Page 68 of Cloudless
KAM
I hold up my pointer finger to start the countdown. Posey’s eyes bulge as the hand over her mouth struggles to contain her laughter that’s begging to burst free.
Jasper’s sock covered feet bounce up and down on the hardwood floors as I hold up a second finger. He bites his lip to contain the smile that’s threatening to take over his face.
I release my third finger, and we descend on the bed like a litter of kittens pouncing on a new toy.
Posey’s giggles float through the room like bubbles in the summer wind. Her hair flies around her face as she bounces along the edge of the bed. “Wake up, Lulu! Wake up! We need to open our presents!”
Jasper’s knees sink into the plush mattress as Lila’s eyes fly open with a look of surprise I wish I could capture a picture of. Her soft yip of shock is lost beneath Jasper’s laugh as he says, “Wake up! It’s Christmas! It’s time to open presents!”
I roll my lips to contain my smile as her ice queen eyes flash to mine. The ice melts in record speed as a splitting smile takes over her face. “Just remember, you started it!”
Her arms appear out from under the blanket with a foam dart gun at the ready. Villainess laughter fills the room as she balances on the shaky mattress.
With her tousled curls barely missing the ceiling fan, she cocks the gun with a grin. “Run.”
Limbs tangle together in an unrecognizable mass as the twins scramble from the bed like their lives depend on it. Their squeals and giggles chase them from the room as their socks struggle to find traction on the hardwood floors.
Lila’s quirked brow brings an even bigger smile to my face. “Why aren’t you running, Trouble?”
Her eyes flash as I reveal the matching weapon I’ve had stored behind my back since I walked into the room. “You’ve finally met your match, Sunshine.”
Her smile turns sinister as the sound of my gun cocking ricochets through the room. “We’ll see about that.”
An assortment of torn wrapping paper and foam darts litter the ground around the small circle of four we’ve formed in the middle of the living room floor.
Posey’s eyes brighten as she vibrates on the floor next to me. “Open mine next!”
The bright pink wrapping paper crinkles under my calloused hands as I admire the package she hands me. “You got me a present, Rosie Posey?”
Her pigtails sway on her head as she nods. “Lulu let us each pick out a gift for you.”
The lightweight box is surprising compared to its size. The contents of the nearly foot long square box feel solid and unmovable as I gently shake the gift.
Posey rolls her eyes as she watches me. “You’re not going to guess what it is, so you might as well just open it.”
From the corner of my eye, Lila rolls her lips with barely contained laughter as she sips her hot chocolate.
My heart hurts as I tear through the wrapping paper.
The matching pink bow, however, goes straight in the pocket of my pajama pants.
My brows furrow as the side of the box comes into view.
The image of a golden crown with various gemstones sits proudly on the head of a little boy around the twins’ age.
I rotate the box in my hands until all the words come into view.
The words, Little Playhouse King Dress Up Crown , sit proudly in the middle of the box in bright red script.
I can’t keep the wonder from my voice as I say, “You got me my own crown?”
She nods as she rocks on the balls of her feet. “I thought it was time for you to get your own crown for when you play with me.”
Her soft strawberry scent surrounds me as I pull her into a hug. “Thank you, Rosie Posey. I love it.”
“My turn!” Hockey sticks litter the wrapping paper of the small box Jasper forces into my hands. “You’re going to love it!”
The object inside moves from side to side as I shake the box.
The inch thick box isn’t any larger than a small envelope as I carefully tear through the paper, but not before I secured the black bow in my pocket where it belongs.
Four slips of paper greet me as I open the box.
I can’t keep the awe from my voice as I look up at his smiling face.
“You got me tickets to see The Penguins?”
His nod sends a few loose hairs down onto his forehead. “I wanted four tickets so we could all go. I knew you wouldn’t want to go without us.”
Tears line my eyes as I pull him into a hug. I see my own tears reflected in Lila’s eyes as I make eye contact with her over Jasper’s head. “Thank you, Tank.”
The rattling of the doorknob steals his attention as our friends’ bustling voices melt with the squeal of the front door.
I wipe a stray tear from the corner of my eye as Dax says, “Ahhh, you guys started opening presents without me?”
I can hear Ellie’s eyes roll as their footsteps grow closer. “That’s alright, Dax. We’re the ones with all the food. We control who eats or not.”
Mace’s scoff brings a watery smile to my face. “There is no we , Ellie. I’m the one with the food.”
Wyatt’s exacerbated breath is almost lost as the sound of glass containers meeting the counter fills the space. “Don’t bicker, kids . It’s Christmas.”
Our friends and the twins’ voices fade as my eyes meet Lila’s.
The sunshine in her eyes is in such contrast to the clouds I saw the day we first met, it nearly takes my breath. “Don’t worry about the cost of the tickets. Wyatt knows a guy.”
The worry fades from my face. “Of course he does.”
Her soft voice flows over me like a warm summer breeze. “Are you ready for me to give you my gift?”
“I don’t know how you could give me anything else. I already have everything I could ever want.”
Her smile never wavers as she hands me a box neatly wrapped with a butter yellow paper. I raise my brows as I gently shake the impossibly lightweight gift. “No bow?”
Her answering shrug makes my smile grow as I carefully tear through the meticulously wrapped package. My heart stalls in my chest as a neatly tied white ribbon comes into view in the middle of the box. The strands of ribbon obscure the black ink on the paper just below it.
Her voice is shaky from the tears rimming her eyes as she says, “I wore that bow the first day we met.”
My fingers caress the bow with reverence as a fresh tear falls down my cheek. “I’ve always had a thing for bows.”
Her tears mix with mine as she laughs. “Yeah. I know.” Her eyes fall to her feet as she shakes her head. “It’s not anything expensive, or extravagant, but it felt right.”
A blush creeps across her cheeks as I pull the lone paper from the bottom of the box. My eyebrows raise as I read through the printed email. “Sunshine…”
She bites her bottom lip as she fights her smile.
“I’ve been keeping a secret.” She swallows before the words spill from her like a geyser.
“It’s just an entry level position, and it doesn’t pay the best right now.
” Her nose scrunches as she continues, “Especially since I don’t have any clients of my own, but I’m really excited and terrified. I just hope I can?—”
My lips against hers stop her words. I smile against her lips as her hurried breaths flow over my skin. “You already have a client.” Her nose brushes mine as she shakes her head. “Yes. You do. I wouldn’t have anyone else as my agent.”
“But I’m not good yet. I still have so much to learn.”
Her fingers feel so right against mine as I intertwine our fingers. “Sounds like the perfect setup, then.”
The tension falls from her shoulders as she playfully rolls her eyes. “You shouldn’t trust a newbie with your career.”
“Who else would I trust?” I laugh as I use our intertwined hands to draw her to me. “I didn’t have time to wrap your gift.”
A smile touches her lips as she settles in my lap, right where she belongs. “You’re changing the subject.” She lists a brow. “And I thought my fuzzy socks were my gift?”
I shift her in my lap to gain better access to the pocket I’ve not been stuffing full of bows all morning. “Nah. That was your pre-gift.” The small fabric bag is warm against my skin from how long it’s been in my pocket. “I want you to wear this when you feel the clouds creeping back in.”
Her eyes follow my movements as I pull on the drawstring and tip the bag so its contents spill out onto the palm of my hand. She sucks in a quick breath as the golden sun pendant comes fully into view.
Her quiet sniffling nearly brings me to my knees as she runs her index finger over the metal of the necklace. “It’s so beautiful.” Her smile grows as she looks up at me with watery eyes. “Will you put it on me?”
I nod as I weave my fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck. The sparkling lights from the Christmas Tree beside us dance across her face as a single tear falls down her cheek.
I inhale her relieved breath as her lips mold to mine in a now-familiar dance. She breathes softly against my lips as she breaks the kiss to lean her forehead against mine. “I love you, Trouble.”
“And I love you, Sunshine. Always.”