Page 84 of The Crush of Christmas Past
“Next year, we hang our story on your tree,” I whisper against her lips. “Deal?”
She stiffens under my touch, her jaw locking tight.
“You keep talking about next year.” It’s a statement, but the way her fingers grip the globe—like she’s bracing for it to shatter—carries the silentwhyshe doesn’t say aloud.
How can I blame her? I deserve it. After all, I broke her heart once already.
“Because I will keep showing up. Every year. If you’ll have me.”
She inhales as if preparing to respond, but no words come out. Instead, I'm treated to a soft breath that fans across my skin, warning me to step back.
So, I do.
Releasing her warmth hurts. Not just on the surface.Underneath. It burns where it counts. Still, I let the pain tear through me. Isla deserves space that isn’t warped by my need to fold her into my life. Time that isn’t tainted by how badly I want to make her mine.
Which makes my final gift slightly…problematic.
“Wait.” Isla glances down at the box on my bed. “There’s something else in here.”
Handing the ornament to me, she reaches past the tissue paper to pull out a shirt.
“Another one?” she asks, carefully unfolding the soft, white fabric.
Her expression shifts from curiosity to confusion as she squints at the letters on the front. I know the exact moment the print registers because her eyes widen, and a tremor ripples through her body.
Frowning slightly, she flips the shirt over, probably in search of a punchline. Or a disclaimer. Maybe even a graphic to explain my madness.
She’ll find none.
I only gave her one word.
Bold. Explicit. Possessive.
“Theo’s?” she whispers.
“Theo’s," I correct. "No question mark.”
A small frown creases her brow. “Just…Theo’s?”
I nod. “They charged per letter. I was being frugal.”
“We both know you can afford to cover every inch of this fabric in print.”
“I figured this was enough.”
“Theo’swhat?” she asks, stepping closer.
Everything.
“Present?” Isla prods when I don’t answer. “Is that why the lettering is red and green?”
That wasn’t the intent. I simply picked the two colors that felt most…her.
“Would you like to be my present, Sunshine?”
She blinks. “What would that entail?”
“Wear the shirt and find out.”
