Page 109 of Consumed By You

“I think so too.”

“There’s one more,” Marilyn sings, handing me Benjamin’s.

“Darce, you don’t have to open it now.”

I look up at Benjamin curiously, surprised by his comment. What? Why doesn’t he want me to open it in front of everyone?

“No way! Everyone else did it!” Marilyn slaps his arm. “Open it, Darcy.”

I swallow, scared of what it might be. The room now has a tense energy, everyone wondering secretly what’s inside. I rip the wrapping paper off, remove the lid, and peer at a copy ofPride and Prejudice. I can’t help the huge grin on my face.

He remembered…

“Oh shit, it’s a book.” Kevin feigns enthusiasm, knowing all too well my love for novels.

“It looks old,” Luke observes over my shoulder.

I open the cover and flip the first page slowly. My mind is already churning with the possibility that Benjamin may have spent a lot of money on this. At a collective gasp from Luke and Danielle, both of whom were looking as well, my breath leaves me.

“Ben?” I look up at him in shock and then back down at the page. This is a first edition.

“What is it?” Marilyn demands.

“It’s a first edition ofPride and Prejudice,” Luke says, taking the words from my mouth.

Speechless, I caress the book between my hands, thinking quite possibly this might be the greatest moment of my life.

He remembered.

I blink back tears, risking a glance in his direction. He’s watching me tenderly, his hands tightly clutching the table.

“Ben, I don’t know what to say.”

“Thank you is a good start,” Kevin snickers. Doris is staring at Benjamin in shock.

“Of course, thank you,” I choke out. “I-I can’t possibly accept it, though.”

“Why not?”

“It was too much money.”

He smiles. “No, it wasn’t.”

“How much was it?” Kevin asks, and I shoot a glare at him.

“Don’t answer that.”

“I heard a copy of Austen’sPride and Prejudicewent for 140,000 pounds last year,” Danielle chimes in.

The eyes of everyone at the table shift between Benjamin and I. I don’t even want to see what Luke’s face looks like.

Marilyn stands abruptly. “Everyone come help me get the cake.”

The air is ridiculously heavy, full of questions. Probably between Benjamin, Luke, and I. Luke reluctantly gets up and follows everyone out into the kitchen.

I look up to the head of the table and stare at the gorgeous man in front of me.

“I read it.”