Page 153 of Take My Love

“This is unbelievable.” I stare at the words on the card, but they don’t sink in. “We’re being pranked.”

“Nope. Believe it, mama. I was right.” He fists the air and thrusts his hips.

I roll my eyes at his victory dance and flick the card on the coffee table.

“You’re insufferable.”

“You always say that, but I think you secretly love that about me.”

I hum, ignoring him.

“Admit it.”

“Never.”

He stands between my thighs, caging me against the couch with his arms. “Posey.”

“Fine, maybe.” I lazily lift a shoulder. “Sometimes.”

The corner of his lips tilt up. “How ‘bout instead of the twohundred bucks you owe me, I get to give you an early Christmas present?”

“I thought we were waitin’ until the twenty-third?”

Since we’re going to his mom’s on Christmas Eve and my parents’ on Christmas Day, we wanted a night with just the two of us to exchange gifts, blast music, and eat pizza.

“I know, but I’ll forfeit my winnings in exchange for one present.”

“Shouldn’t it be the other way ’round? You get an early one from me instead since I lost the bet?”

“Eh, who cares. Trust me, you’ll want this now.”

“Alright, fine. But it better be good!” I playfully threaten.

He tips my chin and crashes his mouth to mine. “It is. But I gotta pick it up from Warren’s, so I’ll be back in a few.”

“I’ll be here.”

While he’s gone, I finish my coffee and respond to some emails. I put up a job listing online to hopefully find another employee now that I have some downtime to go through applications. If we continue staying as busy as we have been, I could use a couple more workers.

“Babe, I’m back. Are you ready?” Silas calls out, shutting the door behind him.

“Yep.”

“Close your eyes!”

“You didn’t wrap it?” I ask, doing it anyway.

“You’ll see why in a minute.”

I lean back against the couch. “Okay, they’re closed.”

He walks in and sets something on the coffee table.

“Alright, love. Open up.”

My gaze lands on a new and bigger rat cage with accessories and toys already inside.

“Oh my God!” I squeal, jumping to my feet. “Teddy’s gonna love this!”