Page 82 of Just a Taste
For my sanity, I set my phone aside and focus on finishing Alex’s birthday cake. The sweet vanilla scent fills the kitchen as I spread a smooth layer of icing over the top and a sense of warmth and happiness washes over me.
This was definitely not the Christmas I had in mind for this year, but I don’t hate it.
Just as I’m put the finishing touches on the cake, I hear footsteps approaching from behind. I whirl around to see Alex standing in the doorway, a look of pure relief flooding his features.
‘I thought you’d left,’ he says, shuffling into the kitchen with a yawn. His gaze lands on the cake and his eyes widen in silent question.
I laugh as he comes to a halt in front of me, and reach up to pull him down for a quick kiss. It’s funny how natural it feels to reach for him like this now. ‘I never would’ve left without saying goodbye.’
‘But you wanted to leave?’ Alex asks quietly.
‘No,’ I say, without even having to think. The response clearly surprises Alex, and it surprises me too. ‘I thought I would want to. That I’d want to get out of here and get over to Gran’s as soon as I could, but I meant what I said last night.’ I reach out for another kiss and he happily obliges. ‘I told you I wanted to be here, and I meant it.’
He hums against my lips, his hands snaking down towards the small of my back to pull me in close. ‘I wouldn’t have minded—’
‘Yes, you would,’ I say. ‘You wouldn’t admit it to yourself or to anyone else, but you would have. And I would have just joined the long line of people who prioritised Christmas over you.’
His eyes crinkle slightly in the corners. ‘Noelle—’
‘And I’m not going to be that person.’ I pull apart from him, eliciting a tiny whimper, and gesture to the small cake on the counter. ‘Happy Birthday!’
He grins, his eyes sparkling with genuine surprise and delight. ‘You made this for me?’ he asks.
I nod, watching as his gaze flits from the cake to me and back again. His smile grows wider before he leans in to press another quick kiss to my lips. ‘Thank you, Noelle. You really didn’t have to do this.’
I shrug nonchalantly. ‘This is just the warm-up. Next year, now I’ve got a bit more notice, I’m going all out.’
‘Next year…’ Alex says quietly. He pulls me in closer again, holding me tight like he doesn’t ever want to let go. He opens his mouth to say something else, but the gates to his drive suddenly swing open and we both watch as a mini-parade of sleek black cars park up just outside. ‘Oh. They’re early.’
‘What’s happening?’ I ask, breaking free of Alex’s grip to peer out of the window. There are six identical cars in the drive, and I can spy several more parking up on the street outside Alex’s house. ‘Are you getting raided by MI5 or something? Is this where I find out that you’ve been evading taxes for the last decade and the government have finally had enough?’
Alex laughs and comes to stand behind me, his arms bracketing me in as we watch the scene outside unfold.‘That,’ he points to the fleet of cars outside, ‘would be your Christmas gift.’
My heart stops, starts, and then stops again as one of the car doors opens up and I watch as my sister tumbles out of it, followed by my parents. From another car, Gran steps out, helped by Uncle Morris, and from the rest I watch as various aunts, uncles, and cousins all spill out.
A million questions are rushing through my mind: How is this possible? Did they drive through the night? Where the hell have all these cars come from? And…God, do we have enough food for everyone?
I swivel around in Hoxton’s arms, my heart in my throat, my eyes bleary with the sudden onslaught of tears. ‘What—’ is all I manage to croak out before he interrupts.
‘I’m glad you didn’t leave earlier. For multiple reasons, but primarily because you would’ve ruined your surprise.’ Then, he lifts my chin with a finger and presses a soft kiss against my lips and says three words I never thought I’d hear coming out of Alexander Hoxton’s mouth. ‘Merry Christmas, Noelle.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREEAlex
I don’t think there have ever been this many people in my house. Up until three days ago, the record had been taken by my Board and I hadn’t been anticipating breaking it anytime soon.
And yet…
Everywhere I turn there’s another unfamiliar face and someone rushing to introduce themselves to me. In the span of about five minutes, I meet and shake the hands of just about every single member of Noelle’s family – extended too. I meet aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins twice removed, grand uncles, and at least two family friends who aren’t sure when they became pretty much family, but have been rolling with it for years.
Someone has managed to get into my sound system andChristmas carols blast from the speakers throughout the house. Another someone – I have no idea who, or how they’ve managed it – has set up a small Christmas tree in the middle of my living room. The fact that theyhada mini Christmas tree to bring with them from Noelle’s grandmother’s house to here is insane, but nobody seems to question it. The fact that a three-foot tree, complete with colourful decorations, has suddenly appeared in my living room is apparently the most normal thing in the world to the Joneses.
Some of them have brought plates of Christmas cookies and cakes, their sweet fragrances wafting through the air, mingling with the fresh pine scent of the Christmas tree.
Laughter, chatter and music fills every room as everyone mills around excitedly. There are even little children running around, their giggles and shouts echoing off the walls.
It’s loud and busy and hectic and just so Christmassy.
Surprisingly, I don’t hate it.
