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“You mean this jacket?”
The whole world seems to stop when I hear those words. Shelby’s smile twists into a smirk and the intoxicating smell of Ash’s cologne falls over my shoulders along with the soft black zip up jacket.
I spin around, my heart suddenly caught in my throat. Ash stands
there, right there in front of me, wearing the same smirk as his sister. His dreadlocks are a couple inches longer, his tanned skin a little bit tanner. He is as gorgeous and perfect as ever.
“Oh my god.” Tears fill my eyes as I slam into him, throwing my arms around his neck to pull him closer. His hands slide around my waist as he pulls me to him, his chin finding its place on top of my head.
I’m not sure how long we stand like this, but the crack of the first fireworks pulls me out of my daze. I lean back and look into Ash’s eyes just as a sparkle of green bursts into the night sky. “You tricked me,” I say, finally able to find words.
He kisses me and then cups my face in his hands. “A little bit, yeah.”
I chew on my bottom lip to keep from crying. I am suddenly very aware of my messy hair and poor choice of clothing. Had I known, I would have made myself look nice or at least presentable. “I’m sorry I look like shit,” I mumble as Ash pulls me in for another hug.
He shakes his head. “You look beautiful.”
I pull off the jacket I’d borrowed and replace it with Ash’s hoody, reveling in the feel of the soft fabric. Above us, the fireworks pick up intensity and Ash wraps his arms around me while we watch them soar into the air and burst, red and green and white explosions of beauty in the night sky. I lean against Ash’s chest, soaking up every single second of being with him.
All of those angry Grinch feelings from before are gone. Nothing could ruin this holiday or my mood now that Ash is here.
“Are you going to open that?” he whispers into my ear moments later, when the fireworks have ended.
I look down and realize I’m still holding the red box. The decoy present. “Sorry,” I say. “It’s hard to remember a present when you’re here.”
I pull off the bow and open the box. Inside is a silver charm bracelet with three charms. The letter A, the letter H and a small silver dirt bike. “I love this,” I say, holding it up so Shelby can see.
“You’re always saying you want an initial bracelet,” Ash says. “So I just improved on that idea.” He slides his hands around my waist, snuggling close to me. “Of course, I had to add my initial, too.”
“I love it. It’s perfect.” I feel like a dork with how big I’m smiling, but no one seems to notice. I slip the bracelet over my wrist and Ash fastens it.
“You need to add a best friend charm to that thing and then it’ll be perfect,” Shelby says, peering over my shoulder.
I turn back to Ash, sliding my hands up his chest. “How long are you staying?”
He frowns and tucks the stray hair behind my ear. “Just until tomorrow morning.”
I figured as much, but it still sucks to hear him say it. I turn around. “Hey, Shelby? Do you mind if we. . .?”
“Duck out of here and steal some time alone?” she says, finishing my question. She flashes us a smile and grabs onto her boyfriend’s hand. “I don’t mind at all.”
I turn back to Ash. “Wanna get out of here?”
He nods. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter 5
“Are you still in there?” Ash calls out from my bedroom.
“Yes,” I call back sarcastically.
“You’ve been in there for hours and I’m dying without you.”
I walk to my closet door and poke out my head, giving him a look. “It has been like three minutes, you big baby.”
Ash’s frown gets even more pronounced as he curls out his bottom lip and gives me a serious case of puppy eyes. He falls backward on my bed and the pillows bounce around his head. “This isn’t fair.”
“I’m just trying to look nice for you,” I say, closing the closet door and retreating back into my massive walk in closet to stand in front of my mirror. “You big baby,” I say again, but I’m not sure he can hear it.
