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“So appropriate,” I murmur, noticing that the pastry is shaped and decorated like a DNA’s double helix.
“Happy birthday, babe,” Kat says with a broad smile.
I take the plate out of her hands and set it on the desk.
“I want my chain back,” I say as seriously as I can.
Her expression changes to confusion. “Why?”
“I want it back, Kat.” I kill my smile.
She looks almost lost, her eyes roaming my face, as she shakes her head slowly. “No.”
“Kat?”
“Archer! What’s happening?” Panic sweeps over her face. “Archer. Please, tell me it’s not—”
Shit, I didn’t mean to give her the wrong idea. So I walk to the desk and pull a present out of the drawer.
Yes, I’ve ordered a present for her.
What do they say? What can you possibly give the man who has everything?
Someone asked me once what it’s like to be this rich. I don’t know what it’s like not to be. Being born wealthy is like having two legs. You take it for granted because it’s never been different. When you lose one, that’s when you realize how precious your two legs were.
Having money is like having food in the fridge—something matter-of-fact-ish. But what if you are lactose-intolerant? Diabetic. Or have heartburn. Or stomach cancer. That food won’t make you happy.
Which brings me to this moment. I’ve been hungry for two years, just didn’t realize it and couldn’t figure out what the cure was.
Her.
Kat is the best present the universe could possibly give me, and if anything makes me truly happy it’s the puzzled look on her face when I give her the small jewelry box.
“What is it?” She stares at it in confusion.
“A present for you. I told you that you can have my chain until I get you something worthy.”
“Arch!” She looks at me with pity. “But it’syourbirthday. I should’ve given you something. Except—”
“Kat, look at me.” The way she feels bad is endearing, though that’s the last thing I wanted her to feel. “It’s my birthday, and I want it to be special. Trust me, there are very few things that can make me feel that way. And you are definitely the one.”
She opens the box and gasps, then bites her lip as she runs her forefinger along the gold chain with a Mother-of-Pearl pendant.
I study her face. “Want me to put it on?”
Kat is flustered. A smile flickers on her lips, and she bites her bottom lip when I go behind her, push her hair to the side, then remove my chain and put the necklace on.
She doesn’t touch it, doesn’t want to see it in the mirror, her gaze wandering all over the place as she turns slowly to face me.
“Kat, come on.” I almost feel like I did something wrong.
“It’s just… I’ve never gotten presents like this.”
“This is nothing.” I step closer and run my finger along the necklace, brushing her skin. “What would you like? Couture clothes? Designer bags? Diamonds in all colors?”
She laughs nervously and shakes her head. “Thank you,” she whispers.
What I want for my birthday is her, all to myself.
