“This last one’s for you,” Maya says, handing over a present to me. She’s sitting in the same place I normally do every year: beside the tree, handing out the presents with Izzie’s help. Watching the both of them, I realize this is what our Christmases will be like from now on, and the wide smile on my face couldn’t be wiped off even if I tried.
The floor is full of discarded wrapping paper with presents surrounding all of us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many in one room before. I take in a deep lungful of air, the smell of the turkey hitting me full force and making my stomach grumble.
Taking the small box from Maya, I look down at the tag, seeing Nate’s writing on it. His green eyes meet mine from across the living room where he’s sitting next to Clay who’s got a stack of new books next to him, neatly piled high. Clay’s gray-eyed gaze flits to mine before batting away and I frown. He hasn’t spoken to me once since he’s been here.
Looking away, I swallow against my dry throat before peeling open the paper carefully. I stare at it in confusion when a key is revealed, not understanding what it is. I move my gaze back up to Nate. “A key?” I ask, confused.
He grins and stands up, taking ahold of the handles of my chair. “Let me show you.”
I frown, confused as he pushes me through the living room and down the hallway. “What? Where are we going?”
“Will you ever learn to like surprises?”
“Not in this lifetime,” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest and hearing several footsteps following behind us. Turning my head, I take them all in: the people who have become my family and made this day more than I ever thought it could be.
He turns me around, pushing through the door that leads to the garage backward. My eyes widen as I see Mel’s smile, the kind of smile only a mother gives one of her children.
“Do you know what it is?” I ask her.
Her brow raises and she makes a zipping motion across her lips. I see where Nate gets his love of surprises from.
I feel his breath fan across my neck before he says, “Ready to have your mind blown?”
A very inappropriate reply is on the tip of my tongue, but when I meet Mel’s gaze again, I keep my mouth shut, holding in a bubble of laughter before nodding.
He knew exactly what he was saying.
He spins me around, jumping back a step and stretching his arms wide like a magician’s assistant after he’s done a trick.
“What’s that?” I ask, taking in the blue car I’ve never seen in the garage before.
He motions toward the key in my hand. “It’s yours.”
I look at the key, then at Nate, then at the car, and back to the key again. “But…” I lift my head, showing him the confused expression in my eyes. “I can’t drive…” I wave my hand in the direction of my legs, silently signaling them. “On account of not being able to feel the pedals, you know?”
“So little faith,” he replies, shaking his head. “You said you hated being driven around and lifted in and out of the car all the time. So this is an adapted car.”
“Adapted?” I whisper, almost to myself. “You bought me a freaking car?” I stare at him, wondering if this means he thinks the paralysis is permanent. Has he given up hope in me being able to walk again?
“Not exactly. It’s on a lease for six months since I didn’t see the point in buying you a car for it to eventually become useless.”
His last words ring around in my head on repeat, and I realize he hasn’t given up on me: he’s still trying his hardest to give me even more independence.
“Nate,” I say, my voice soft as I wheel closer to him. When I get within two feet, he crouches down, resting his hands on the side of the chair, his teeth showing as he smiles at me.
My stomach dips as he leans forward and everything disappears: the people all standing behind me, the car sitting in front of us.
All my focus is on him, the one person in this whole world that hasn’t left my side; the man who cares so much he put up with me not saying more than two words to him at the hospital, changed his home, and rented me a freaking car.
My breath catches when his lips meet mine, softly at first before he shuffles forward, placing his hand on the back of my neck and tensing his fingers.
His tongue swipes along my bottom lip, and I don’t hesitate to open up for him, moaning at the sensations rolling through me.
“Get a room!” Maya shouts, but even then he doesn’t pull away, instead he continues to completely consume me, leaving me wanting—needing—more when he pulls away slowly.
“I love you,” I whisper, raising my arms and cupping each side of his face with my small hands.
He wraps a hand around mine and turns his head to kiss my palm. “That makes me the luckiest guy in the world.”