Page 58 of Some Nights

17

Jax

I don’t know what the hell Saona’s planning but she’s way too happy. I think we both have been. Last night was awesome, for a lack of a better word. It was a marathon of fucking, followed by sleep and her crawling on top of me and waking me up. We fell back asleep and then I woke up early in the morning with her on her side, the teddy still on her. I tried to take it off her so she could be more comfortable and she’d said to give her an hour and she would be good to go again. So, I did. And she was.

We spent the whole day in bed until she’d sprung up at five and told me we were going to be late.

She won’t tell me where we’re going but she’s getting dressed up and suggested I do the same. I’m wearing the button-down shirt and slacks she wanted and I’m all ready to go. I’m nervous like a fish in low water. The reason for that is the little velvet bag I hold in my hand.

It’s the gift from that store my mom recommended.

It’d taken me an hour to choose and all the ladies in the store had sworn Saona would love it. It’s one of a kind, the sales woman said. She also made me swear I would give it to Saona with the little note of how and where it was made.Trust me on this.Your lady will love it even more when she learns its story.It’s going to be a lucky night for you.She winked.

If it’s anything like last night, they’ll have to bury me.

The item in the bag is the only thing in the store that made me think of Saona. I think it’s pretty and nice. But when she strolls in the room in her loose pants and one of those top-fitted shirts that’s cut like a heart over the boobs, I lose my sense of time and confidence in the gift. She’s already wearing a necklace. One that I’m sure is more expensive and more sophisticated than the one I have in the bag.

“You look amazing.” I let my hand fall to the side, until it’s a little behind my leg.

She blushes. “Thank you.”

I move across the room to hide the bag before she sees it. I almost make it to my duffle bag.

“What’s that?”

“What?” I keep walking and I’m about to shove it in the bag when she appears at my side.

“What you got there?”

I turn around and show her the bag. “It’s just a little something. I can give it to you tomorrow.”

Her eyes round. “Oh my Gawd. Is that my present?”

“Yeah, but we’re going to be late and you can open it tomorrow.” I try to bend and put it in the bag.

“Give it to me now.” She holds out her hand.

“You’re a pain in the ass.” I place the bag on her palm.

“You knew that and you still came to me. You must have a thing for pains in the ass.” She pulls out the note first and unfolds it. “This unique piece was created by Nairobi, a young girl in a rural Dominican town. Nairobi helps her mother support her six siblings with her wonderful talent of carving on precious stones. One Life. One Community. One Village is a non-profit organization helps young women like Nairobi by educating them and providing financial backing for their entrepreneurial endeavors.”

“Jax, this is…I don’t know what to say…it’s great. Thank you.”

“You haven’t looked at the present yet.” I chuckle but I have a small lump on my throat. Her reaction is so big and then Saona gasps.

Her fingers lift the chain to eye level and she’s staring at the heart-shaped Larimar stone trapped in a gold frame. Her lips are parted and her eyes well. “It’s beautiful.”

“I thought you might like it. It made me think of you when I saw it.”

She nods and presses her lips and in the next second she’s yanking off the long necklace she is wearing and flicking it on the dresser. “You have to help me put it on.”

“You don’t have to wear it now. The other one is perfect.”

“Who cares. I want to wear this one.”

She turns around, her back to me and I fasten the necklace around her and she admires it in the mirror and smiles at me. Then she turns around fast and grabs my face in her hands. Her kiss is soft and slow, like we have all the time in the world and there’s nothing else but my mouth. When she breaks away she smiles. “Thank you. This means the world to me.”

She kisses me one more time and turns to change her earrings, leaving me there standing like an idiot with a lump in my throat that doesn’t go away until we are in the Uber headed downtown. She doesn’t tell me where we’re going.

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