I realize my feelings run deep.
Because they burn and cut like a knife.
I think I love her more than life.
P.S. On my second birthday, you came into the world and were the best present I never knew I got. And this year? Best. Birthday. Ever.
The paper shook in my hand as I reread his beautiful words and took it all in.
Soulmate.
He loved me more than life.
It was his birthday too?
After a few minutes, his body stirred, and I jumped as his hand squeezed my side. His eyes opened, and he smiled groggily. “I see you got my note.”
I turned to him so our faces were just inches apart and pulled him into a gentle kiss. “I love you, Jake. The days since we met have been the happiest of my life.”
He kissed me harder, then said, “I meant every word…except the Olsen twin part.” He chuckled. “You don’t really look like them to me, actually. Ryan mentioned it before you moved in, and I messed with you about it that first day. You look more like a young Brigitte Bardot.”
Note to self: Google Brigitte Bardot.
He caressed my face. “You fell asleep in my arms, and I couldn’t sleep because I was so overcome with emotion. I had to get it all out. So I did it on paper. But now, I need to tell you that I am so crazy in love with you, Nina Kennedy.”
He pulled me in for another kiss, sucking on my bottom lip gently before slowly releasing it. My panties were already moist again. My appetite for him was insatiable.
“Your birthday was really yesterday too? Seriously…January 8th?”
He ran his fingers through my hair and nodded. “I couldn’t fucking believe it when Tarah texted me Friday about your birthday being Sunday. My nieces had planned this party for me that day. They are so cute. But I wasn’t about to miss being here with you, so I promised them a rain check next weekend. I couldn’t wait to tell you we shared a birthday. I was gonna say something last night when we broke away from the crowd. I had this whole funny thing planned out about how I was going to tell you, but as you know, the date never happened. Believe me, the alternative was so much better.”
A thought occurred to me and I laughed. “I guess I’m going to have to break the news to my parents, that I’ve fallen in love with my nerdy roommate.”
“Say what, now?”
“I’ve…sort of…painted a picture of you that’s not entirely accurate, so they wouldn’t think I was living with a guy I was attracted to.”
His eyes widened as he grinned. “And so, they think I’m a nerd?”
“Yes. A nerdy engineer.” I laughed.
“You know what I think would be really funny?”
“What?”
“If I actually played the part. Like, put on some glasses, wore a pocket protector, took out my piercings and covered my tats when you take me home. We could have some fun with it. They’d be happy and trust me enough to let me in your room. We could say we were studying. Then, I’d close the door, take off my disguise and fuck you on your canopy bed.”
We both started laughing hysterically at the thought.
He made me so happy.
I kissed him. “No way. I want you just the way you are all of the time. And I want them to meet you.”
He jumped up. “Shit. You had me so distracted last night, I totally forgot about your birthday gift.”
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“It’s in my room.”
Jake ran down the hall and returned with a small black velvet bag with a rope string and sat down on the bed. “My brother-in-law had given one of these to my sister on Christmas. It made me want to get one for you, so I went online that night and ordered one. I didn’t even know when I was going to give it to you. It happened to come in the mail yesterday. I would say after last night, the timing was perfect. I hope you like it.”
Prying the drawstring open, I pulled out a beautiful sterling silver charm bracelet.
I held it in my hand and turned to him. “Jake…”
He took it from me, opened the lobster clasp and placed it on my wrist. “You can actually go online and custom make these with whatever charms you want. They have literally every single thing you can think of. These are all the things that remind me of you.” He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it.
I touched each charm with my fingertips and was floored by the thought he had put into selecting them. There was an airplane, a pair of dice, a four-leaf clover, an angel…even a little bat.
“This…this is the most thoughtful present I have ever received. I can’t believe you were thinking of me like that over Christmas.”
“I couldn’t get you off my mind over Christmas. You knew that. Didn’t I make it painfully obvious?”