Jaylinn crosses arms and looks down to the floor.
I curse under my breath, this isn’t going right.
Knowing I need a different approach, I stand in front of Jaylinn reaching for her hands. As our fingers entwine, I take a moment, and then lift our hands to tilt her chin so she’s looking at me. “I’m sorry.”
She nods her head and bites her bottom lip. I close my eyes, now she’s making me hard and it’s not the time for that. “I’m nervous.”
Jaylinn’s eyes snap up to mine when I admit I’m nervous over this, “Why?”
I shrug, not wanting to say.
“Coop, whatever you give me is going to be perfect.” Jaylinn tries to reassure me with her words and the gentleness in which she delivers them.
It works so I kiss her forehead and let go of her hands. Reaching over for the little box, I place it in her hand and then look up at her again. “When you open this I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. This is a gift that represents us. It’s our symbol.”
A sly smile breaks across her face and I’m not sure she even heard what I said. “Ok, can I open it now?”
I nod and she doesn’t waste a second tearing open the wrapping paper. She sees the words of the jewelry store on top of the box and her attention zones back to me. I smile as my stomach rolls; I wipe my hands down my jeans.
Jaylinn flips the lid of the box open and her hand starts to shake. “Coop…”
She hates it. She f**king hates it. I just know it.
I put my hands in my pockets so that I don’t grab it out of her hands and throw it in the trash. This was a stupid idea. Damn Mason.
“It’s perfect.” She reaches into the box and pulls the ring out. Jaylinn places it on her ring finger on her right hand and lifts it up to examine it. “It’s so sparkly.”
“Just like your eyes.” I say aloud, more to myself then to her.
Jaylinn stands up on her tip toes and kisses me. It’s a gentle kiss but it’s full of emotion, want and need. I kiss her back, matching everything she’s giving me.
“I didn’t think a promise ring would work for us so I got you this instead. Just remember that I’ll always be there for you no matter what. It’s infinity.” I explain.
“I…” she closes her eyes and starts again, “I love you, Cooper Cahill.”
My heart stops, literally. She’s never said those words to me and I’m not sure how to take them. Yeah we’ve said them kidding around but never in a serious conversation like this one. Can she really love me?
“Coop?”
“Yeah?”
“I mean it. I love you.”
I look into her eyes and I know her words are true. Jaylinn McCormick loves me. It scares the hell out of me but in this moment I couldn’t give two shits about all my hang ups about us.
A smirk breaks out across my face, “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,”
“Good, because I wasn’t really giving you a choice.” I slap her ass and she giggles. I haven’t said it back because it’s not the right time for me, but before we leave the house this morning I will say the words.
“So can I give you my present now?” Jaylinn jumps around again.
I roll my eyes, acting annoyed but secretly loving how playful she is. “I guess.”
Jaylinn drags me behind her into the garage. She moves a few boxes out of her way and then pushes a blanket off of a box hidden in the corner.
“So that’s where you hid it.” I say, mimicking her.
“Haha,” She says sarcastically. Jaylinn grabs the box and turns around to give it to me. “I hope you like. You’re a pain in the ass to buy for because you have everything already.”
I tuck the box under my arm and help her around the boxes. “I’m sure it’s great and I already told you I didn’t need anything.”
We go back into the kitchen and I put the package down on the table. I pull the bow and then unwrap it as she watches over my shoulder. When I open the box I’m lost for words. She bought me a new helmet for my bike. I pull it out so I can get a better view of it. It’s a custom painted helmet with flaming baseballs on each side and my jersey number five on the top.
“Well?” She pressed, and I put the helmet down, pulling her in front of me. “If you don’t like it we can get you something else.”
“Hell no, I don’t want something else. It’s perfect, thank you.” I hold her tight to me.
Jaylinn sighs in relief, “Merry Christmas.”
I reach down and tip her chin up to look at me, her blue eyes burning into my soul. “I love you, Jay.”
A huge goofy grin spreads across her beautiful, perfect face. “Best. Gift. Ever.”
I cook Jaylinn and I breakfast before we head over to MacKenzie and Hunter’s for Christmas dinner. After breakfast Jaylinn runs upstairs to freshen up while I finish wrapping my parent’s gift. I get the last flap taped down when Jaylinn slips her arms around my waist.
“All ready to go.”
I spin around and wrap my arms around her. “Alright, let me get these gifts and we’ll head out.” She kisses me before turning and putting her jacket on. I grab mine off the chair next to me and slide it on. I pile all the gifts in my arms and realize I can’t lock up.
“Hey, can you reach in my pocket for the keys to lock up?”
“Sure.”
Jaylinn retrieves the keys. We walk out to the truck but I sense that something with Jaylinn has suddenly changed. Maybe she’s having second thoughts about the gift that I gave her since she keeps looking at it. Jaylinn reaches around me to open the front door. I step out and wait for her to lock up. It’s freezing and a fresh blanket of snow has fallen overnight.
I walk over to the truck and set the gifts on my snow covered hood and pick Jaylinn off the ground. Her arms and legs wrap around my body. “What’s wrong, Twinkle Toes?”
She looks past me towards the street, “Can I sleep here tonight?”
I wonder why she’s asking; I always want her here and I thought I’d made that pretty clear. “Of course you can. You can stay here whenever you want.” I gently place a kiss on her lips.
“You really do love me, huh?”
I shrug, “I guess so, or maybe I just want someone around to keep the monsters away at night.”
Jaylinn shoves my shoulder, “You know, for being the badass Cooper Cahill, you’re kind of a geek.”