He is mine. I am his.
He crosses to the tree in long strides before reaching between the branches and pulling out a large envelope. No ring box in sight. I can’t help but feel a little relieved.
“Since me spending the holiday with you was a last-minute decision, Alexis and I agreed not to get each other gifts. But you all have given me more than you will ever know, and I wanted to do something small in return, to show my appreciation.”
A strange feeling passes through my stomach as Blake hands me the envelope. I pause, raising my brow in question, but he just mouthsopen it.
I reach into the envelope, counting the papers before taking them out.
What the fuck.
No.
NO.
“What is it, love?” my mother smiles. Does she know? Is she in on this, somehow? She could never afford it, but still.
I can only stare at the tickets in my hand, a thousand emotions fighting for dominance. “It’s tickets for all of us to go to Iceland.”
“You always say you want to see the northern lights,” Blake says before kissing my temple. “It’s happening, Sunshine.”
I scan his face. These tickets must have cost a fortune, and he doesn’t seem to care.
Alissa snatches the tickets from my hand. “There’s only five tickets. Have you decided to boot Levi from the trip? Solid move, my friend.”
My brother shoots her a look, but she pretends she doesn’t see it.
Blake laughs. “No. This gift is for you—a nice vacation for the entire Moore clan.”
“Then I’m afraid you’re one short, son,” Dad says. “I’m not getting on that plane unless you are. Don’t feel right.”
“No need. I insist?—”
“So do we,” Mom says in a stern voice. “That’s how we do things in this family, Blake. We do it together, or not at all.”
I take Blake’s hand and for a moment he stares at it, his face unreadable. What I wouldn’t do to get a glimpse into his mind right now.
“Together,” Blake repeats, his eyes trailing up to meet mine. “I like the sound of that.”
Chapter 30
Blake
The girls areout with Charlotte for the afternoon to do some bonding, maybe some shopping. With Bill promising to look after Charlotte’s father, it leaves only me and Levi back at the house.
Alexis and her mother haven’t stopped talking about Iceland since Christmas, though my gift hasn’t helped Levi’s dislike of me one bit. Nor did our midnight kiss on New Year’s, though that one is on me.
I spend most of the afternoon hiding in Alexis’s room, not in the mood for Levi’s passive aggressive remarks. She has enough books to entertain me, and I had the foresight to bring a bottle of water with me. I call Raf to ask about his Christmas–he’s introducing Nico to his family this week, to mixed results– and send Maria a loving text promising to call soon.
Only a few minutes pass before she texts me back, inviting me over for dinner, and when I tell her I’m at my girlfriend’s home for the holidays, her texts become all caps. It’s clear that neither of us saw this coming, judging by her reaction, but I know this is exactly what she’s always wanted for me.
Eventually my hunger draws me out of that room, and cruel irony puts Levi right at the bottom of the stairs by the front door.
“Check it out, Taylor,” Levi laughs. “That guy you tried to beat up sent us a card.”
There is only one person he could mean. The blood drains from my face as I snatch the card out of his hand. “How the fuck does he know where you live?”
Have you missed me? Maybe I’ll drop by to wish you a merry Christmas in person. We have a lot to talk about. See you soon. - Hudson
