Page 109 of Tough Love
“Not so fast.” He places a hand on the side of my face and steals a scorching, yet quick kiss. “Now you can go.”
By the time Mum and Dad make it through the apartment door with Briar, I’m casually reclined on the sofa with a book, and Evan’s in the kitchen knocking back a bottle of water as though nothing amiss has gone down.
“Oh, hey,” I greet, pretending we had no idea they were home. “How was your day?”
Briar’s eyes land straight on the eight-foot tree I have decorated in the corner of my living area. His jaw slackens as his gaze travels along the strings of tinsel and lights tacked to the wall, and then to the quilted advent calendar I hung next to the TV.
“Aunty?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s …” He stares, retracing his way back to the tree.
I set my book aside and sit up, nervous. What if he really hates it? What if it hurts him more?
“It’s awesome!” A smile breaks over his face, and I laugh in equal parts relief and joy.
Well, thank heavens for that.“I’m glad, dude. I’m really glad.”
I look to my parents, my heart swelling at the way they smile at Briar, and then look for Evan. Yet he’s nowhere to be seen.
Briar envelops me in a hug, and then promptly rushes to the tree to inspect the decorations up close. “Look at this one.” He points to a globe with a snowy sleigh inside.
Dad crosses over and starts a conversation with him about the different things I bought.
“He had a great day,” Mum says quietly, taking a seat beside me.
“Where did Evan—”
“Ran us ragged,” she continues, clearly cutting me off.
Why would Evan miss out on this moment? It’s all he talked about this week, insisting I send him messages at work to show him what I was buying.
“I thought we could have an easy dinner,” Mum says with a sigh, relaxing into the cushions. “Fish and chips?”
“Sure, whatever.” I go to stand, search out Evan, yet she forces me back with a hand to my stomach.
My nostrils flare, the rage building inside me ready to erupt at her brusque behaviour when the man in question emerges from my room.What is he up to?
“Eddie? Bring Briar over here,” Mum calls out, resituating herself on the armchair.
I frown as my parents crowd around the single chair with Briar and turn their attention to Evan.
“So,” he says, turning an envelope over in his hands, “it’s only four days to Christmas, right?”
“Right.” I frown harder.
“I was going to keep this until I saw you Christmas afternoon, but I’ve bought you other presents, and to be honest, I’ve been hanging out to give you this one since I stole it out of your mailbox.”
What the heck is he up to? I look at his hands as he clasps the mystery gift in it, and then drag my gaze back up his strong arms to his face, only to find him watching me with the same intensity.
“Merry Christmas, babe.” He steps forward and hands me the gift, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
I hold the government stamped envelope in my hands and look between it and everyone else.
“Well, come on,” Mum prompts. “You won’t know what it says unless you open it.”
I shoot Evan a warning look, and yet he simply smiles, nodding to egg me on. I’m pretty sure I already know what’s inside though, and that thought alone has my heart racing.