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We laughed about more memories of that encounter as they came flooding back, remembering the undeniable spark that had ignited between us that first meeting. After we ordered our coffee and cannoli, we stepped back from the line and waited for our order to be completed. A barista called out ‘Summer’, so I stepped forward to the counter and found my coffee. Next to the tall paper cup was a small wrapped gift that said ‘Summer’ in black ink on it.
“What’s this?” I looked at Knox.
He shrugged. “Hmmm. I don’t know. You’ll have to open it and see.”
We got lucky and managed to snag a small window table when the patrons stood up to leave just as we were passing by. As we settled into the booth seating, my gaze wandered over the familiar surroundings of the coffee shop. Despite the whirlwind of the past few months, it felt like time had stood still in this cozy little haven where Knox and I had first crossed paths.
I glanced down at the gift in the center of the table, eager to see what was inside. My fingers traced the delicate silver ribbon, curiosity piquing as I carefully unwrapped the tiny package. I opened the velvet pouch and slid out the necklace that was inside. It was an edgy-looking stainless steel chain with a beautiful pendant. I looked closer and realized the pendant was a guitar pick holder. I glanced up at Knox, my eyes misting up.
“Is this...?” I trailed off, unable to find the words.
“Yep,” he confirmed, his chest puffing out with pride. “That’s one of my old picks — from our last concert. I wanted you to have something to remember me by when I’m not around. The necklace came with a bunch of colorful picks, but that one is authentic.”
“Knox,” I breathed, genuinely touched by the sentiment behind the gift. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
I pulled the other picks out of the pouch. “Ooh. These are so cute. Can you give me a private show using each of these picks, so I know you’ve used them all? Then they’re all authentic.”
I actually loved watching him play his guitar. Watching his fingers work the strings while he wrestled such amazing sounds from the instrument was a huge turn-on.
He smirked. “You know what happens when I give you a private show, woman.”
I leaned forward and lowered my voice so only he could hear. “I get so wet that I have to jump your bones.”
“Fuck, Sunshine. We can go back to your flat right now—“
I interrupted him. “Our flat.”
“Right,” he agreed. “But first, I have one more surprise for you.”
“Another surprise?” I asked playfully as I slipped the necklace around my neck. “I don’t need anything else, Knox. I love the necklace, and I’m going to wear it every day while you’re gone.”
“Ah, well,” Knox began, reaching into his pocket and pulling out an envelope. “This surprise is for both of us, actually.”
I took the envelope from him, my heart pounding in anticipation as I opened it to reveal airline tickets to Aruba. A glossy brochure displayed a luxurious resort on a tropical island overlooking a white sand beach and turquoise blue water. It looked like paradise. Stunned, I looked back up at Knox, my eyes wide.
“Knox... this is incredible,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “Is this for real?”
“Absolutely,” he affirmed, his gaze steady and sincere. “I wanted to plan something special for us to look forward to during the band’s break in November. It’s a way for me to show you that I’m committed to our relationship, to our future. And I can’t wait to go there with you.”
“Knox, I don’t know what to say,” I murmured, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Seeing you happy means everything to me,” he replied softly, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “We’ve come a long way together, Summer. And I can’t wait to see where life takes us next.”
“Look at us now,” I mused, while Knox’s fingers traced circles on the back of my hand. “Who would’ve thought that bumping into each other like that day would lead us here? If my mother hadn’t shown up and assumed you were my boyfriend, we’d still be strangers.”
“Life is full of surprises,” he agreed, grinning as he looked into my eyes. “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Neither would I,” I murmured.
Knox leaned across the table and captured my lips in a gentle kiss that spoke volumes about the depth of our love.
As we sat there, basking in the warmth of our shared history and the promise of a future together, I knew that whatever challenges came our way, Knox and I would face them together, hand in hand, and heart to heart.
As I held onto Knox’s hand and gazed into his eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for the man who had shown me that true happiness was possible. Together, we would face whatever challenges life threw at us, our bond growing stronger with each passing day. And as I wore the guitar pick necklace close to my heart, I knew that Knox would always be with me, even when we were worlds apart.
Knox stood and pulled me into his strong embrace. “I love you, Summer.”
“I love you, too,” I breathed, burying my face in the crook of his neck and inhaling the familiar scent of him that had become my sanctuary.
