‘It is a roadside-safety emergency kit,’ she said, pulling the package from the bag. ‘It includes: flashlight, window breaker, and a first-aid kit,’ she read from the description on the side of the box.
‘Very practical,’ Jeanie said, even as Annie scowled at the gift. ‘And who do you think gave it to you?’
‘Well, since he’s given me one every year for the past five, it was obviously Logan.’
‘And if you actually kept them in your car instead of throwing them in that bottomless pit of a hall closet, I would stop getting them for you,’ Logan said, arms crossed over his flanneled chest.
Kira giggled next to him, and Bennett savored the sound.
‘Okay, that means, Logan, you open next.’ Jeanie laid a small perfectly wrapped box on his lap and Bennett immediately knew the giver. But he kept his mouth shut so Jeanie wouldn’t murder him.
Logan unwrapped the box. He opened it and the frown on his face immediately melted.
‘Is this…’ He stopped, cleared his throat. ‘Jeanie, is this…?’ He looked up with tears in his eyes and Bennett couldn’t imagine what his sister had put in that little box to make that man cry.
‘Look on the inside.’ She was kneeling next to him now as Logan pulled out the two rings that were in the box.
‘What is it?’ Hazel asked quietly as Logan turned the rings between his fingers.
He cleared his throat again. ‘Wedding bands. Jeanie had them engraved with our initials.’
Jeanie wiped the tears that had traced down her cheeks with the back of her hand. ‘Do you like them?’
He just nodded, clearly still unable to speak.
‘I know we haven’t even picked a date yet, but I wanted to get you something special and you surprised me with the engagement ring, so I thought I would surprise you, and––’
‘They’re perfect,’ Logan said gruffly, cutting her off and tugging her into his lap before she could ramble on further.
‘Oh, good.’ Jeanie squeaked as Logan buried his face in her neck like he had forgotten they were in a room filled with their friends.
‘Okay, that’s enough you two. Jeanie, you have to open next!’ Annie said, interrupting their cuddling, saving Bennett the pain of seeing his sister make out with her fiancé. He knew he liked Annie for a reason. ‘Here.’ She tossed the gift to Jeanie.
Jeanie tore off the wrapping paper and pulled out a giant fluffy scarf.
‘Ooh,’ Kira cooed. ‘Looks cozy.’
‘Annie, is this from you?’ Jeanie asked, but Annie shook her head.
‘Must be Hazel, then.’
Hazel smiled. ‘I hope you like it.’
‘I love it,’ Jeanie said, already wrapping it around her neck. ‘Okay, Haze, you open next.’
Hazel tore into her gift and Bennett held his breath. He didn’t know much about Jeanie’s friends, but his sister had mentioned that Hazel loved plants.
She grinned as she pulled out the little planter that looked like a person on a swing. ‘How cute!’
‘Jeanie said you were running out of space, but that one you can hang in the window.’ He shrugged. ‘Thought you might like it.’
‘I love it,’ Hazel beamed. ‘Thank you.’
‘Good job,’ Kira whispered, and he wanted to lean into her words and the softness of her body next to him, but it was his turn to open.
The package was wrapped in random birthday wrapping paper. He raised an eyebrow but the group was giving nothing away. He opened it and found a Hawaiian shirt inside.
‘Uh … wow…’ He unfolded the shirt and that’s when he saw that between the garish flowers were pictures of his dogs’ faces. He burst out laughing.
‘Does everyone wear their pets on their clothes around here?’ Kira asked.
‘Only the cool kids,’ Noah said with a grin, giving himself away.
‘Well, thanks, Noah.’
‘Oh, man you got me!’
Bennett laughed again. ‘It’s a cool shirt, thanks, man.’
Noah beamed. ‘You’re welcome. Okay, where’s my gift?’
Jeanie handed Noah a gift bag covered in pictures of fish. ‘Cool bag,’ he said, holding it up before digging around inside.
He pulled out four bars of soap and laid them out on the carpet in front of him.
‘Wood Barrel Bourbon, Pine Tar, Alpine Sage, Bay Rum.’ He read off the scents one by one. ‘Wow, I’m going to be smelling very masculine. Who would have gotten me such a thoughtful gift?’ He looked around the room as though there wasn’t only one person left.
Annie threw a pillow at his head. ‘It was me. Gotta keep that fish stink away.’
