Page 91 of The Goalie in Room 1

Of course they were. The bastard had been hiding them in the SUV while I’d been living right under his nose.

He headed toward the garage, and I called after him, “There better not be a bunch of shit out there.”

He didn’t answer. That was not encouraging. He came back with several packages tucked against his chest.

“Jesus Christ, Doc.”

Thad set them on the coffee table. “Merry Christmas.”

“That’s too many.”

“It’s four.”

“Fourteen, maybe. It’s too many.”

“Open them.”

I stared suspiciously at him, but he only sat back down and handed me the smallest one.

The first couple were little things, and the knot in my stomach loosened as I opened them. One made me laugh because it was based on some stupid argument we’d had weeks ago. Another was something I’d mentioned wanting exactly once and then forgotten about.

Thad hadn’t.

By the third, I was watching him more than the presents. He knew what each one would do before I opened it. The fucker tried to hide it, but I caught the anticipation around his eyes every time I tore into the paper.

“You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Open the next one.”

“You’re bossy on Christmas.”

“I’m bossy every day.”

“Fair.”

“Don’t act like you don’t love it.”

“Never,” I replied, thrilled he’d flirted with me.

He handed me the last box. The size didn’t bother me. But the logo did.

My fingers stopped halfway through the paper. “Doc.”

“Open it.”

“That logo is expensive.”

“You don’t know what’s inside.”

“Unless you put Walmart shit in a fancy box to fuck with me, yes, I do.”

A smile tugged at his mouth. “Open it, Cash.”

I narrowed my eyes and lifted the lid. Motherfucker. The running shoes I’d fallen in love with but refused to pay that much for. I’d picked them up twice when we’d been out and put them back twice, then jerked my hand back like I got burned when I reached for them a third time. Nobody in their right mind needed to spend that much fucking money on shoes.

Apparently, Thad had noticed. Because of course he had.

“You noticed,” I said, running my fingers over the side of one.