Page 52 of No Cap

I deflated as Tay went nuclear in excitement. “Thanks, Dad!”

“Your turn, darling,” Mom urged.

I reluctantly reached for the present Tay got me.

I ripped it open to find four gift cards, and my stomach sank.

I’d gotten the same gift last year.

All of the gift cards would have some money on it, sure. But they’d have like seventy cents, or a dollar twenty. Something that Tay got last year for either Christmas or his birthday and had used it all but a little bit.

Grinding my teeth, I placed them also on the floor.

All of this would go into the trash can as I left.

The man at my side said, “Gift cards are good, right?”

No. Not when they were given by my family, they weren’t.

I licked my teeth and said, quietly, “They’re probably empty, or very close to empty. They think it’s funny to give joke gifts.”

Quincy made a sound low in his throat, and I plastered on a smile as Humfrid was up.

“Oh!” she cried out when she got to my gift. “That’s so awesome, Hollis! Thank you!”

I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes.

I’d gotten her a messenger bag—again, something I’d also told my mom and dad I was getting her—but it was probably half the price of the one my parents had given her. Though it still cost me close to five hundred dollars.

She tossed it aside like it was last year’s goods, and then turned to Tay. “Your turn, Tay.”

“This one is from me,” Mom beamed as she pushed a large box over.

Inside, was a brand-new electric guitar.

My stomach clenched.

I’d priced that guitar, thinking maybe I could get it for him, but it’d been over two grand, and I didn’t have that kind of money in my budget.

“This one is from me,” Dad said, tapping a big box that looked like it could hold something exciting.

Only as I opened it, I deflated even further, if that were possible.

“Thanks?” I said as I saw the massive roll of paper towels.

I didn’t even use paper towels.

Not that they weren’t good for other people, but I used reusable paper towels because I felt like I was doing my part to save the trees by doing so.

And Mom and Dad knew that.

They hated coming over to my place and using my flannel rags.

They’re not absorbent enough.

Assholes.

Arms going around myself, I looked at Humfrid and watched her open up a set of keys.