A Holly Jolly Christmas by Katie Montinaro

Author:Katie Montinaro [Montinaro, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Katie Montinaro

The first thing I do is pull a cold can of Coke out of the fridge and take it to my final resting place for the evening on my couch, in front of the TV and under the air conditioning duct. All in all, I survived two hours with Delilah-ful. She walked out of the Santa shop with bags full of more snow-covered decorations whilst I managed to pick up a table runner. I paid for it myself before she could gift it to me as an early birthday present. Although it’s still light out, I’ve put my Christmas tree lights on and stare at them more than whatever is on the TV. There is something truly magical about twinkling fairy lights when paired with a tree. I look to the presents, finally neatly wrapped under the tree and give myself a little pat on the back. I may just pull this off. My phone buzzes shortly after, and I answer when I see Shawn’s name scrawled across the screen.

“I need help. Is it socially acceptable to give my brothers and their partners a combined present to enjoy as a couple or should I buy individual presents? Because my brother-in-law is impossible to buy for.”

“I always thought it was easier for guys to buy other guys presents because you kinda know what you like.”

“Only if that person has a hobby. Outside of my brother and the twins, Trevor has nothing.”

I bring my feet up underneath me. “Are you doing your Christmas shopping now?”

“Yes.”

“And you had the audacity to have a go at me for leaving things ‘til the last minute!” I shout jokingly down the phone.

“Hey, this is early for me. Normally I shop on Christmas Eve, but I saw the weather forecast and made an executive decision to sit by Mum and Dad’s pool all day on the twenty-fourth.”

“Don’t tell me it’s getting hotter.”

“Forty-one degrees.”

“That’s too hot to be in the pool. You’ll burn.”

“Part of it is shaded. This is all irrelevant. Help me be socially acceptable please.”

“I think a combined present is fine. Especially if it’s like tickets to something, and you offer to babysit.”

“Good call. I knew I kept you around for a reason.”

“You mean my beauty isn’t enough? You keep me around for my brains as well?”

“Seems new age, doesn’t it?”

We share a laugh, and I try not to think about how easy things are with Shawn. Our friendship has always blurred the lines of flirtatious friends and significant other, and that is why I find it so easy to let my imagination run wild and imagine something more with him.

“I still can’t believe you’re only doing your shopping now.”

“Like I said, I usually go on Christmas Eve. If they don’t have what I want, then it wasn’t meant to be. Besides, I have a really small family to shop for; Mum, Dad, my two brothers, my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law, two nephews and two nieces.”

“That still sounds like a lot.”

“It’s not. Oh, and by the way, we’re still on for tomorrow night, right? The lights?”

I smack my hand against my head.

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