Page 41 of Ghost Of You
I’m by her side in a flash, wrapping her in a hug as she collapses against me, tears threatening to spill. “I wanted everything to be perfect,” she sobs, her voice muffled against my chest. “And now, I’ve ruined Christmas.”
I rub her back, trying to calm her down. “You haven’t ruined anything,” I assure her, although the turkey’sdefinitelya goner.
My mum jumps in, bless her heart. “If I’m being honest, I’m not a fan of turkey. Let’s just order takeout—there are plenty of Chinese and Indian places open today. We’ll still take the vegetables home for tomorrow. Besides, Ethan could use some greens in his diet.”
“My nutrition is right here!” Ethan declares, raising the half-empty bottle of whiskey.
My mum fixes him with a stern look. “You’ll do as you’re told, young man.”
Ethan gulps. “Yes, Mrs. Tate,” he mumbles, suddenly very interested in the floor.
I lift Laelia’s chin so she’s looking at me. “See? Everything’s going to be fine.”
She sniffs. “Really?”
“Really,” I say. “Besides, we’ve got plenty of time to perfect Christmas dinner next year. And I don’t need to practice being bossed around—I’m already an expert at that.”
She laughs, swatting my chest. “Smart arse.”
“Come on, let’s order some food,” she says, pulling away from me and heading to the dining room. “And I need a strong drink.”
After stuffing ourselves with a mix of Chinese and Indian food—because nobody could agree on just one—we’re lounging in the living room, sipping drinks and laughing about everything under the sun.
My mum leans over to Lloyd, whispers something, and next thing we know, he’s back with a pile of presents. Ethan, being Ethan, rips into his bag first and whoops with joy at the sight of an expensive bottle of vodka, a fancy glass, and fifty pounds. His grin is ear-to-ear as he thanks my mum.
Laelia’s next, and she gasps as she opens her box. “Poppy, you shouldn’t have! It’s beautiful!”
Inside is a Pandora bracelet, loaded with Disney charms, including her favourite—the Cheshire Cat.
“You’re part of the family, Laelia,” my mum says warmly.
Laelia rushes over, and they share a hug before she comes back to me, beaming as she shows off her new bracelet. She hands it to me and holds out her wrist. “Can you fasten it, please?”
I secure the bracelet, earning a kiss on the cheek. She’s glowing with happiness, and I’m pretty sure this might be her favourite present of the day. But I’m hoping mine takes the top spot.
My mum’s eyes land on me, silently urging me to open my gift. I unwrap my bag to find socks, my favourite cologne, an expensive bottle of vodka, a fancy glass, and fifty pounds as well. I stand and hug her tight, feeling a bit like her ‘darling boy’ again.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” she says, kissing my cheek before I head over to the tree.
I grab a card and two bags, handing one to Ethan and the other to my mum and Lloyd. Ethan wastes no time tearing into his, grinning as he pulls out a bottle of whiskey.
“Cheers!” he shouts, hugging Laelia, who plants a kiss on his cheek. Ethan winks at me, and I flip him off in return, rolling my eyes. He gives me a cheeky salute, and I can't help but laugh. Lloyd and my mum open their bags, revealing the same high-end whiskey for Lloyd and a bottle of Baileys for my mum. Mymum's eyes widen as she pulls out the card, her jaw dropping in surprise.
“You shouldn’t have!” she squeals, holding up the tickets. “First-class tickets for Paris! And a five-star hotel!”
My mum is practically vibrating with excitement. She bolts towards me, enveloping me in a tearful hug. Lloyd joins in, hugging Laelia before switching to me and then back to her. The gratitude in their eyes is almost too much to handle.
“Thank you so much, Killian,” Lloyd says, his voice thick with emotion.
“You’re part of the family,” I reply, giving him a hug back. I catch a hint of moisture in his eyes, but he quickly blinks it away.
Laelia’s turn comes last. She looks at the final bag with a mix of curiosity and scepticism. “Killian, we said no gifts this year,” she begins, but I cut her off.
“I lied,” I say, grinning. “Plus, it’s nothing major.”
She pulls the bag open and gasps louder than ever before. She pulls out a large Disney Cheshire Cat plush and her favourite perfume. She clutches the plush to her chest, practically vibrating with joy.
“I love it!” she exclaims, and before I can react, she’s running towards me, wrapping me in a tight embrace and planting a flurry of kisses on my face.