Page 15 of Whimsical Ink

“Remember to rip it.”

I find the taped edge and lift my eyes to his while I rip into it. My hands wrench the tape, paper tears, and the object flies at his face from the force of it.

His hand fumbles, and it lands on his lap.

“If you’re anything like this at cricket, you’ll never win, butterfingers.” I bite my lip hard at his affronted look.

“Hey! I said rip it, not launch it at my face.”

My eyes close as I laugh and fall against the headboard, clutching my stomach. Something hits my chest and lands in my lap, causing my eyes to pop open.

“Now who can’t catch?” He smirks at me.

My arms cross over my chest. “My eyes were closed.”

“Don’t see how that’s my fault.”

I scrunch my nose at him and look at my lap. It’s a collection of pastels.

“Well, you need something to draw on the paper with, don’t you?”

Carefully, I place the pastels on top of the sketchpad and rub my chest. I assumed the presents would be generic, something simple as a thank you, but they’re personal. As personal as the skincare in the bathroom.

He hands me the large box. “Now, this one is special, and I’ll allow you to unwrap it slowly.”

“Oh, how kind of you. But the others were special as well.” I look at him through my eyelashes.

He flushes and runs a hand through his hair. “Just open it.”

I remove the tape from one side while staring at him. He swallows thickly and almost looks nervous. Green eyes dart from my fingers to my face.

Removing the rest of the tape, I set the wrapping aside and freeze. My eyes jerk to his pale face. “Is this a joke?”

“No, it’s real.”

“I can’t—no, I can’t take this.” I thrust it at him. “Give it to Emma.”

He shakes his head. “It’s yours.”

“No, Daniel. That’s insane. They’re so expensive.” I set it away from the others, away from me. No way can I take it. Can’t accept something so expensive from him.

“You don’t like it?”

“Of course I like it! It’s a fucking LED face mask.”

A breath whooshes out of him. “Then it’s yours.”

“It’s too much! The sketchpad and pastels and the skincare, I can’t take this as well.” I run an agitated hand through my hair, catching it in a knot.

“Maddy, I want you to have it. All of it. It’s shit not having your family here to celebrate with you. If you like it, it’s yours.”

“Are you sure?” I whisper.

“Of course I’m sure. It soothes skin or something.” He shrugs. “Might be good for your eczema. Charlotte at work has one and raves about it—oof.”

I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his neck tightly. His hands settle on my waist gently before snaking around me and pulling me harder against him.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to do any of this, let alone that.” I turn my head and press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. For thinking of me and…just, thank you.”