Plus One

Beggin For Thread

"Do I really have to be the one to pass out the gifts every year?" Arielle chuckled. "You're the baby, so yeah you do." Aiden rolled his eyes as he began passing out gifts. Once everyone had their gifts, they began ripping into them. Arielle let out a high-pitched screech. "What is wrong with you child?" Andrew scolded. "He got me a Birkin! Ethan got me a Birkin!!!!" Anna looked at her boyfriend crazily. "You did what?"

Arielle jumped into Ethan's arms. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Anna pulled her sister off. "Alright, that's enough." Adaline couldn't help but laugh as she opened up her gift and immediately let out a shrill scream. "Have you all lost your mind?" Andrew called out. "He got us a trip to Turks and Caicos!" Adaline took Ethan's face in her hands and kissed his cheek repeatedly. "Alright already!" Anna called out moving her mother.

"BRO!!!! Are you shitting me?" Aiden screamed. "One more person screams in this house and they're getting a whooping." Andrew declared. "Ethan, two front row tickets to every home game. That's wild, bro! I appreciate it!" Aiden dabbed him and smiled. It was apparent Noah wanted to scream, but Andrew eyed him. "Thank you so much." It was apparent that whatever gift Ethan got Noah meant the world to him.

Anna didn't know how to feel. She knew he could afford it, but she didn't want him to think he had to buy her family expensive gifts. "This is yours." Ethan handed Anna a small box and Adaline almost lost her mind. "It's a teenie tiny box! Open it, Anna!" Arielle exclaimed sitting at the edge of her seat. Anna opened the jewelry box anxiously before exhaling happily. It was a ring, but not that kind of ring.

Adaline was happy nonetheless, because she knew a promise ring when she saw it. "It's beautiful, baby girl." Anna smiled trying the ring on her right-hand fingers to no avail. Of course, the only finger it fit was her left-hand ring finger. Ethan just shrugged and smiled. "I love it." He kissed her nose before opening his gift from her. "Heck yeah!" Ethan exclaimed earning a look from Andrew. "You not too rich for a whooping little boy."

Ethan chuckled his apologies. "I can't believe you got me my very own hoverboard." Anna smiled at his happy expression knowing she did good. Her parents got them all matching pajamas, which they did every year for the family photo. What surprised Anna was them including Ethan in it. Arielle and Noah got them both tickets to the ballet, which Anna was beyond excited about and happy to see that Ethan was too. Aiden offered to wash their cars whenever they wanted being the broke college student that he was it was a good deal.

They all got changed into their new pajamas and posed for the family photo. Anna emailed a copy to herself, so she could print and frame it for her desk. They all lounged around talking and laughing. The guys got leftovers, while Arielle modeled with her purse. Her mother talked about all the new clothes she'd need to buy for their trip and Anna couldn't help but smile. Ethan had made her family's Christmas and she was more than ready to give him her Christmas gift.

They made their way back to the townhouse in good spirits. "You know you can't keep spoiling my family like that." Ethan grabbed her hand and kissed it. "I love spoiling the people I care about, babe. Let me." She shook her head and sighed. "I love my presents and I'm going to love anything else you get me. I know I have money, but that doesn't mean I'm superficial or not humble."

Anna nodded knowing this to be true. "I'm so glad we're already in our pjs." Anna yawned as they parked in the garage. "Same," Ethan got out and followed her into the house. Garth sat on the top of the couch looking at them. "Don't think Daddy forgot your present, buddy." Ethan pulled out a cat toy that had Garth bouncing around. "You're too much, you know that."

They played with Garth for a few minutes before heading up for bed. It was an eventful day and an even more eventful month. As Anna laid on his chest, she couldn't help but think about how they started."You didn't have to butt in. You could've just let Arielle lay into me and ignore us." Ethan smiled before kissing her head. "I'm really glad I did."

Anna nodded before yawning. "Goodnight best boyfriend." Ethan laughed lowly at the name he saved himself under in her phone. "Goodnight, pretty girl." They were asleep in minutes and Anna was thankful that Ethan wasn't having a night like the one he had that ended with him in tears.