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“Welcome back, mate.” Jeremy patted Ruben’s shoulder.
Ruben smiled at him. “Thanks. Hey, Riva.”
“It’s so good to see you.” Riva hugged him warmly.
“Look out, folks. Coming in behind.” Cruz pushed his way into the apartment. “Merry Christmas, all. Looks like I’ve arrived just in time.” The musician rubbed his hands together as he eyed the food.
“You can bloody well wait. We’re doing this properly,” Jeremy snapped.
“Yes, all right, boss.” Cruz looked me up and down. “Interesting choice of dress.”
I was still wearing Jeremy’s T-shirt. After I’d showered and freshened up, I had slipped back into it. Since it was long enough on me to look like a dress, I figured, why not? “Yeah, it’s cool, right?” I spun around to show off the Royal Marines printed in black across the back of the garment.
“She isn’t wearing any underwear,” Riva announced.
“Riva.” I couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed.
Cruz unabashedly ran his gaze to my downstairs area. “Isn’t she, now?”
An impish smile broke out on my face. “Looks like Jeremy’s serving up the food.”
I skirted past everyone, collected a plate full of one of everything, then settled down at the coffee table. Ruben slid in beside me, and Riva and Jeremy sat opposite us, while Cruz took the end beside me.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Jeremy announced, raising his Anspach & Hobday beer into the air. “To you wonderful people sitting here with me right now. Ruben and Cruz, you’re great lads. Even Aug, who may have done the wrong thing, yeah. But I hope he finds his way—”
Cruz snorted in derision.
“I have to admit, my heart belongs to the two beautiful ladies in our company tonight. I’m honored you chose us to be a part of your lives. If I could, I’d marry you both tomorrow. That’s how much I love you. Unfortunately, our love lives are a little too complicated for society’s views on marriage, so I’ll settle for these instead.”
He gave Riva and me each a box, and I stared at the perfect wrapper. It was the deepest, richest red, all tied up with a gold ribbon.
“Ruben, you might want to give Sienna yours as well.”
“Oh yes, you’re right.” Ruben raced out of the door to my place across the way. We heard him rustling around, and then he was back.
“Cruz?” Jeremy arched his eyebrow at his cousin.
“Yup, I’m loaded.”
Together, he and Ruben gave me two more boxes. Riva and I stared wide-eyed at one another and shrugged in unison.
“Go on, girls, open ‘em up,” Cruz said.
We did as he requested.
Riva was the first to open hers and she gasped. “Oh, my word, it’s lovely.”
I soon found out what she was talking about. Inside Jeremy’s box was a delicate white gold necklace. Hanging from the necklace was a charm of two hearts interwoven with an infinity symbol. “It’s so unusual.”
Jeremy and Riva shared knowing smiles.
“What?” I asked, desperate to know the secret they were keeping from me.
“Open the next one,” Cruz said.
I unwrapped the next box and found a pair of twisted silver drop earrings.
Cruz winked at me, telling me they were his gift.
