Page 50 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

I pillowed my cheek on his chest again, closing my eyes as I listened to his heartbeat.

“I’m glad,” I admitted.

There was comfort in silence and contentment in his touch. I was just drifting off to sleep, lulled by the rise and fall of his chest, when he cleared his throat.

“Don’t get mad,” he muttered apprehensively.

My body tensed. I looked up at him. He looked nervous.

“I got you something else.”

I couldn’t blame him being nervous, because every time he tried to give me something, I threw it back at him. But something had changed in me, something he had opened up or fixed, because I didn’t feel defensive or suspicious anymore.

Because I knew he loved me. And it was real.

“Okay.”

“Sit here and wait for me. I won’t be long.”

My heart beating wildly, I got up and sat on the wooden bench to wait for him. When Caleb came back, his green eyes were wide, the pupils dilated. He was raking his fingers in his hair, a sure sign that he was anxious.

I expected him to be holding a gift box or a fancy paper bag, but he wasn’t holding anything. I stared up at him, but he only sat beside me.

He tapped his long foot against the edge of my slipper, teasing.

I tapped him back. “Did you forget the gift at your place?” I asked.

He reached behind himself and presented a long, thin box.

“I wanted to give you something to remember me every day,” he started, still sounding nervous. “I had this designed for you. Weeks ago.”

I stared at the box he held before me, unable to move.

“Open it, Red.” He smiled adorably, dimples appearing on his cheeks. “For me,” he added softly, his eyes beseeching.

Slowly, I reached for it. Opened it.

It was an elegant necklace with a butterfly pendant. The butterfly was silver, the size of a penny, with delicate scroll-like filigree inside the wings. Tiny diamonds encrusted the wings, glinting in the moonlight. A pear-shaped, blood-red ruby connected the wings.

It was breathtaking. Mesmerizing.

I didn’t miss the symbolism of it. A shaky breath shuddered out of me, tears pricking my eyes.

“Do you like it?”

Like it? I love it.

But I could only nod. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, I would start crying.

“Do you remember the story I told you about the green caterpillar and the butterfly?”

I nodded again. He smiled gently, as if he knew what I was feeling. Maybe he did. Caleb knew me like no one else did.

“I’d like to see it on you.” He lifted it out of the case. “Please?”

I had my hair up, so I turned around and let him place it around my neck. After he locked the clasp, he touched my shoulders and turned me to face him. His eyes were tender as he gazed at me.

“You make everything beautiful, Red.”

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