He disappears behind the tree and returns with a giant, shiny red box, setting it down on the floor in front of her. “Merry Christmas, Will.”
Willow eyes the box like it might explode.
“Go on, open it,” Reed urges.
She tears at the paper, revealing a nondescript brown box. “Should I be scared?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
He shakes his head. “Not at all. It’s not even embarrassing.”
The two of them have a history of giving each other prank gifts.
“Well, that’s a first.” Tearing the box open, she reaches inside and pulls out another box.She gives Reed a look.
He shrugs. “I couldn’t make it too easy.”
“How many more boxes?” she asks.
“That’s top secret information,” he answers, smirking.
“If there’re more boxes inside, I’m gonna kick your not-as-good-as-Drew’s ass,” she tells him.
“You’re gonna feel bad for saying that when you see your gift,” Reed tells her.
Willow pries the box open and then gasps. She looks up at him with wide eyes. “This is for me?”
He nods, grinning. “Yep. It’s custom made.”
She pulls out a longboard, running her hand over the maple wood.
“Check the bottom,” Reed says.
She flips it over, then covers her mouth with one hand. Shaking her head, she stares down at the design for a moment before looking up at Reed with glassy eyes. Setting the board on the couch, she jumps to her feet and throws herself into his arms. “It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
He holds her tight. “I’m glad you love it so much.”
I tap my foot against Jordan’s. When he glances at me, I whisper, “See?”
“Maybe.”
When Reed and Willow separate, she swipes a finger underneath both her eyes. “I can’t believe you got me a present that made me cry.”
Reed fist pumps. “I told you it was good.”
“Can we see what the bottom looks like?” Nina asks.
Willow picks up the board, revealing the design that replicates the tattoos on her arm. “Isn’t it amazing?”
“I can’t believe it’s so accurate,” Nina says.
“I know. This is seriously the best gift ever,” Willow says, smiling at Reed.
We continue to open presents, and when we’re done, we all agree it’s time to call it a night. Jordan and I walk hand in hand to his house. Once inside, we shed our jackets and scarves.
“Want to open presents?” he asks.
I nod excitedly. “Of course I do. The wait has been torture.”
He laughs and leads me to the couch before he turns on the fireplace. He collects the gifts and sets them on the coffee table before sitting next to me. “You first.” He slides a medium-sized box in front of me.
