Page 81 of Wild Card
My family doesall their Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve, so Christmas Day is wide open, and when the Westfield siblings invite me over to spend it with them while they eat cookies, drink spiked eggnog, and watch football—I can’t say no. But I did have to spend part of my holiday yesterday last-minute panic shopping amongst the crowds of people with similar gift problems. I don’t know Madison well enough to know what to get her, and Tobias has everything he could ever want, so it’s the worst of both worlds trying to get a present for each of them.
But I manage to show up on time, a bottle of rosé and some homemade cookies in hand in addition to the presents I purchased as they let me in the house. Madison’s dressed in a festive sweater, and Tobias looks handsome as hell in a button-up shirt he has rolled up at the sleeves.
“Perfect timing. We just got off a FaceTime call with East and his wife. Long distance Christmas morning ritual in case these guys have games.” Madison smiles at me as she takes the champagne and cookies, so I can set the presents down and work my way out of my coat.
“Not your parents?”
“My mom was on the call briefly. Dad has a game, so there’s not a chance we’ll hear from him today. Holidays are forwarded to more convenient dates in his mind. Too much strategy and work in the morning to be on the phone you know?” Madison explains as we walk down the hall to the kitchen.
“Missed you, Spitfire.” Tobias kisses me on the temple and wraps his arms around me.
“How was your Christmas Eve?”
“Good. Watched a couple of Christmas movies. Made some cookies. Ate takeout.”
“Missed a certain redhead because he has an obsession,” Madison adds, smiling at her brother.
Tobias rolls his eyes and looks at me. “Don’t listen to her. It’s not an obsession. It’s an addiction. How was your family Christmas?”
“Really good. Got to see my brother and his family. Mom made all the usual stuff. Dad and I watched some football with my brother while my nieces played with the new toys that Santa brought them. Then Mom and I watched White Christmas until we fell asleep on the couch. So all in all a good one.” I grin at him.
We settle into an easy holiday routine while we work on getting things ready for our small dinner party. Madison and I get to talk about what her life in public relations has been like, some of the celebrity clients she has, and what her plans are for the future now that she’s seen what Tobias has been going through. We manage to whip together a pretty decent Christmas dinner and spend most of it talking about things that aren’t football.
After dinner, we go to open presents, and I hand mine nervously to Madison and Tobias. Madison opens hers first.
“You really didn’t have to do this. You didn’t even know I’d be here, and I didn’t get you anything.”
“It’s not much. Don’t worry. Just a little something to help you through the current situation.” I smile at her.
She pulls the paper back and looks down at the little kit I put together for her. There’s hot chocolate, marshmallows, extra Nutella, cookies, three different rom-com movies, and a couple of books that I think will fit her life at the moment.
“Oh my god. I love it.” She grins at me and then elbows her brother. “This one is a keeper. You better not fuck this up because I like her a lot.”
“I’m doing my best.” He glances up at me and smirks.
“All right, Spitfire. What’d you get me? Motivational sports movies?”
“Something like that.”
He opens the box slowly, peeling back the wrapping and the tape until he pulls out the first couple of things I bought him from a kiosk. Two silicone wristbands in Seattle Phantom colors. One says “WR1” and the other says “You got this.”
He looks up and grins as he slides them on his wrist.
“They’re just meant to be silly. But you know, in case you ever doubt yourself.”
“Oh no. I love them, Spitfire. Can’t wait to show Ben this one.” His finger slides over the WR1 band, and he grins. We laugh and then he reaches into the box for the next one. A Polaroid camera with a note attached. He pulls it off and reads it out loud.
“For future photo opportunities that you don’t want the public to see.” He smirks as he reads it, and his eyes darken as he lifts them to look at me.
I blush a little, mostly because Madison is nearly having a giggling fit.
“Okay, but that’s kind of genius. Like I said. She’s a good one.” Madison shakes her head at us.
“Oh, I intend to keep her around.” Tobias kisses my temple. “Got to put this to good use.”
“Okay. Let’s not overshare though,” Madison jokes.
“All right. Your turn,” Tobias says, pulling something out from behind him on the couch.
