Page 105 of Under the Waves
“Happy birthday, Poppy,” Kai smiled. “I’m sorry we haven’t gotten you a gift on such short notice.”
I blinked back tears as I said, “No that’s okay, guys. I truly wasn’t expecting anything. This is more than enough.”
“You can’t really believe that?” Jakson gasped, and then winced as Lia elbowed him in the stomach. I doubted he was really hurting from that, after all, he was the most melodramatic person I knew.
“Leave her alone, Jak,” Lia whispered, tucking herself back into his side. Even if she hadn’t, I didn’t doubt the fact that Jakson would’ve tugged her back to him anyway. They were rarely ever apart from each other.
The two of them disappeared before returning with a few presents with light blue and silver polka dotted wrapping paper. A single tear must have fallen from my eyes as Jasper lent in and wiped it away with his thumb. His body shielded me from everyone else, giving me time to recompose myself before Lia and Jakson drew near.
His eyes full of worry glanced down at mine.
Are you okay?He seemed to say, wordlessly.
I nodded, taking in slowed and controlled breaths.
I was fine.
I am fine.
Iwillbe fine.
“Surprise!” Lia squeaked, sprinkling a mixture of blue and silver heart shaped confetti over me and Jasper. “Happybirthday, Poppy!”
Jakson smiled as he looked at her—a true smile, full of complete and utter admiration. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head as he whispered, “You did great, Blue.”
She blushed profusely at his words, nestling back into the warmth of him. “Thank you,” she smiled, glancing up at him as if the entire world had faded away into the background. Her small fingers trailed the side of his cheek as she added, “My Jedi.”
Jasper coughed obnoxiously loudly, making Lia flinch, only to be met with an angry looking Jakson who held her close to him. His gaze only softened when Lia whispered something in his ear. It was as if he physically melted into a puddle at her words.
“These are just a few things from me and Lia,” Jakson grinned, glancing at me. Two of the presents were wrapped with precision, neatly folded and taped, whilst the other two small gifts were so messy it was as if a child had wrapped them.
Jakson followed my gaze and laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, I’m not the best at wrapping. After the first two, this one,” he said, nudging Lia with his side, “got annoyed and banned me from ever wrapping gifts again. You should’ve seen her, Pops, she was like an angry and cute little—”
“Okay, Jedi I think they get it,” Lia mumbled, hiding her bright red face behind the palms of her hands. Jakson whispered something to her that had her instantly relaxing back into him.
“Sorry, where was I? Oh yes. What Iwassaying is that Lia wrapped the other two perfectly, just like her.”
Jasper, Kai, and Xander all groaned together, cringing at Jakson’s words but I found myself laughing. It was so refreshing to hear him say that about her—it gave me a sense of hope that maybe, one day, I could find something even half as spectacular as they had.
Lia gently passed me each gift one by one as I unwrapped them, tears brimming my eyes with each one. Lia had gotten me a sketch pad and some water color paints, rambling about how she used to peek at paintings I did when we were little in class, and how amazing they were. My heart ached as I looked down at the small and innocent gifts in my hands, no one realizing just how much they actually meant to me. I hadn’t painted in years. Not since Oliver died. Not since my life changed forever.
Maybe…maybeI could pick up a paint brush again, someday. Lia had given me this opportunity to take control of my fears and anxieties instead of letting them hold power over me and I refused to let it be wasted.
Jakson passed me both his gifts at once, and before I could even ask, Jasper took the other two gifts from my arms before everything fell to the floor. I silently thanked him with a smile to which he just grinned right back at me.
Unwrapping both of Jakson’s gifts nearly had me falling to the floor. It took every inch of strength left inside of me to stop my knees from buckling underneath me.
“You got me two full sets of Black Widow comics?”
Jakson grinned widely at me. “How could I not give these perfect creations to my favorite Romanoff?”
There were tears in my eyes as I smiled at him. I barely moved an inch before Jakson’s arms were around me, holding my body tightly against his. I may not have been Lia, or Jasper, but that didn’t matter—I washisRomanoff, and that healed something inside of me.
Jakson Calloway had my back, and I now had his.
“Thank you,” I choked out, my throat seizing up completely.
He tightened his grip on me as he whispered, “If you ever need help, Poppy, I will be there. One phone call away.Always. I got your back, Pops. You’ll always be welcomed here.”