As she chewed the bread she had in her mouth, she said, “Already ordered yours.”
His eyes gleamed as he asked, “Ooh. What’d you get me?”
“Well,” she said, leaning forward. “I’m totally not telling.”
“I had to try,” he said, his lips twitching. “Whatever it is, I’m going to love it.”
“You better,” she teased.
She would end up giving it to him early. There was no way she was killing a $300 orchid. The seller said she would include care instructions but no way was she giving him a dead orchid on Christmas. Tradition be damned.
“Long thoughts, there.”
“Nope. Just thinking about how awesome the gift I got you is.”
He narrowed his eyes and said, “Tell me. You know you want to tell me.”
Grinning, she said, “No. No, I don’t.”
“You’re a cruel woman,” he lamented, hand over his heart.
She tore off another small hunk of bread and shrugged at him as if to say, “Yeah, kind of.”
The rest of the day flew by. Shirking all responsibility, they’d spent the afternoon in bed. Now, Evan lounged and watched as she packed the large oversized duffel bag that Cora had lent her for San Diego.
“Ya know,” he said lazily, “They’re just dumb pandas. You should just skip it and stay here.”
She pretended to think about it, then said, “You’re right. Fuck the pandas.”
Pushing the bag off the edge of the bed, she crawled back over and pressed herself up against his side.
“That’s my girl,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you, too. It’s only a week though. Not even a week. Only five days.”
“Still,” he said. “I can’t remember the last night I slept alone. I’ve gotten accustomed to your loud snoring.”
She pinched his side and said, “I do not snore!”
“You don’t,” he said, grinning. “You’re so adorable when you’re outraged though.”
They lay there for a few more minutes before she got up with a groan and continued to pack. She had included five work shirts and five pairs of khaki shorts. He stared as the put them into the bag.
“Jesus, baby. How many pairs of khaki shorts do you own?” he said, laughter in his voice.
“None for pleasure,” she said. “These are strictly for work. I wish I could wear whatever I wanted. Like some people.”
“You should buy your own zoo,” he said. “That’s really all it takes.”
She stuck her tongue out at him as she continued to pack. By the time she had finished, the bag was pretty heavy. She grunted as she pushed it off the bed.
He said, “Five days, huh? I looks like you’re moving out. If you want, I can drop you at work tomorrow so you don’t have to lug that.”
“No need. Mike is coming to get me here,” she said.
“Hmm,” Evan said, frowning.
“You can wait outside with me if you want so you can size him up, if it makes you feel better,” she said, her lips twitching.