“Well, you want to get him one or two bigger gifts, and then a few smaller things too. Have you hung stockings yet?”
Zary rubbed her temples. “This is so complicated,” she muttered, not intending to say it out loud. “I don’t know what that means.”
“What decorating have you done?”
“We aren’t on the island.”
“You aren’t? Why not? Never mind, it doesn’t matter. This is perfect, though. Aine and I will pick you up in an hour, and we’ll take you shopping. Tell Gunner you’ll be gone most of the afternoon.”
“But I only need one gift.”
“Trust me on this. You want to get more than that.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.”
Zary disconnected the call and went in search of Gunner. She found him downstairs, sitting in front of a computer while he talked on the phone.
“I said today,” she heard him bark at whoever was on the other end. “Not tomorrow, not the day after. Today. Do whatever you have to, to make that happen.”
He slammed his phone down on the desk hard enough that she wondered if he’d shattered the screen.
She turned to walk away before he noticed her but ran into Odette coming down the stairs.
“Hey, Zary. Have you seen Gunner?”
When Zary turned to point, Gunner was standing in the doorway.
“How much of that did you hear?” he asked.
She cringed. “Just the last thing you said.”
He walked over and put his arm around her waist. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I just wish…”
“What?”
“I don’t want your surprise to be ruined.”
She shook her head. “Then you should stop talking because I don’t know anything other than that you’re angry with someone.”
“I love you,” he murmured, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.
“I love you too. I came to tell you I’m going out.”
Gunner raised his eyebrows and smiled. “You are?”
“Yes. Ava and Aine will pick me up in an hour.”
“I like it.”
Zary folded her arms.
“Don’t give me that look. All I’m saying is that I like that you’re spending time with Ava and Aine.”