The Boyfriend Deal(35)

He laughed when he opened the envelope. “This is great, Red. But are you trying to say my truck is messy?”

“You mentioned the other day you hadn’t had time to clean it, so I thought I’d help. Maybe one day I can help you clean it for real, after I’ve adjusted a bit better. When they told me about my eyesight, I didn’t realize how difficult everyday things would be. I struggle from the moment I wake up until I go to bed at night, and if Mom didn’t help me with my clothes, I’d never be able to dress myself.”

“Hey, no sad thoughts tonight. I know you’ve had a hard time, and if I could change that I would, but I think you’re doing really well, Red.” His nose brushed against mine. “Now, open your present.”

I unwrapped the small box and dipped my fingers inside. They brushed against something silver and cool to the touch. I pulled it out of the box and realized it was a necklace, but I couldn’t make out what exactly it was. Looking at Tyler expectantly, I waited to see if he would describe it for me.

“It’s an infinity symbol in white gold and one side of the twist has your name on it and the other half has mine. Tyler and Hadley forever.”

Tears gathered in my eyes and I held it out to him. “Help me put it on?”

I turned so he could loop it around my neck and fasten the clasp. It settled against my collarbone and touched it reverently. No one had ever given me such a wonderful gift, and I knew I would cherish it always. A present like this definitely deserved a kiss.

I tunneled my fingers into his hair and brought his lips to mine. Warmth spread through me as my mouth moved against his. When his tongue stroked mine, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. First, a wonderful present and then a wonderful kiss. I didn’t resist as he pulled me closer, but before things got too out of hand, his mother came into the room and cleared her throat.

Tyler pulled away, but it didn’t seem like he wanted to.

“We were just swapping gifts, Mom,” he said.

“It looked like you were swapping more than that,” she said with a bit of humor to her voice. “Hadley, your parents are looking for you. Your dad has been called in to work, and they need to leave early.”

I was disappointed I wouldn’t get to spend more time with Tyler, and it must have shown on my face.

“Mom, I could take her home after the party’s over,” Tyler offered.

“That’s up to her parents, but if you want to run her home later, I won’t object. You know we like having Hadley around here.”

I warmed at her words and took Tyler’s hand, letting him lead me downstairs. When we found my parents, he made his offer and Dad agreed. Mom seemed a little hesitant, but in the end Dad tugged her to the door and they left me behind. Of course, now that they were gone, I wasn’t sure what Tyler and I were going to do for the next hour or two. Unless he planned to take me back upstairs so we could pick up where we’d left off. That certainly had possibilities.

Instead, much to my disappointment, we made the rounds and talked with neighbors and friends. When it came time for the gift exchange, I thanked his parents for the sweater and matching gloves. Tyler opened something from my parents and I waited anxiously to see what he thought of it. Dad had picked it out and I wasn’t convinced a teenage boy would appreciate it.

“An emergency kit for the truck?” he asked. “I’ve been meaning to put one together, especially with the snow that’s started falling this past week. I’ll have to thank your parents. This is great!”

“Really?” I asked, unconvinced.

His lips brushed my cheek. “Really, Red. Being a girl, I guess you can’t appreciate something like this, but it’s nice to know if something happens while I have you in the truck with me I’ll be prepared. I already stuck a blanket in the backseat in case the heater goes out or we get stalled on the side of the road.”

“Did you discuss this with my dad?”

“We may have talked about it a few weeks ago. He’d asked how prepared I was ,and I’d admitted I wasn’t. I have to say, I was rather embarrassed.”

“Dad has that effect on people.”

He laughed and wrapped an arm around my waist.

“You know,” he said, “what I really wanted to get you was a puppy, but your parents said that probably wasn’t the best idea right now. They were worried that having something extra to take care of might upset you right now.”

“You wanted to get me a puppy?” I asked softly.

“Maybe after we’re settled in Jacksonville, we can look at getting a dog, or even a cat, if you’d prefer a kitten to a puppy. I just hate that you haven’t had a pet, and it’s a wish I had hoped to grant for you.”