Kyle looked from Kade, to me, then down at the picture again. He studied it for a long, silent moment, then jumped to his feet, startling me. I stepped back, but not from fear. I was just terrified I had hurt Kyle by bringing the past back.
“I can’t….” That was all Kyle said before he stormed from the room with the picture in his hands. Tears filled my eyes as I reprimanded myself for interfering. I turned to Kade for support, and in a moment he was before me, hugging me tight.
“He’s just overwhelmed, Love. Give him a few minutes. He doesn’t like anyone seeing him getting emotional.” Kade soothed as I held tight to his t-shirt and fought not to cry.
“That was an amazing gift, Cariña. Kyle will love it once he gets over the shock.” Matt said, and I felt his warm hand rubbing my back in soothing circles. “Come, sit back down now. It’s Cole’s turn again and you know he’s gonna burst if he has to wait.”
“Oh yeah, and you’re not excited to get round to your turn again? You’re the biggest kid here when it comes to presents, Matt. We all know it.” Cole jibed playfully.
We all sat down, Kade pulling me over with him and wrapping me in his arms, as I perched on his lap.
The guys all opened gifts again, but I barely even noticed what was happening, too busy watching the door for Kyle to come back in. I was feeling terrible for upsetting him when he had been so happy. I never should have got involved. I’d messed everything up and brought his past back to haunt him.
“Come on Livy, your turn again.” Matt called, snapping me from my death watch on the door. “This is from me.” He handed me a small box, this one wrapped in glittery paper topped with a huge white bow.
“You did not wrap that, bro! You totally cheated!” Cole laughed.
“Just because I was smart enough to have the store wrap it, it does not make me a cheat. It makes me smarter than you, dumbass.” Matt threw back, making me smile.
“Boys, it’s Christmas. Can we try to curb the insults, just for one day?” Keira sighed with a look of warning.
They both looked suitably chagrined, as I tore into the pretty wrapping and revealed a small, rectangular, dark blue velvet box. I looked to Matt nervously as I opened it, only to be once again completely overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness.
This was a necklace, a pendant on a delicate chain. The pendant was an infinity symbol, the chain threaded through one of the two loops. Engraved at the bottom of the other loop were the words ‘Mi Vida’. ‘my life’ in Spanish.
“It’s white gold. I wanted it to match Cole’s gift.” Matt said from where he crouched before me, watching my reaction.
“It’s beautiful.” My voice was wobbling, as I once again cried, this time happily. “Thank you Matt. I’m going to wear it everyday.” I took it from the box and turned in Kade’s lap, holding the open ends of the chain out for Matt to fasten for me. Once he had, I turned back to face him and pulled the pendant down to where it sat perfectly between my collar bones. I rubbed it, knowing it would always allow me to have a piece of my most thoughtful guy with me, wherever I was.
Unable to hold back, and not wanting to. I stood and hugged him hard, wanting him to know how much his gift meant to me. “Thank you.” I whispered again.
The rest of the gift opening went quickly after that. Keira and Grant had gone crazy, buying all of us way too much. I got a brand new laptop, a designer backpack, two pairs of fancy sneakers, makeup and jewellery from them. I also got perfume, clothes and several books I had wanted on Calculus, number theory and dynamical systems and differential equations, from the guys. Geeky math stuff, Matt called it, making me smile. It may have been geeky, but I could not wait to dive into those books. Matt gave me a beginners cookbook, and promised me more lessons so I could learn to follow the recipes, and Cole got us tickets to a big football game, promising me date night too. I had been spoiled rotten and I was overwhelmed by it all. I would have been blissfully happy if Kyle weren’t off alone, brooding over my mistake.
Once we all helped clean up the gift wrap and mess, and Evie was entertained playing on her new tablet, I turned to where my guys now all sat on the sectional, watching TV.
“I’m going to find him.” I told them, determined to do what I could to fix my mess.
“Maybe I should go first Love, check what mood he’s in.” Kade suggested.
“No. It has to be me.” I said firmly. “It doesn’t matter if he’s angry. He would never hurt me.”
“No, of course he wouldn’t.” Matt agreed.
“I know that too. I just don’t want you seeing him if he’s losing it.” The worry for his brother was clear to see in Kade’s eyes as he warned me, but it didn’t matter. Kyle was a part of me now, and I would take him, however I found him. If he was losing it, then I would be there to soothe him, just as he had been there so many times for me.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Just….if he’s throwing things, call for us ok? I don’t want you getting hurt by accident.”
“Throwing things?” I gasped.
“Yeah, he does that sometimes.” Cole replied with a sigh.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine, Cariña. He’s most likely just sat on his bed, brooding over that picture. Go to him.” Matt encouraged, strengthening my resolve.
I took a deep breath and nodded, then headed out, hoping like hell I could undo all I had done to upset Kyle.
KYLE
I couldn’t stop looking
