Twenty-Six #3
A new set of deep red gloves, cherry printed hand wraps, and a new workout set are inside the bag.
“Every coach at the gym deserves their own gear.” Eli nods at me.
And the overwhelming feeling of kindness that nearly suffocated me earlier hits me like a truck.
I sniffle and take a deep breath before mouthing the words thank you to him.
AJ being the saving grace that she is, stands up and distracts me just in time to stop the tears from falling.
“My present is the least expensive, but you’re going to love it the most.” She says confidently.
“I’m also getting tattoos with you, so beat that.
” She looks pointedly at Maxwell who only blows her a kiss.
She pulls the remaining bag off the table and hands it to me.
I pull out two tiny shirts. Both black and buttery soft.
I turn them around one at a time to read what they say on the front.
“Tequila and Tacos.” And I burst out laughing so hard the shirts fall into the floor.
Months ago, I wrote with a sharpie on two white tees the exact same thing, and now we have shirts that don’t look like a toddler made them.
This is the perfect gift. I jump up and hug her, still laughing. “I love you!” I giggle.
“I love you, too.” She says so softly and full of love that my body stills. The whole room quiets a little bit. She’s never said it back until this moment. I don’t think she even knows she did because she pulls back and everyone just kind of looks away.
“I got you something too.” Oliver’s voice comes from behind AJ. He looks at her and they pass a look that is definitely something only the two of them can understand. Then he looks at me and twirls his finger around, telling me to turn around.
“I’m scared.” I say out loud, half joking.
I feel a heavy material fall on my shoulders, it smells like him.
When I look down, it’s a deep cherry red leather bomber jacket.
I push my arms through the sleeves and my eyes catch on the zipper, a tiny set of cherries.
“This lady named Pru embroidered them here too.” He comes up beside me and lifts my wrists to show me little cherries that look like bombs on the end of the sleeve.
“Now you can ride on my bike and not be freezing.” The jacket is big but it’s so soft and comfortable.
He is still holding my wrist close to his chest, staring into my eyes.
I want to kiss him so badly right now. He releases my hand and that’s when I feel something in the pocket.
I pull out a roll of cherry lifesavers and grin. My favorite.
I spin to find Maxwell, “I’ve been meaning to ask you where you find these! I only randomly find them at the gas station. But they are never there anymore.” I twist the foil and take a piece of candy out. His eyes land over my shoulder and I hear Oliver clear his throat.
“I just get lucky I guess.” Maxwell says.
“You’re lying.” I accuse and step closer to him.
“No, I’m not.” His eyes flash to Oliver almost too quickly for me to catch, but I know he is lying.
I move the candy over to the inside of my cheek as I narrow my eyes on him. “Your left eye always twitches when you lie, Maxwell.” His cheeks start to pinken. “Where do you get them?”
“I genuinely don’t know.” No eye twitch. How does he always have them but don’t know where he gets them? He looks back up at Oliver and there is a request in his eyes.
“For fucks sake. Just tell her.” Eli motions to Oliver, his voice slightly annoyed.
I turn to where he and Maxwell are staring down Oliver.
His eyes divert to the ground, refusing to look at me.
“Fine, be a coward.” Eli declares. Eli takes my hand and pulls me towards the kitchen.
Maxwell steps in front of everyone else, blocking them from following us.
He steps around the island and pulls a drawer open and what’s inside has my mouth falling open.
It’s lined with cherry paper, full of cherry candy. Specifically, the hard cherry lifesavers I love so much. There’s all my favorite snacks. I start to rifle through the drawer, and it’s also a mess of all my things that I leave around. It’s a junk drawer. I look up at Eli in awe.
“He’s been on eBay buying those damn lifesavers for months.
It was never Maxwell. All the cherry soda, your favorite kind of cherries that are always stocked at the gym?
Him. He even makes Grover and Ty stock them for you.
” Eli speaks softly but with such firmness that I’m left without words.
I don’t have to turn around to know Oliver is behind me.
Cinnamon and mint fill my nose and my hand starts to quiver where it’s holding the drawer open.
Eli leaves the room without saying another word.
I gently close the drawer and turn around.
“I’m ready to go dancing!” I’m ready to go do anything that doesn’t involve Oliver trying to explain why he created an entire drawer for me in his home.