Page 10 of Twelve Days of Christmas (Sixty Five Hours #1.5)

ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS…

It’s Friday before Christmas. We have a half day and a fully catered staff Christmas lunch at the office.

It hasn’t really felt like Christmas, with all that’s been going on; I’ve been so distracted.

But with the jovial atmosphere at lunch and the well-wishes of a Merry Christmas and a few Christmas drinks, I’m in a much more festive spirit.

Until we get home.

And I ask him if he wants his next present – his tenth day of Christmas present – and he hesitates.

He fucking hesitates.

He looks at the small gift-wrapped box like it’s gonna fucking bite him.

And that’s a festive mood killer right there.

He looks hesitantly at his gift, like he’s almost scared to open it.

It’s supposed to be good thing – no, a fucking great thing.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, probably a little too rudely. But fuck it, this is important.

He shakes his head, quick to explain, “I’m just worried what I got you won’t ever be enough,” he says sadly. “I mean, how can it compare with what you’ve done?”

“That’s not why I’m doing this.”

“Why are you doing this?” he asks me again, more serious this time.

Should I tell him? Should I just ruin it all and fucking tell him?

I can’t. Two more days, that’s all. I’ve just got to hold out for two more days. No matter how much he pouts, begs and pleads, I have to bite my tongue.

Letting my temper out won’t help any matter, so I cup his face with my hand and kiss him. “Just open your present.”

He sighs, then slowly opens the small box. When he sees the matching gold cufflinks, his eyes well with tears. “Oh Luc, they’re beautiful.”

“They have the Hensley family crest on them,” I tell him with a shrug. “Seeing though everything I ever see has the Fletcher arrow on it, I thought you might like them if they had my namesake.”

He nods, and I think for a moment his tears might fall, but they don’t. He pulls me into his arms and he just holds me. He wraps himself around me and holds me so damn tight, like I’m some precious little thing he doesn’t ever want to let go of.