Page 160 of Return Policy
“You’re welcome,” Will says, smiling and planting a kiss on her head. “But you should thank Elijah.” He nods in my direction. “It was his idea.”
Sophia glances over at me with furrowed brows. “Really?” I just smile, thankful my girl is happy to be home. She comes over and throws her arms around me, nuzzling her face into my chest. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“Knock, knock,” we hear as the front door opens and shuts.
“Hello,” Jake says, stepping into the room with Leah, wearing a big smile that doesn’t falter for a second when he notices me. We all greet them, and Jake comes over to pull me in for a hug. The gesture surprises me, but I lean into it.
“Thanks for taking care of my baby sister,” he whispers in my ear.
“Always.” I smile as he pulls away, patting me on the shoulder.
He grips it harder than necessary, grinning as he stares in my eyes. “But I’ll still kill you if you ever hurt her.”
“Noted.”
I would rather die.
* * *
“Thanks for welcoming me… again,” I say to Will as we set the table for Christmas breakfast. I got to spend the morning with Mark and Cole, and now I’m placing Christmas tree shaped paper napkins on the plates around the kitchen table. Very domestic if I do say so myself.
“Of course. We’re happy you could join,” Will replies, slapping me on the shoulder.
After we’re done setting the table, Sophia hands me a coffee mug that says “Get Lit” with Christmas lights around it.
“Hazelnut coffee with honey andextrawhipped cream.” She winks and kisses me on the cheek. I sit down at the kitchen island, chuckling to myself as I drink my basic bitch coffee while Leah and Diane make breakfast.
* * *
Will snatches the Santa hat off the counter. “Alright, kiddos, let’s go see what Santa brought.”
We gather around the living room as Will shuffles the presents under the tree. He digs one out, handing it to Diane with a big smile on his face. “Okay, we can do this one first.”
She unwraps new spools for her sewing machine and kisses Will like he bought her a Gucci purse. “Thanks, Willy.”
Sophia scrunches her face at me and mouths,Willy?
I stifle a laugh and squeeze her knee.
As they open their gifts, big and small, I can feel all the love in the room. “Okay…” Will reads the label. “This one is for Elijah.”
My lips break into a wide smile. “For me?”
Sophia sits on her heels, watching me open the small box. I unwrap it, taking off the lid to see a keychain sitting in the box, and take it out to examine it. A tiny bowl and spoon dangle, and there’s a thin metal plate reading “Cereal Killer.” I shake my head, chuckling at the reminder of our first meeting, and smile at Sophia. “I love it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She leans over and plants a firm kiss on my lips.
Will clears his throat. “Okay, that’s enough of that.” The upturned corners of his mouth tell me it's half-hearted. “Here’s another one for… Sunflower?”
“Really, Honey Bee?” Sophia narrows her eyes at me before returning her attention to Will. “That’s for me.” She fights a smile, holding out grabby hands for the large box. She sets it on her lap and rips it open, pulling it carefully from the box. A gasp escapes her lips as she stares down at the gift I custom made for her myself… well, with Mom and Leah’s help.
“Elijah,” she says quietly, staring down at the golden frame with a pressed sunflower between two pieces of glass. Behind the sunflower is a copied page from our world history textbook. The first page we studied together at the beginning of the year. Her finger traces the tiny painted honey bees on the glass around the sunflower—Leah’s doing. “Are you kidding me?” Her grateful eyes find mine. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Merry Christmas, Sunflower.”
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