Page 52 of Obsessive Love

"You're so wrong," I scoff, shaking out the purple rug we bought the other day and laying it on the floor.

A knock sounds at the door and both of us freeze, staring at each other like deer in headlights as silence fills the room.

After a few moments, I hear shuffling from outside my room and then footsteps fading. I frown at Jaylen as we listen to the person disappear.

"Who was that?" I ask, quieting my voice in case they can still hear me.

"I don't bloody know. I can't see through doors, Soph. Do you think I have x-ray vision or something?"

He snorts and walks over to the door as I roll my eyes at his sarcastic nature. He pulls the door open and peeks around the corner, shrugging when he steps back into my room.

"No one's there," he states, starting to close the door again. "Oh, wait." He steps to the side and nods his head down to the ground.

My eyes drop to see a large, velvety, purple box sitting on the carpeted floor of the hallway.

"Holy shit!" I scamper across the room, almost tripping over the rug I just put down in my haste to get to the box outside my room.

My hands grab the box and I sneak a glance down the hallway, hoping to see a glimpse of Kaleb, but unfortunately, he's already gone. I pick the box up and carry it into the room, carefully placing it on my bed.

"What is it?" Jaylen asks, stepping closer to me.

"Something from Kaleb."

"How'd you know?"

"It's the same sort of box that he put the butterfly clip in. Just bigger," I tell him as I lift the lid from the box, revealing a bundle of purple tissue paper at the top.

"Are you gonna just stand there and stare at the tissue paper, or are you going to actually dig around and see what he got you?"

I turn to glare at my impatient cousin and then lift some of the tissue paper out of the purple box. The first thing I see is a large purple throw blanket with a note resting on top.

I pick it up, carefully unfolding it until I see a familiar scrawl.

Considering you're decorating your room and avoiding me, I thought I'd make a nice gesture and get you a few things I think you might like.

Also, after the last disastrous shopping trip, there was no way I was allowing you to go out again.

If there's anything else you need, feel free to make a list for me, dolcezza. I'll make sure you get everything you want and deserve.

K x

"Well, what does it say?"

I shake my head at Jaylen's impatience and hand him the note as I lift the fluffy, thick throw blanket from the box. I keep it folded and place it on my bed before digging my hands back inside and pulling out three more boxes.

"Wow, he's actually quite sweet when it comes to you," Jaylen states, passing me back the note. "Never would've expected that."

I stare at the various sizes of the boxes, trying to figure out what it possibly is that he's got for me.

"You're really annoying, you know? I've never known someone to take so long to open gifts. The anticipation is killing me."

"Jaylen, shut up!" I hiss, pushing him away from me.

"I'll stop talking if you open the boxes and show me what's in them," he states, moving back beside me and lifting the biggest box from the bed, holding it in front of me and waiting for me to take it.

I huff and snatch the box out of his hands. It's heavier than I expected it to be and that piques my interest even more.

I walk over to my bedside cabinet and pull out the knife I have hidden in there, using it to cut the tape on the box.

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