5. Eddy

Chapter five

Eddy

I was working in my makeshift office. Well, that’s what I said I was doing. Because I was really secret Christmas shopping, and I was nearly out of time. I didn’t know what the hell to get Brock that would be special and meaningful. I didn’t want to get him just anything. I had a few just anything presents for him already, but I need that one thing.

I was also supposed to be getting the room ready for Greg. But I didn’t want to. I scrolled down the Amazon screen one more time, feeling seriously like I wouldn’t find what I wanted there, regardless of how fast they could or couldn’t deliver it.

“Knock, knock. Can I come in?” Mom rapped her knuckles against the doorframe.

“Hey, Mom. Come in.”

“That sounds like you’re exasperated. As usual. Is it your game?”

“What? No. I’m not even working on the game.”

She circled around my desk to see what I was really doing. “Oh. Are you stuck on what to get for someone? Greg doesn’t need anything.”

“No. Yes. Not Greg. Brock.” I pulled my hair.

Mom tapped my fingers, getting me to let go. “How do you not have something for Brock?”

“I mean, I do, but I don’t. I don’t have anything good. You know, memorable. Sentimental. He loves sentimental.”

“Well. I may be able to help.” She smiled slyly—so much like Greg’s evil, up-to-something expression. Then she darted out of the room, still really spry for her age.

She came back a moment later as I was logging out of my useless laptop. “What’s up, Mom? What did you do?”

She stuck her hand out, showing me a box. A ring box. “I was going to give this to you for Christmas or after or something. I mean. I didn’t give it to you before because I didn’t give it to Greg, and he’s the oldest, plus he married first. But I never liked his partner.” She crinkled her nose, then shook the box at me. “But I talked to him, and well, this feels right.” She winked at me as I took it from her. “We absolutely adore Brock.”

I slowly opened her box, revealing her ring. Her wedding ring. It was a gold band etched with the words love is eternal in a gorgeous script. Inside, it had her name and dad’s. I didn’t have to look to know it. It wasn’t feminine at all. Simple. Classic. “Oh. Mom.”

“Yeah. You’re probably going to have to get it sized, but my fingers are big. It should work. If you want to give it to him. You know, it was actually my dad’s ring. But I didn’t want to part with it, so when I married your dad, we added our names, and I kept it for mine.” She had never been very traditional. She did her own thing, and I loved her and admired her for it and hoped I took after her in some small way. Looking at my life now, I guessed I probably did.

“I think he’ll love it. It’s perfect.”

I hugged her tight, and she kissed the side of my head as she hugged me back. “I have another idea, too. We have to go out for this one and maybe enlist the help of your nosey neighbor. What’s her name again?”

“Evelyn?”

“Yep. Come on. Get some shoes on. Let’s go.”

That night, I held Brock tight. Mom and I had the ring sized while we were out, and it was going to be a perfect fit when I slid it on his finger. Our other surprise was ready, too. Christmas was going to be amazing. But the best part was this big, sexy man beside me. I snuggled in close.

Brock snuggled me right back. “You okay?”

“Perfect. So perfect. I love you so much.” I kissed his neck and nuzzled against his bearded chin.

“I love you too, babe. I hope you’re having a great Christmas so far.”

“I am. The best.”