“But you told him?”
“I told him everything.”
“And how did he take it?”
“You’re right. He’ll be okay.”
“He might not like me for a while.” He grimaces.
“Yeah, family dinners could be a little awkward at first, but we’ll get over it.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.” He cups my cheeks with his frozen hands. “Happy birthday.”
I smile, forcing his hands to move with my giant grin. “It is my birthday.”
“I got you something.” He drops his hands, reaching into his pocket.
“You got me something?”
“Of course.”
“And you have it with you?”
“I know.” He shakes his head. “It’s weird that I’ve just been carrying it around with me on the off chance that I would see you. But I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I’m yours. Even when I thought you didn’t want me, I was still yours.” He creates a fist with one hand, grabbing my palm with the other. “Now, this isn’t much. I still thought you were Justin’s girlfriend when I bought it, but I saw it and thought of you.” He opens his fist, dropping two earrings into my hand. I bring them up to my face so I can study them.
“What is it?” my mom calls behind us. “What did he give you?”
I smile, darting my eyes to Caleb. “They’re snow globe earrings.”
“Because she loves Christmas earrings,” my dad explains to anyone in the family who didn’t already know that fun fact about me.
“I know it’s stupid. But I saw them, and I thought of you, and I haven’t seen you wear snow globes yet this season, but obviously, there were a lot of days that I didn’t see you, so if you already have some like that, then—”
I stop his rant with a peck. “Thank you. I love them so much.”
“What did she say?” Aunt Carma snips. “I can’t hear.”
“She said she loves the earrings,” Juliet tells her.
Caleb eyes my family. “They know about the swap, right?”
“They know.” I spin around, gesturing from him to my family. “Caleb, I’d like you to meet my family. Family, this is Caleb. The other Davidson twin.”
He gives a little wave. “I’m sorry I lied to you guys.”
“You can be forgiven if you wear those cowboy pants again,” Aunt Carma says.
“Gladly.” Caleb nods at her.
My mom steps forward, grabbing his arm. “You’ll be forgiven if you take care of Summer and promise to always make her laugh and bring out her sunny side.”
“That’s my only goal.”
“Then all’s well that ends well.”
More fireworks light up the sky, and someone in the crowd spontaneously starts singing “O Holy Night.”I look around. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Caleb must think the same thing, because he leans down for another kiss. We keep this one a little more chaste—you can’t make out to “O Holy Night.”It just doesn’t feel right.
