Noah and Angel were childhood sweethearts and teenage lovers. With youth comes unrealistic ideas sometimes, and also bad choices. But just about the time they reach manhood, Noah’s demons pull them apart.<br><br>Seven years later, he gets a second chance when Angel returns to town. Hoping everything can be different, Noah sets out to remind him how wonderful their past was by secretly sending him thirteen gifts commemorating their happiest times, one on each day beginning December 11.<br><br>By Christmas Eve, Noah hasn’t heard a word back, and wonders if Angel even recognized the meaning of the offerings. When Angel does get in touch, he only remembers the bad things that drove them apart. Can Noah remind him how good they had it, too?

The Presents and the Past

The moment I’d stepped out of bed Christmas Eve morning, I’d carefully unwrapped the package to remove the stupid bottle cap, while taking a moment to relive the trip.


“I wish we were in Puerto Rico instead,” Angel said, half of his body draped over mine as we stared up into the moonlight.


“We could sneak off,” I said. “How far is it?”


“Pretty far. Like twenty-five hundred miles. Plus, we’d have to swim past Cuba first.”


I was glad Angel was allowed to come. Maybe his parents figured I wouldn’t be. I’d worked really hard to stay out of trouble the previous semester. One more D in Calculus, one more detention, and I would have been on social suspension, forced to sit home over Easter. Luckily, Jennifer Horn was there to cheat off and Mrs. Bollow’s eyesight was too poor to catch me. The woman had to be old enough to retire. She had to be!


Chapter 33