heel and walk away before saying anything else. Taking a seat on the floor beside Ainsley and setting my water on the table behind me, I cross my legs and reach for one of the smaller presents signed by Santa.
Smiling as I watch her eyes brighten from the new dolls, dresses, and stuffed animals, I lean against the side of the armchair and listen to Easton take a seat behind me. “You’ve got some,” he notes quietly.
Brows raising as I look where his chin gestures to in a single nod, I reach for a small silver square package. “I didn’t get you anything,” I admit regretfully, not knowing that we were exchanging gifts.
My fingers tear into the paper until a black box appears underneath. I glance at East, who’s intently watching Ainsley play with one of her new toys, before looking back at the box and opening it. My lips part when I see a two-hundred-dollar gift card to an office supply store I like to go to.
“East…” My body turns to him, blinking at his casual stance in the raggedy chair I’d bought secondhand from Craigslist. “This is too much. I didn’t get you anything.”
His shoulders lift. “You said the school didn’t have money in the budget for supplies, so I figured you could use that before the year starts back up. It’s not a big deal, Piper.”
He…? “You got me this for my class?”
Another incoherent noise sounds from his throat as he slides to the edge of the chair. “If I make cinnamon rolls will you two eat some? I even bought frosting the other day.”
I blink.
Ainsley turns and nods enthusiastically at the sound of sugar, leaving me absentmindedly doing the same. His eyes go from my face to the card I’m holding before standing and walking away without another word.
My mouth goes dry.
Ainsley tugs on my shirt, showing me the Barbie that Santa got her. I just smile in praise and look down at the gift card again.
Chapter Two
Stuffing the last plastic bag in the backseat of my beat-up green Toyota Highlander that I bought dirt cheap from a family friend, I feel the vibration of my phone in the back pocket of my skinny jeans. Closing the door and pulling out the cell to see my best friend’s name across the screen, I smile and climb into the front.
“Hey, Jenna.”
There’s loud music in the background that I know all too well from Ainsley’s favorite Disney movie. She insists on listening to it when she doesn’t feel well. “The kid blew chunks. Don’t worry, she did it on the kitchen floor.”
Wincing, I blow out a breath. At least it’s on the hardwood and not the beige carpet that covers ninety percent of the house. “It’s probably from all the candy she’s been eating this past week. Is she okay now?”
“She’s laying on the couch under her favorite blanket,” my bestie explains, moving until the background noise fades slightly. “I gave her some ginger ale, which I can only assume is your roomie’s since you hate soda. Tell him I’m sorry.”
I doubt Easton would care. He may keep to himself, but I’m pretty sure he has a soft spot for Ainsley. Especially after seeing the additional Christmas presents he gave her consisting of new coloring books and a play food set she’d been eying whenever we went to the store together for groceries.
“I’ll get him more,” I say, just to be on the safe side. I wasn’t planning on making another stop to the store, but it’s close to Staples. “I was going to stop by The Inked Lotus before I came back, but I’ll drop by the store and then—”
“No.” I blink at her firm words. “We’re fine here, Piper. Ainsley looks like she’s going to fall asleep any minute and I have a book to read on my Kindle. Go do your thing. And by thing, I mean—”
“Stop,” I groan, dropping my head back onto the headrest. “I’m just going to thank him for the gift card. I got all my classroom supplies. I need to return the favor somehow.”
Her chuckle makes me roll my eyes. “I can think of a few ways you can return the favor. You could let him pierce you if you know what I mean. Maybe let him mark your skin.”
My cheeks heat over her innuendos. “I hate you sometimes.”
“Lies!”
I start the car. “Whatever. If you’re sure you’re fine, I’ll make a quick pitstop. Call me if you need anything.”