The Man Who Has No Sight (Soulless 4)

“Nothing is too expensive for you.”

She opened the lid and revealed the bracelet inside, white gold with diamonds, a thick chain. She stilled as she stared at it, her eyes wide, like she couldn’t believe I would get something like that for her. “Uh…oh my god.” She took it out of the box and held it gently, as if she were afraid she would break it. “Deacon, seriously, you did not—”

“I can do whatever I want.” I’d never bought her anything before, just a few dinners. And I wanted to get her something nice, something that would make her feel like she was just as worthy as her clients. I took it from her hands, opened the clasp, and revealed the engraving inside.

From your family, Deacon and Derek.

She stared at it for a long time, her fingers taking it from me and lifting it to her face to read the words over and over. “My family…” She inhaled a deep breath, her eyes watering.

I remembered the way she described us when I left her—that I was family to her, that my son was family to her. It had resonated with me, and I never forgot it. I could replay memories in my mind like a movie on film, and I could see her broken heart and her puffy cheeks as she said it. It made me realize she was family to me, the same way I was to her.

“Deacon…” She placed it on her right wrist and clasped it into my place.

“Derek helped me pick it out.”

“It’s…gorgeous.” She examined it on her wrist.

“I thought it would look nice with the clothes you wear.”

“Uh, yeah. It’ll make me look like a queen,” she said with a weak laugh, like she was still overwhelmed by the gift. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had…and that was before you gave me this. So, I guess it’s all downhill from here.”

My hand moved her hair from her face, and I looked at her, seeing her glossy eyes, the way she wore her heart on her sleeve. “I think it’s just the beginning.”

The emotion increased in her gaze, like those words were almost too much to hear. She pivoted her body toward me and pressed her face into my neck, her arms wrapping around my waist. She hugged me tightly and cried quietly into my neck, like she needed a second to process the moment, to process all of this.

I gave her all the time she needed.

I looked at my watch. “Ten…nine…”

Cleo looked at Derek, who was fast asleep on the couch, the blanket pulled over his shoulders.

“Eight…seven…” We sat in front of the roaring fireplace in the living room, snow all around the cabin, the windows icy with frost.

She turned to me, watching me with a subtle smile on her lips. “I can’t believe he didn’t make it until midnight.”

“Three…two…” I lowered my wrist that held her father’s watch and kissed her. My hand cupped the back of her head, and I kissed her against the backdrop of the fireplace, the flames crackling and popping. A simple kiss became heated, our tongues moving together, our quiet pants filling the room.

It took restraint to pull away, to release her lips. “Happy New Year.”

She smiled at me. “Happy New Year…”

My fingers continued to caress her hair, feel the soft strands, touch her warm skin. “It’s going to be the best year of my life.”

Her eyes softened.

It was hard to believe it had been only nine months ago when I left California and moved to New York. I met Cleo, was a total dick to her, and now she was the other half of my soul. It was hard to picture my life before, when there wasn’t this radiant ball of energy lighting up my nights. There was so much love in my heart, and not just for my son, that it made me realize I did have more to offer the world. I wasn’t just some bitter, broken man.

I was brand new.

“For Derek’s birthday, I was thinking…we could have a party at the planetarium.”

“That’s a good idea, actually.”

“I can’t take the credit. It was Derek’s idea.”

“But I’m sure you’ll make it incredible.”

“Well, of course.” She smiled. “I think the kids will like it.”

“He’ll be the most popular student in class.”

“He probably already is.”

“I can’t believe he’s six…” In a few days, my boy would be a year older. It was amazing to realize how empty my life was before he was born. I was dead inside. He definitely made me a better man. “I still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday.”

“What was he like as a baby?”

“Perfect.”

She smiled. “Was he quiet…talkative?”

“He cried all the time,” I said with a chuckle. “He was not a good baby. But now that I know him, I realize he just had a lot to say.”