章 9: Polaroid love

Beatrix's heart fluttered , and she stared in disbelief at him and then back to the bag

"You got me a gift?"

He chewed on his lip, shrugging his shoulders "It's not a big deal"

Did he just say it's not a big deal? She occasionally received numerous gifts from her father and brothers but she knew whatever that he had gotten her was going to be her favorite gift of all time.

"Is it okay if I open it?" Beatrix asked not able to hide the excitement in her tone. Looking at how skittish he looked she was sure this was something that he wasn't used to.

"Yes love, you can open it. I bought it for you. You can do whatever you want with it. You can throw it away if you don't like it."

Beatrix frowned and pouted, "Why would I throw it away? I don't care whatever you got me. As long as it's from you I will treasure it."

Beatrix flushed and took the bag from him.

Rhys' lips curled up and she could see his shoulders finally relaxed.

"Come on, open it."

Beatrix opened it and peek into it suspiciously only to see a red box inside. She pulled it out and saw that it had a Mickey picture at the bottom and cute dark Mickey faces on the box.

Beatrix sucked in a deep breath as she opened the box. Inside was a white Mickey Mouse Polaroid camera.

"I know it's not really expensive and not the best but-"

"Rhys?" Beatrix interjected.

"Yes?" He ran his hand through his hair, rolling his lips inside his mouth "It's bad isn't it? I know you're probably used to expensive gifts but I thought I should get you something to capture your happy moments since-" he trailed off.

Her heart shattered at how vulnerable he looked and Beatrix got up immediately and pressed a soft kiss on his cheeks.

Rhys froze, like his brain couldn't process what was happening. His hands were still in his pockets and he looked like a lost puppy. For once she was the one that did something that made him speechless.

Her stomach curled and thrashed around, violently navigating the exhilarating feelings of being the one to initiate a kiss.

Beatrix pulled back, and she locked her eyes with his.

His eyes were wide, his brows furrowed as they darted rapidly back and forth between her own, his lips parted like he was trying to comprehend what had just happened.

Beatrix fidgeted uncomfortably as his eyes darted to her lips and then back to her eyes. He blinked and his lips curled up into a shy smile.

"I'm glad you like it. I was worried for a second. It's my first time you know." He whispered the last part as if he was talking to himself.

"Huh?" Beatrix questioned, confused.

"It's my first time buying a woman a gift. I don't know what they normally like or want. From my knowledge they always want expensive things." He admitted, keeping his tone even.

Beatrix beamed into a smile, "So what made you buy me a gift?"

Rhys stared silent for a few seconds as if he was trying to think of how to word his answer.

"I don't….even know."

"Hmm If you don't want to admit it's because I'm fabulous it's okay. No need to be shy love."

She smirked, imitating his voice.

Rhys laughed, a loud genuine laugh and it was the first time she had heard him laugh that wasn't full of his usual mischief.

Beatrix's lips curled up too as she stared at him. Her heart skipped a beat. How could someone look so grievously appealing? Clearly he was bad for her health.

Rhys moved closer and stared down at her. He pinched her cheeks and Beatrix tried her best to ignore the prickling all over her body at how close he was, the feel of his fingers against her skin.

She couldn't get over the fact that he got her camera because he wanted her to always capture her happy moments and the little detail of the camera being a Mickey theme because she had told her she loved Mickey products. No one knew why at her big age she was still obsessed with Disney toys and products but it's the only thing that reminded her of her mother.

It made her feel closer to her mom even though she was not around. And now that she had a Mickey Polaroid camera she could always capture every beautiful moment in her life and share with her mom.

Why didn't she even think about this before? Maybe because there was really no happy moment in her life until him.

It's crazy how a stranger she had just met yesterday make her feel so beautiful, so wanted and not like a burden.

Her lips pressed together to hide their trembling. A wave of emotions crashed through her all at once, all of the sharp devastation from being a burden all these years felt like it was being suffocated and drowned out till all she could feel was Rhys.

She had never had someone make her feel this way.

"Thank you Rhys." She said genuinely.

He seemed a little taken aback by her words. Maybe he wasn't expecting her to like such a simple gift but only if he knew how much it meant to her.

He quickly recovered from it with a heart dropping smile.

"Well it's not something that I normally do but if you love receiving gifts so much I don't mind spoiling you, love. I love watching the pure happiness on your face like I said watching you smile, it's my new obsession and now making you happy it's my new addiction."