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“Well, when I knew I was coming here to meet Dean’s little sister, I felt it would be rude to show up without some small gift for her.” From behind his back, Gabe pulled out a long, gray box with a white ribbon around it. “Since technically it’s Christmas Eve, I thought maybe you’d let me give this to you.”
I was stunned. I certainly hadn’t prepared like that. “I don’t have anything for you…” I said sadly. “I didn’t—”
Gabe knelt down and took my hands, setting the box on the floor beside him and smiling softly at me. “I don’t need a damn thing. If this Christmas is your present to me, then it’s the best one I’ve ever received.” I felt tears come to my eyes and he stroked my cheek. Then he handed me the slightly weighted box, and sat back to watch me.
I opened it slowly, wondering every second what it could be.
“Dean recommended it,” he said. “I wanted to get you something practical that you might not splurge on for yourself.”
I pulled the lid off the top and gasped at what I saw.
Inside was a shiny, new Littman digital stethoscope, one of the top on the market. I pulled it out of the box and flipped it over in my hands. On the reverse side, was my name engraved in cursive.
“I… Gabe…”
I had been waffling over how I was going to afford a really great stethoscope. I’d been using the ones at the hospital until I could afford to buy my own. But on a waitress’ salary, that was going to be damn near undoable.
“I’m not done,” he said bashfully. “The other thing doesn’t have a box.”
“I don’t…”
“Jenna, these few days with you have been a roller coaster of emotions for us both and yet, we somehow managed to work together and surpass just getting along. Finding someone who meshes with you like that is rare in life.”
Oh, my God, is he going to propose to me?
“This is the first Christmas I’ve ever had where it felt magical, at least since I was a kid and maybe even then. You did that for me, Jenna. You took the chance on someone who rubbed you the wrong way the minute we met. And that’s why I want to do something magic for you, too.”
Gabe took both of my hands and looked me in the eyes.
“Jenna, would you…”
Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God! I liked him a lot but I didn’t know if I liked him enough to get engaged after three days of being together.
“... let me pay for the rest of your schooling? And pay off what debt you’ve already accrued?”
My heart stopped. That was not at all what I expected him to say. It was so much fucking better.
“Gabe!” I gasped, trying to find the right words to express my surprise.
“You don’t have to answer now. Think about it. Let me know before we part ways.” Gabe smiled at me and kissed my forehead. “Because, Jenna, even if I never see you again, you have made such an impact on me these last few days that I can’t help but believe you will be a wonderful nurse. And we can never have enough of those.”
My heart was pounding as he spoke and a swell of tears overtook me, leading into a full-on meltdown.
I fell against his chest and he held me close, stroking my hair and wiping away my tears.
“You have no idea what a huge relief that would be for me,” I said, trying not to get snot on him as my whimpering became an ugly cry. “Trying to do school and work a fulltime job is miserable. This would change my life, Gabe.”
I looked up at him and I could see his eyes go watery as well before he leaned in and kissed me deeply. For the first time since my parents had died, I felt adored and taken care of, and I realized that I really, really liked Gabe. Almost enough to want to take a chance on losing him for the opportunity to see where this could go.
Gabe deepened the kiss, nipping at my lips and tugging gently on my hair before pulling away smiling. “So, is that a yes?”
“That is absolutely a yes,” I replied. “And a thank you.”
Chapter Twenty
Gabe
Iwassodeepinto kissing Jenna that at first, I didn’t notice the low hum of the heat kicking on. But when every single Christmas decoration lit up at once, it was clear that the electricity was restored.
