I woke up the next morning unable to move. "Ow" I grumbled, holding my pounding head. "What the fuck?" "Morning doll" Jon whispered. "Headache?" I nodded and he smiled, kissing my head softly before letting me go. I smiled, realising I couldn't move because he was holding me tightly. "Sofa time?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. He shook his head. "Had a better offer" he said, stroking my hair. "The girl I love asked, no, begged, me not to leave her. How could I refuse? I know, it was the drink talking. I know I have to leave tomorrow, and I know it's gonna kill me. I also know that I love you Jordan, and I know you love me too. I know we can make this work." "Damn know it all" I mumbled, turning my back on him. "Merry Christmas Jordan" he whispered, getting out of bed and going downstairs.
I waited half an hour before joining him downstairs. "Breakfast is nearly ready" he said quietly. I nodded and sat on the sofa, taking the coffee he offered gladly. He smiled weakly and went back into the kitchen. "It's ready Jordan" he called a few minutes later. I stood up and walked into the kitchen, freezing when I saw what he'd done. A single red rose was in a vase in the centre of the table surrounded by plates of food. "Oh Jon" I whispered as there was a bang at the door. "That will be mum" he said, kissing my head and walking off to answer it.
"Why do I feel like I'm being set up?" I asked warily as they walked into the kitchen. They both smiled. "No set up" mum said, holding her hands up as she kissed me. "Jon invited me for breakfast, last one before he leaves." I winced at her choice of words. Last one. He leaves. I nodded weakly and sat down. Mum sat opposite me and Jon took the seat next to me, nudging my knee with his. I looked at him quickly and he smiled weakly. "Sorry" he whispered. "Our legs are too long for this to end without contact." I smiled and nodded, grabbing a piece of toast and biting into it absently. I ate while they talked around me, both sensing I wasnt comfortable. "I can't do this" I said suddenly, standing up and wincing as the chair scraped the floor. I grabbed a key and ran out, slamming the front door behind me.
"Guessed you'd be here" Jon said quietly from behind me as I stared at the river. I didn't look at him, I couldn't. "I don't need a babysitter Jon" I whispered as he sat next to me. "Didn't say you did" he said. "Just admiring the view myself. Gonna miss it." I glanced at him, expecting him to be staring at the river. Wrong. He was staring straight at me. "Please Jon" I begged. "Don't do this. Not now." He nodded slowly. "I, uh, came here for a reason Jord" he said. "I wanted to give you your Christmas gift, without mum around." "No Jon" I said. "I wasn't expecting you to come here, I didn't get you anything..." "I don't give to receive" he said. "You of all people should know that by now. I buy you gifts because I want to, not because I want one in return. That's not the way I am. Anyway. Here, hold out your hand." I did as he said, frowning when he placed a small box in my hands. "Jon please" I whispered, opening it and seeing the diamonds sparkling in the sunshine. "I can't accept this..." "You can, and you will" he said softly, taking the ring out and holding my right hand. I watched as he slipped it onto my finger. "One day" he whispered, putting his forehead against mine. "That ring will magically switch hands, and then you'll be mine forever. Until we get this sorted, this hand will have to do." I watched as he dropped my hand, stood up and walked away, leaving me staring at the ring.
"Hey honey" mum said as I walked back into the house. I smiled at her weakly, looking around for Jon. "He's showering and packing" she said, as if reading my mind. I nodded, flopping on the sofa. "Did he find you?" she asked softly. "He didn't say anything when he came back, just went straight upstairs." "Yeah" I said. "He found me alright. Mum, am I doing the right thing? We're both hurting so fucking much. It had to be love to hurt this much, right?" She smiled at me. "Jord" she said. "Of course it was. It still is. You broke it off when things were going so well, what did you expect?" "I don't know" I whispered. "I want him to want me, to want to be with me constantly, like I do with him. A few days here and there when we can't even admit we're together isn't a relationship." "Did you explain it to him?" she asked, holding my hand. "Woah Jord! Where did this come from?" She inspected the ring closely. "Jon" I said. "My Christmas gift. He gave it to me by the river." Mum was about to say something when Jon cleared his throat behind us.
"I'm gonna head to the airport" he said quietly. "I fly back in the early hours. Thanks for everything mum..." "We're coming with you Jon" she said firmly. "There's no way you're going there on your own. Jordan, grab your bag. I'll drive." I nodded weakly, grabbing my bag off the stairs and following them out to the car. Jon opened the passenger door for me, wincing when mum slammed it shut. "She's in the back with you" she said, looking at me. Jon shrugged and opened the back door, waiting for me to get in before sliding in next to me. "Buckle up kids" mum called back. "Next stop, the airport."