Page 59 of Always Us

I drop the mail on the kitchen table and join her on the couch. “Maybe later.”

“Do you need to study?”

“No, I don’t need to study. Let’s go in the bedroom.”

She smiles. “Right now? It’s kind of early, but okay.”

Her mind goes straight to sex, which makes sense given what I said, but I didn’t think she’d want to do it. I thought after the stress of last night, she might not be in the mood. But sometimes after something stressful happens, she wants to do it. I think it’s less about the actual sex and more about the need to be close and intimate like that, which makes her feel more relaxed.

I stand up and offer her my hand. “Let’s go.”

I’ll just let her think we’re having sex. Who knows? Maybe we will.

As she gets up, I say, “Close your eyes.”

“Garret, I don’t want to try some crazy new sex thing tonight.”

I laugh as I walk her to the bedroom. “It’s not a crazy new sex thing. It’s a surprise.”

“That has to do with sex?”

“No. It has nothing to do with sex. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Then why are we going to the bedroom?”

“Just wait right there.” I face her toward the tree, which is in the corner, a few feet from the bed. “Keep your eyes closed.” I turn on the Christmas lights. The blinds are shut, but I close the bedroom door to keep out the light from the living room. “Okay, you can open your eyes.”

“You got another tree!” She turns and hugs me. “And you put lights on the window? When did you do all this?”

“I did it before class. Do you like it?”

“I love it! Thank you.”

“I know you like having a tree in the bedroom and I didn’t have time to get a real one so I got this one. We can still get a real one later.”

She goes and lies down on the bed, propping her head up on the pillow. “I think I’ll just stay in here all night and look at it.”

I go over to my drawer and pull out the ornament. It’s wrapped in red tissue paper. I lie next to her and hand her the ornament. “Here. I got you something.”

“Just because?” She holds it up, inspecting each side.

“Just because.” I kiss her cheek. “Open it.”

The ornament is a silver heart that says ‘Our First Christmas’ with the year engraved below it. It’s nothing great but it’s something to put on the tree.

“Garret, it’s perfect. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I take it from her and go put it on the tree, then return to the bed. “What do you think? Our first ornament.”

“I like how the lights shine off the silver. It’s really pretty.”

I watch her as she looks at the tree.

“Jade.” I cup her cheek, directing her gaze back to me.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to talk about what I told you yesterday, but I need to know if you’re okay. So are you?”

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