Page 62 of Christmas Romance Galore!
Holly crinkled her face. “What?”
“Scare you?”
She shook her head and kissed me again lightly. “Don’t be stupid. I’ve loved you for years. Taking the leap to being in love with you happened weeks ago. There’s no getting away from me now, I’m here to stay.”
Relief washed over me. Holly loved me.
I moved my head and stared right at her. “You sure?”
She tilted her head. “Positive,” she replied. “I know it’s only been a week, but it’s been way longer really, hasn’t it? We just feel so right, you and me.” She shrugged. “We just are.”
I put my head on Holly’s chest and we sat like that for a few moments, the gentle hum of the trains buzzing by. In that moment, we were cocooned, untouchable, in love. She kissed the top of my head and I was content to ride the rise and fall of her body, warmth emanating from her.
It seemed like for once, I’d landed right where I belonged.
Christmas Day
I woke up the next day and my eyes shot open — it was Christmas Day! Then a wave of tiredness washed over me as I checked my phone. It was also 7am. My body clock hadn’t got used to waking up late yet, it was still on work time. On top of that, my bed was empty.
Holly had gone to her mum’s house late last night after a magical late afternoon walking hand-in-hand around the West End Christmas lights. Being there with Holly as my girlfriend had made it extra-special, and the whole way round, I’d felt like my dad was with us, our very own Christmas spirit guiding us on our way.
Now, Holly would be getting ready for her annual birthday breakfast with both her parents. This was their concession for their Christmas baby — they couldn’t stand the thought of spending Christmas Day together, but Christmas breakfast for Holly, they could handle.
I hoped it went okay, although I knew Holly’s mum was always anxious on Christmas Eve in the lead-up to it. Holly had already told me that this year would be the last time they all put themselves through it. She’d wanted to stop it years ago, but her parents were adamant they wanted to do it for her. But now, aged 28, she’d had enough. Plus, her dad had a new partner and baby, so he had other commitments to attend to.
Holly much preferred to see her parents separately, where she claimed they were bearable, albeit in small doses.
As I was up, I decided to get going — there was nothing to stick around the flat for, and I had a suitcase and presents to pack. I turned on the radio and cranked up the volume — it was playing ‘Last Christmas’. I jumped in the shower, positivity crackling in my veins. This year, I’d followed George Michael’s advice to a tee and given my heart to someone special.
Perhaps I should search the entire back catalogue of Wham! for the answers to all of life’s pressing issues.
Traffic on Christmas Day was non-existent and my drive home was one of my favourite journeys of the year, singing along to Christmas tunes on the radio all the way. To zip down roads normally clogged with traffic was almost miraculous, and always made me feel like I was in a pop video. Today, the air was crisp with anticipation, the sun sitting low, the clouds lounging casually across the skyline. My drive took just over an hour, and I pulled up outside my mum’s front door on the outskirts of Oxford just before ten — she was going to faint when she saw me this early.
I checked my phone to see if Holly had replied to my good morning text and saw I had a message. I clicked on it, smiling. My smile quickly turned to a frown.
‘Happy Christmas — hope it’s a fab one! Love, Nicola. X’
I stared at the phone. This was clearly one of those ‘text everyone in my phone’ messages, the modern-day equivalent of the Christmas card letter. But couldn’t she have left me out of the loop? Surely she could have unchecked me and Melanie from her list? That thought made my heart stop thumping so hard in my chest. If this rattled me, imagine the impact on Melanie Taylor.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. That was all in the past, and Holly was now my future. Sweet, sexy, gorgeous Holly. An image of her taking me on the balcony popped into my brain and I shivered. Now I just had to get that out of my brain before I knocked on my mum’s front door. It used to be my parents’ front door, but now, it was just my mum’s. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to that.
I stepped out of my hired Renault and pulled my coat around me, checking the sky. It was freezing, cold enough to snow even. That would make it the most perfect Christmas ever.
The front door was open before I got there with Mum standing in her Christmas apron, fluffy slippers on, face already flushed from the cooking marathon.
“You’re early,” she said. “Happy Christmas, kiddo.”
I set down my case and gave her a hug.
“Happy Christmas to you, too.”
Mum peered over my shoulder. “No Holly?”
I shook my head. “Family duty.”
Mum picked up my suitcase and pulled me in, but I pulled back.
“Let me just get the presents.” I indicated over my shoulder and she nodded.
