Page 65 of Christmas Romance Galore!
“Wow, we were really slow to catch on, weren’t we?”
Holly moved her head side to side. “Some were a little slower than others,” she said, her voice sing-song.
I poked her in the ribs. “Alright smart-arse.” Then I kissed her again, long and slow. When I pulled back, she had her lopsided grin pasted on her face.
“I don’t think I’ll ever tire of kissing your lips,” she said, before pausing. “And no, I can’t believe these things are coming out of my mouth either.”
I smiled. “Don’t worry, I was just thinking the same thing.” I paused. “Happy birthday, by the way.”
“Thanks, gorgeous,” Holly said, before kissing me again.
And then my mum walked in, clapping her hands to announce her arrival. “Okay lovebirds, enough of that!”
We untangled ourselves and turned to see Mum and Gina smiling at us, dressed in identical grey jumpers.
“Why are you dressed the same?” Holly asked, before covering her mouth. “Shit, those are our presents, aren’t they?”
“Not that they’re not lovely, but was it buy one, get one free by any chance?” Mum was smiling as she said it. “They’re ever so soft though, aren’t they Gina?”
Gina put her sleeve to her face. “Like a baby’s bum,” she confirmed.
I started to laugh, as did Holly.
“Okay, in our defence, these were bought weeks ago and I never expected you to be opening them together. They were bought before we were even together,” I said.
“We believe you, thousands wouldn’t,” Gina replied.
“They look great on you both, though,” Holly said, styling it out.
I nodded to back her up. “Really good.”
Mum gave Gina a nod. “Okay, we can take them off now. I think we’ve embarrassed our daughters enough.” They chuckled as they took the jumpers off and put them on the sideboard.
Mum clapped her hands again to grab our attention. “Right, this is now officially operation Christmas and I need turkey carvers, vegetable carriers, potato wenches and all sorts of other jobs that I can’t think of funny names for right at this moment. You in?”
I gave Mum a salute. “At your service, captain.”
Christmas dinner was delicious, with Mum working her magic as she always did. As for Gina, well she really came out of her shell after her third glass of wine, telling us this was the best Christmas she’d had in years, and Holly agreed. When Mum invited them again for the following year, I thought Gina might sob with happiness.
And now Mum, Gina, Gran and Ellen were in the lounge watching Love Actually, while Holly and I had just finished clearing up the kitchen. Now she was pulling me up the stairs, into my bedroom, the one where we’d shared so many times as teenagers.
Only now, things were slightly different.
Holly sat me on the bed and then presented me with my present — it was a beautiful watch from Michael Kors.
“I love it,” I told her, turning it over in my hand before putting it on my wrist. “Thank you.” I tilted my head upwards and she leaned down and kissed me. “Is this what you bought me that day in town?”
Holly’s cheeks coloured red. “I might have gone back and exchanged it for something a little more extravagant after what happened,” she said.
“That’s not in the rules,” I replied, smiling. “And there was me, thinking I’d fallen for someone who could be trusted.”
“You didn’t change yours?”
I shook my head. “No, but I did buy you a bigger birthday present instead.”
Holly rubbed her hands together and sat down beside me. “And have I told you, I can’t wait to make some new Christmas memories in this bed tonight,” she whispered in my ear.
I laughed as my ears turned red. “With both our mums in the house — ideal.”
