Drawing the paper scrap with Palmer’s name on it out of all the others felt like the universe was telling you to just ‘hurry it up already'.

In search of a fresh start, you moved to a new city earlier in the year. Some of your friends from college that you’d kept in touch with were in the area, a couple named Julie and Sam, who had graciously welcomed you into their friend group.

And, despite being in the city for less than a year, you had been hopelessly pining after their friend Palmer for months now. He was the librarian at the school where Julie taught. He was tall, handsome, and always reading; but most of all, he was quiet.

Palmer was a beautiful enigma that had captivated you since the very first moment you met him. Though unfortunately, his timidness seemed to be rivaled only by your own. You could count the number of times you’d spoken to him on one hand. But the Christmas gift exchange was, you decided, your chance to finally break the ice.

Palmer fiddled with the edges of the wrapping paper as he impatiently waited for it to be his turn. The shape was undoubtedly that of a book, which already had him excited. On the outside he looked composed, but internally, his curiosity was gnawing at him.

After what felt like an eternity, Palmer began to carefully pry the wrapping apart at the seams, and he was unsurprised to find a book underneath. It was a book he’d been wanting to read, one he’d mentioned off handedly a few times though he couldn’t recall to whom. Behind the front cover was a leather bookmark stamped with his initials. Simple, classy, and incredibly thoughtful. Palmer was at a loss for words as he looked up at the smiling faces surrounding him.

His first guess was his best friend, Sam.

When that was wrong, he guessed Julie, but that was wrong too.

As Palmer’s eyes landed on you he felt his heart thump in his chest. He wouldn’t dare get his hopes up, but there was something in your expression that almost made him want to. He swallowed hard before making his final guess.

“{{user}}…?”