Page 144 of The Surprise Play

CHAPTER 44

ELIZABETH

I’m just about to head out for my morning walk when there’s a knock at my door.

Confused, I creep toward it, softly asking, “Who is it?”

“It’s your boyfriend, birthday girl. Lemme in.”

An instant smile lights my face, and I rush to unlock the door, pulling it open and laughing when I’m faced with the biggest teddy bear I have ever seen.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” Wily’s voice is muffled by the bear as he talks behind it, moving its arms and stepping forward to wrap them around me.

I giggle into the soft fur, my heart melting into a mushy puddle at how incredibly sweet this man is.

He’s the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.

He’s theonlyboyfriend you’ve ever had.

He’s still the best.

So sweet and attentive. I’ve been asking so much of him this week, desperately trying to keep him away from Jade, and he’s accommodated me at every turn. I feel a little bad about it, like I’m stealing his life away, but hehasn’t complained once and doesn’t seem to mind showing up whenever I invite him.

In fact, I was making a concerted effort not to contact him this morning, knowing I was stealing him away for the entire weekend. If Jade happens to get her claws into him today, I can hopefully wipe away any damage in Fledgling.

At least I hope I can.

“You like it?” Wily’s head pops around the bear, squishing it between us as he leans in to kiss me.

“I love it,” I assure him, smiling against his lips and giving him one more kiss before pulling back to admire the bear. “This is the sweetest gift. It must have cost a fortune. I can’t believe you went to all this trouble for me on my birthday.”

He sets the bear down on my bed and pulls me into his arms. “This isn’t your birthday present, baby.”

“What?”

“It’s your Valentine’s Day gift.”

I tense before wriggling out of his embrace and gaping up at him.

“I’ll give you your birthday presents tonight, when we get to your parents’ house.”

“Presents? As in plural?”

“Yeah, it’s your birthday.” He shrugs, looking kind of mystified by why I would be so gobsmacked over that.

“Wily, it’s… That’s too much. You don’t need to buy me anything.” I wince. “I mean, I just wrote you a card for Valentine’s Day. I didn’t even get you anything else, and I’m so, so?—”

He stops my apology with his lips, his tongue soonclaiming mine and making me forget everything but his addictive mouth.

Once I’m thoroughly drugged up, he pulls back and whispers against my cheek, “You’re enough for me. I don’t even need that card.” He smiles. “Although I’ll take it, because knowing you, you’ve squished it full of lovely words that are gonna make me feel like the most amazing guy on the planet.”

“You are the most amazing guy on the planet,” I clarify, reaching into my bag to pull out the red envelope.

“See, I didn’t even get you a card, baby.” He rips it open while I look at the huge teddy bear taking over my bed.

I grin and take a seat beside it, stroking its soft fur.

Wily’s gone quiet, and I hold my breath, wondering what part he’s up to.