AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I keep thinking of how your lips felt, how you tasted, and the way you felt in my arms…”
“Ohhh mercy,” she breathed, hearing the intensity of his husky voice. “John, you shouldn’t say things like that when people could…”
“What? Know that I adore kissing my girlfriend?” he murmured. “That I think about you all the time… and that I am happier than I’ve been in a long time?”
“Really?” she whispered tearfully. “This is all so much and happening so fast. Doesn’t it scare you?”
“No; it should, but instead if feels as right as breathing… and I need to hang onto that, so I don’t panic,” John said openly. “I used to tell myself all the time that I didn’t have time for a relationship, that I couldn’t commit myself fully to someone, so I avoided it…”
“You can’t?”
“That was before I met you… and now I realize that I was just floundering aimlessly – but not anymore. I see you. I see my target. I’ve got you in my sights and going to fight for this, because I need our friendship…”
“Maybe we should talk about something less intense or scary?”
“I don’t want to scare you,” he admitted. “Did you like your necklace?”
“You know I did…”
“Don’t panic if I come off too strong for you…”
“I’m just scared you are going to hurt me.”
“Never,” he vowed passionately.
“You can’t know that,” she began… only to have him interrupt her.
“I want you to be happy and I’m sincerely trying, Emily. If something’s wrong, just say the word, because I don’t know if you don’t tell me – and unfortunately my calling card is going to be up shortly. Did you get your other package?”
“It just arrived today. I was getting ready to open it.”
“It’s just a little something… I got my vacation approved. Are you okay if I book my tickets, or do you want me to back off a little bit?” he offered gently, and she noticed the catch in his voice.
He would give her the space she needed if she asked him to… but everything in her was screaming no. She didn’t want him to back off, but rather, she wanted to go running forward blindly.
“I may get scared or nervous,” she began quietly, feeling her heart thrum with anxiety and hope. “But I don’t want you to change anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“My card is counting down and I’m going to lose you. I just had to hear your voice and wish you a Merry Christmas, my sweet Emily…”
“I’m so glad you called, John. Merry Christmas.”
“I’ll write you later tonight.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she smiled… and that smile faded as the call ended abruptly before she could say anything else.
She sat there for several moments staring at the cell phone in her hand, replaying their conversation in her mind, as she realized that the box was still waiting to be opened. Reaching for the box, she opened the lid… and smiled.
Pulling out a T-shirt, she saw the simple Air Force printed shirt and realized that he’d sent what he could from over there, because he was thinking of her. Yanking off her sweater, she pulled on the T-shirt and hugged herself, imagining that he’d hugged it before packing it. Peering inside before disposing of the box, she saw two more little packages inside.
Pulling out the boxes, she saw one of them was a cherry wood box and opened it to see a beautiful pen and pencil set lying inside on a velvet backing. They both had Air Force engraved along the metal casing of the writing instruments.
This was actually perfect for her, and she loved it.
Opening the other box, she stared at the delicate bracelet that lay inside. There were different sized tiny beads that slid easily around the chain, and it was so pretty in a very delicate way.
