Page 115 of Erik's Salvation
She shifted her hand to his jaw, running her thumb over his stubble “Are you sure you don’t mind driving over to Bellevue with me this morning? I’m happy to go on my own.”
Visiting Nico’s grave on her birthday felt right, seeing as when he was alive, he’d spent every birthday with her since she was a kid.
“I want to go with you,” Erik rasped softly.
“It’s a two-hour drive.”
Another swipe of his fingers on her flesh. “Luckily, I like spending time with you.”
She knew it was a joke but couldn’t even muster a smile. “Thank you. It will be nice having someone with me. Nico didn’t have a lot of friends, so I don’t think he gets many visitors. I wish you’d been able to meet him.”
Would Erik have seen what she had? That Nico was good at heart, despite making some bad decisions?
“I wish I’d gotten to meet him too, Angel.” He grazed her cheek. “Can I give you your present now?”
She cocked her head. “I told you. No presents. You already bought me a car for Christmas.”
After that, the man didn’t need to get her a gift ever again.
He leaned forward. “There was no way you weren’t getting a birthday present from me today.”
He kissed her before rolling out of bed and moving out of the room. When he returned, there were two wrapped presents in his hands, one smaller and one larger.
She cocked her head. “You got me two?”
“Technically one. The larger present is less a birthday gift and more something I always planned to buy you but wasn’t sure if you’d accept. Now that it’s a birthday present, you have no choice.”
Her brows flickered. “Tricky.”
He handed her the larger present, and she slowly unwrapped it. Her mouth dropped open at the boxes inside. It was a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor and an Omnipod insulin pump. There was also a printout of the insurance he’d purchased for the kit.
She shook her head. “No. Erik, I can’t accept another expensive gift.”
It was nothing compared to the car, but still way too much.
“I’m not taking it back, Hannah. Your health isn’t something I’m willing to compromise on.”
She swallowed, emotion clogging her throat. It would make her life and tracking her health so much easier. She’d always told herself she couldn’t miss what she’d never had, but the truth was, she’d craved these items for the simple fact that they’d make her diabetes easier to manage.
She dropped the boxes and leaned into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you, Erik.”
Thank you didn’t seem like enough. But right now, it was all she had.
He didn’t hesitate, pulling her close and pressing a kiss to her head.
She straightened and lifted the second box, almost not wanting to open it. He’d already given her too much.
Inside, she found a small jewelry bag. She opened it and tipped the contents onto her hand—and the second she saw it, her heart thumped.
“An angel,” she whispered.
He took it from her palm and gently attached it to her bracelet. “Because you’remyAngel. Have been since the first day I laid eyes on you.”
Tears glistened in her eyes, and she traced her finger across the small charm. Nico had given her his charm on her birthday too. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
The bracelet, which had already been priceless to her, just became that much more important. She leaned over and kissed Erik. A long, slow kiss.
“I actually got something for you too.”
