanted a photo of us two together, I had a couple of my cell phone but I couldn’t print them off.

“Oh shit, this is incredible. Thank you so much,” I gushed. “But you know I’m gonna be taking photos of you though, right?” I added.

“If you’re thinking I’m gonna be posing naked for you, you’re wrong,” she teased, sticking her tongue out at me.

I laughed wickedly. “Well, I wasn’t thinking that, but I definitely am now.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Whatever, pervert.” She slapped my arm playfully.

I leant over and kissed her lips, just once. “Thank you, I love this, it’s incredible.” I looked back at the box in my hands, not actually believing that this girl was real.

She picked up the last two boxes and put them in my lap. “These two go together, but open this one first,” she instructed, pointing to the flatter of the two. I was still in shock over the camera, I couldn’t wait to take it out tonight and get some photos of us together. I looked over at her and noticed that she was watching me expectantly, so I reluctantly dragged my eyes from her and ripped off the gift wrap.

My breath caught in my throat, and my body jerked – as would any red-blooded male that got this for their birthday. On my lap sat a PlayStation 4. They weren’t even out yet. “Anna, what the actual f**k? How did you get this?” I gasped.