When You're Gone (Colette) novel Chapter 21

"Why did you want to meet me today?" Colette tried her best to suppress the odd feeling and asked in a normal tone.

James' face flushed even deeper when he heard her question. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag, leaning closer to whisper, "Colette, this is for you."

Realizing it was a gift, Colette tried to hand it back immediately. But James seemed prepared for this, pulling a white knitted scarf out of the bag. The stitching was uneven; it was unmistakably handmade.

"It's homemade," he admitted, his cheeks still red. "I don't have much, so I wanted to make something for you. This is my first time knitting, so it's not perfect, but I hope you don't mind."

His thoughtful gesture, combined with his shy smile, was enough to melt anyone's heart. Caught off guard, Colette hesitated as she looked at the scarf, then quickly waved her hands, her face warm with embarrassment. "I… I'm sorry, but I can't accept it. A handmade scarf feels like… more than just a thank-you gift."

Her refusal didn't faze him—instead, he jumped on the chance to open his heart further. He blurted out, "Then, Colette, can you give me a chance? Let me be your boyfriend."

In the year and a half of their friendship, James had always been kind to her, and she'd be lying if she said she'd never felt anything for him. But his sudden confession left her flustered, unsure how to respond.

Seeing her cheeks turn pink, James took a step closer, his gaze softening. "Colette," he murmured, "can I put the scarf on you?"

Still blushing, she did not reply. He took it as a silent agreement. A look of pleasant surprise flashed across his eyes, and his smile deepened.

He carefully wrapped the scarf around her neck. The length was perfect.

His eyes brightened, and his smile widened as he gently wrapped the scarf around her neck, finding it the perfect length.