A Guide to Being Just Friends(80)

She smiled at him—a full Hailey smile—and there was no better gift she could give. Unwrapping the box, she hesitated again when she came to the blue box, running her fingers over the engraved lettering. Her breath hitched, her gaze darting up to his. She looked almost … wary. He frowned as she opened the box with what seemed like trepidation.

Inside the Tiffany box, the diamond bracelet was nestled in a soft silk cloth. She sucked in another sharp breath, her fingers touching it so delicately it was like she thought it would break.

When she looked up, her expression took him by surprise. “What is this?”

He smiled. “It’s a bracelet. Let me help you.” He reached for it but she shook her head, set the box down. “What’s wrong?”

“Wes. It’s been two weeks. You got me a diamond bracelet from Tiffany’s. I made you dinner and yeah, I bought you something, but it only fits me so really, we both benefit.”

Now he was curious but he’d have to wait. He did his best to keep his gaze focused on her face. “It’s just a bracelet. I wanted to buy you something pretty. Something that shines the way you do.”

“Flowers are pretty.”

Dammit. He knew he should have grabbed some. “I’m sorry about not bringing flowers.”

She shook her head again, this time getting to her feet. “No. Not flowers in addition. Flowers would have been fine. Nothing would have been fine.” She was pacing, putting wrinkles in the picnic blanket.

He stood up, stopped her with hands on her shoulders. “Talk to me. What’s wrong? If you don’t like it, it won’t hurt my feelings. We can take it back, exchange it. I have an account with the company. It’s Ari’s favorite store.”

Her shoulders sagged; he felt it under his hands. “I don’t need diamond jewelry. Where would I even wear it? Grocery shopping with you on a Saturday night? Jesus, Wes. That probably costs the same as my rent on the shop for a couple months.” She waved toward the kitchen. “I made you minestrone! I bought lingerie. That’s it.”

The word “lingerie” stuck in his head and clearly distracted him because when he moved his gaze back up, she was glaring at him, folding her arms across her chest.

“Sorry,” he said. “You can’t say ‘lingerie’ and not expect some distraction.”

One side of her mouth tipped up. “You won’t be seeing it until you tell me that you get it.” She stepped forward, putting her hands on his chest. “I care about you. Not your money. In fact, the money thing is a deterrent, if you want the truth.”

“How can money be a deterrent?” He hated that he was messing this up with her.

She ran her hands over his chest. He stopped her hands because he couldn’t focus while she did that.

“Did you buy me that bracelet because it made you think of me? Because it suited me? Did it call out my name?”

It was hard not to look away. “Not exactly. My sister sent me a picture of one she’d bought. She really loved it, it was pretty, and I thought of you.”

“I don’t want to feel like I can’t keep up with you but we both know there’s a discrepancy in our finances.”

He pulled her over to the couch, down onto his lap. “That doesn’t matter to me. I don’t need anything. I wanted to buy something to make you happy. Because you deserve it.”

Her fingers played with his hair. “That part is sweet. I’m not trying to be ungracious. I love that you wanted to give me something to make me happy but you know I’m uncomfortable with expensive gifts. Our relationship has changed but that hasn’t. I truly only need and want you, Wes.” She leaned closer, brushed her nose against his. “You are so much more than enough.”

Wes couldn’t help but smile at the way she threw his words back at him. “So I can’t buy you something when I want to? That hardly seems right.”

“You can buy me something if you want to but not because you think it checks off a box in the ‘good boyfriend’ column. I would have been happy with just the brownies. Gifts should show your connection with the person. They should suit them, show you know them, you get them. I won’t ever be able to give you diamonds but I’m pretty sure I know how to make you happy.”

He pressed his forehead to hers. “You do. I want the same. I want to make you happy.”

“You do. I’ve been happier these last couple weeks than I can ever remember being. That comes from your texts, your voice, you showing up at my house with brownies. Making me pancakes last Sunday even though we were going for brunch. I can’t accept the bracelet, Wes. I’m sorry. It’s too much and if you ever give me a piece of jewelry, I’d like it to reflect me.”

He understood that. She might feel as precious as diamonds to him but if he had to choose something right now based on what she said, he’d choose something with a rainbow of colors. Something that made him smile even when the sun was hiding.

“Can I have a do-over?”

She groaned. “So you can buy me something else?”

He shook his head. He wasn’t an idiot. He caught on quick. “I was thinking of making you something.”

Her smile was brighter than the bracelet. “Now you’re getting it.”

She kissed him, her hands running through his hair, and he shifted, intending to lay her down on the couch, but she got up off his lap.