Page 59 of More Than Falling in Love

Her eyebrows pinch closer together.“Really?”

Her reaction surprises me because she and I are close and only friends.

“Yeah.Garrett has been emphatic on that point.Maybe a bit too much at times.Like when people type in all caps and add multiple exclamation points.”

“I do that when I’m excited.”

“I know.I’ve texted back and forth with you quite a bit.”I don’t need to look at her to know she’s smiling.I feel it.

Gifts are passed around, and I’m getting hungrier as the aroma of the casseroles wafts from the kitchen.Mason has gotten more gifts than any other person here, and seeing his absolute joy is enough to make even someone like me tear up a bit.

Chapter 21

Poppy

Today has been a storybook Christmas.I was the only one not in jammies, but I fixed that once gifts were exchanged.And I’ve spent the rest of the day in these flannel pajamas.

Kent is back in his after working on the ranch, and Mason is asleep on the sofa.

“I’ll carry him to bed.Then we can sit out on the porch if you won’t be too cold.”

“I like sitting on your porch.”And his present is hidden back there, so it all works out nicely.

Because of the sale and my big check, I spent a little extra on a couple of people, and Kent is one of them.

He carries Mason down the hall, and I pull back the covers on the bed.Kent lays the kid down, and I kiss his forehead before tucking blankets around him.These are the things I miss when I’m far away.

Kent grips my hand and nods toward the back.“I’ll meet you out there.”

I settle into a chair and hug myself, wishing I’d grabbed a blanket from Ava’s.It’s finally cold here.

“Here.”Kent hands me a sweatshirt.“I thought you might be cold.”

I pull it on over my jammies.It’s huge and smells like Kent.“Thanks.”

He hands me a small box, not a tiny ring box or anything.Thankfully, because we’re friends.“It’s just a small thing.And excuse the wrapping.That’s not my area of expertise.”

“It looks great.”I tear away the paper and lift the lid.When I see the butterfly keychain, I blink, hoping to avoid making a scene.“I love it.”

“It made me think of you, Flutter.”

I lean over and hug him.“Now I’ll think of you when I see my keys.”As if I need a reminder to think of Kent.“Next is your gift.I’m going to give this to you, but you aren’t allowed to tell me I spent too much.If you don’t like it, I’ll replace it with something you do like.Okay?”

“And if I don’t agree?”

“I won’t give it to you.”I cross my arms, hoping he’s convinced.No matter what I’m giving him this present.

“Fine.”

“Close your eyes.”It isn’t easy to wrap a guitar, and wrapped, it’s still clear what it is.

He complies and I set the wrapped case in front of him.“You can open them.”

His jaw hangs open.“I can’t—” He inhales, probably remembering the rules.

I rest a hand on his arm.“Please.”

Cautiously, he tears away the paper, then lays the case on its side and opens it.The milliseconds of silence are going to kill me.He clasps my hand.“This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.It’s gorgeous.Thank you.”

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