Page 112 of Falling Backwards
I’m sure she’ll freak out when she learns about the not-quiet part.
Not going to tell her about it right now.
I drag my eyes from where we’re touching so I can take in the rest of her.Lucent-appropriate black dress under the coat hiding the rest of her body from me.Dark hair up in a ponytail that’s halfway draped over one shoulder.Sweet expression on her face.
Wait, why does she look sweet?
Like she can hear the thought, a smile graces her lips before she presses them together.She slips a hand into her coat pocket.“I got you something.”
…She did what?
Intrigued, I sit up straighter and watch her produce a rectangle-ish thing enclosed in dark blue wrapping paper, neatly tied up with silver ribbon.“You got me something?”
“Yeah.”
I take it from her and find it’s kind of squishy, kind of crinkly.“Can I open it now?”
“If you want.It’s okay if you’d rather wait.”
“Psh.Waiting is for kids at Christmas.”
And saying that is how I earn today’s first giggle.
I take a moment to soak up the smile that comes with it.Can’t help smiling myself.
Then I see about this gift.It’s clear she was meticulous about the ribbon, so I take care not to destroy that.I untape the ends of the paper, and the seam down the middle on the back.I get it all out of the way to reveal….
Rushing warmth overtakes my chest.
I nestle the package of gummy worms into my hands.
She thought to get this for me?
She did.Thought to get it, even spent time wrapping it.For me.
“Oh, wow,” I murmur.
And I notice it’s not just any old package.It’s—
“That’s the one you like, right?”she checks lightly.“The brand, I mean?”
I meet her gaze just for a second.“You know it is.”
I told her so when we were sixteen.Told her if I can’t get my hands on this brand, I don’t bother eating gummy worms.It was true before I met her and it’s been true ever since; in fact, this is the same brand I took into Merritt’s the other night.
“Yeah,” she agrees, “I guess I do know it.”
We fall quiet.
She bought my favorite candy for me.
The thought keeps circling in my mind.Even though itisjust candy we’re talking about here, the gesture makes me feel moved and grateful, amused and increasingly warm.
I look from the candy to her knees.Her knees to her hands in her lap.Her hands to the candy.The candy to her knees again—they’re starting to bounce a little.
“Thank you,” I finally tell her.“Most special gift I’ve ever gotten.”
She lets out a breath of a laugh, but I’m not joking.
