“This is probably the most useful and thoughtful gift I’ve ever gotten. I love it.”
He smiles, looking slightly relieved but hiding it well.
“With everything going on, I wanted to make sure you’re always safe and never left helpless, especially since I can’t always be around. I know you’re not helpless and can kick some ass, but I thought it would be better if you had something on you at all times.”
Taking the necklace back from him, I close the blade. It’s not a large blade and it’s not like I could kill anyone with it, but I could do some serious damage if Tony snuck up on me.
“I honestly love it. It’s such an ‘Aiden’ gift.” I laugh.
This is just like Aiden, always looking out for the people he cares about and wanting them to be safe. I’m so lucky to have him in my life, even if it’s just for a short while. I’ll get to wear this necklace when I’m in whatever town I’m shipped off to, and always remember this moment with Aiden. I’ll always be able to remember him and how he made me feel like I was floating.
“I was going to get you a Taser disguised as lipstick,” he tells me, “but knowing how clumsy you are, I figured that might lead to some pretty bad accidents. At least with this you have to consciously unlock the blade first.”
“I would not accidentally tase myself!”
“Better safe than sorry,” he teases.
I run my hand along the handle of the pocketknife. “What do these numbers engraved in the handle mean?”
He shifts and sheepishly rubs the back of his neck with his hand.
“They’re the coordinates of the school,” he admits.
“The school?”
“Yeah, where we first met.”
I think my jaw hits the floor as I stare at him.
Now I know he’s uncomfortable, because he starts rambling. “I figured there wouldn’t be any harm in the coordinates. If anyone who shouldn’t know what those numbers mean gets too close to you, it’d be too late for them anyway. And I wanted the necklace to remind you of me, of all your friends, since that’s where we all met and—”
I’m really glad he put his coffee down, because I save him from his rambling by doing what I wanted to do earlier and tackle him, kissing him with everything I have. He kisses me back just as passionately, pulling me close to him until I can barely catch my breath.
“Oh wait!” I pull back from him. “Stay right here, don’t move!”
I put the necklace on his dresser and race out of his room, leaving him looking thoroughly confused.
I pass by Charlotte, Noah, the twins, and Annalisa in the kitchen, drinking the coffee and hot chocolate Aiden had made.
“Merry Christmas!” I say to them as I head toward the stairs.
They repeat the greeting back to me as they notice where I’m coming from.
“Pulling a walk of shame this morning, huh?” Noah says with a smirk.
“It’s not a shame if it’s from Aiden’s room,” I shoot back as I head up the stairs.
There’s a small envelope with Aiden’s name on it in my bag, and I grab it before heading back to his room. I ignore Noah’s remarks as I enter the room again and close the door.
He had changed into fresh clothes while I was gone, and just laughs when I point out that he moved even though I told him not to.
“I didn’t get you for Secret Santa either,” I tell him, “but I saw this and wanted to give it to you.”
I hand him the envelope and take a seat on the bed again as he opens it.
“Oh wow,” he says as he holds the ticket in his hand. “This is amazing!”
I got him a ticket to one of those racetracks where they let you drive a car like a Lamborghini or Ferrari around a course at top speed.