It’s stupid, really. But the thing is, I’m not used to presents.

I get one on my birthday and Christmas every year, of course. But as I said, my grandma isn’t rich. Even she wouldn’t have dropped that much money on a notebook for me.

I unwrap it, and am completely speechless when I see a gift card on top of the notebook.

My gaze returns to Darius.

His blue eyes don’t look away, though he’s still taking on the phone—about finances, by the sound of it. I hear words like market, investment, trend, and stock.

“Octavia,” I say, because I can’t actually thank the person who did purchase all that. “This is too much. It was my absolute pleasure to chat with you for a few minutes; you really didn’t have to get me anything. But I’m very, very grateful.”

“It was my pleasure too! I like you, Claire.”

“I like you right back.”

She wraps her arms around my legs again, squeezes, and runs back to her uncle. He has the sense to take her hand as they walk away.

I stare at the gift card in my hand, and go back in the store for my folders.

2. Keller

2

KELLER

"So, who's the chick?"

I'm not surprised my sister asks the moment her daughter is out of earshot. Octavia's been home for an hour and in that time, she has simply not shut up about Claire. Claire this, Claire that. Does Claire like cake? Would Claire like to ice skate? Do I think she looks more like Sleeping Beauty or Elsa from Frozen? Fucking hell. Not that I can blame her. That girl is the whole package, from the ribbon in her hair to the tips of her pink ballerina shoes.

Honestly, she's ridiculous. The very idea of any woman waking up some day and deciding to look that sweet is insane. Is she prepping for a Barbie commercial or what?

If you'd asked me yesterday, I absolutely would have said, without hesitation, that I don't do sweet. But fuck, I'd do Claire. She looks like I could break her in two, and I can't help it. I want to. I want to see the pretty, glossy pink lips parted as she chokes on my cock, those gray eyes wide.

No one's ever gotten such a strong reaction from me at first glance without even trying. She didn't flirt. She didn't look at me in any way to suggest she liked what she saw. She was more concerned about my niece than me. Hell, I could tell she was annoyed with me at first, for letting the little terror slip through my fingers. Which I relate to. I certainly was annoyed at myself.