A Flame From The Past

41: Christmas Sleepover Pt.1

There's so much to do. "There's so much to do". I repeated into the phone as I rushed to finish packing up each and every present into my car, the phone was held by my shoulder as I prayed it wouldn't fall. I wouldn't be able to afford a new one considering my whole paycheck had been spent on Christmas, it better be a great holiday this year.

"Let me call in some help. Are you at my place?" He asked, and I wished he wasn't playing in the next hour or so, if he wasn't I would've asked him for the help I so dearly needed.

"It's okay. I just have to stick all of this in the car, you know I have brittle bones". I told him as he sighed, I hated being away from him, I was growing attached, very is the key word. I was growing attached to him, too much was never mentioned and I liked it that way, it was nice depending on someone else to just be there, it was nice knowing he would.

But right now wasn't one of those times, he was doing his job, as I was doing mine and I knew this game was big for him.

"Cara Mia. I want you to take a deep breath and remember that just by doing this is more than enough for them, not everything has to go perfect". He mentioned which was the reason why it had to go perfect, it had to go phenomenally. It had to be the best Christmas they've ever had and I needed to achieve that.

"I know, but slight perfection is nice". I teased as he let out a hearty laugh as people yelled on the other side, and it sounded like a crowd was erupting.

"Holy shit. Are you on the field right now?" I asked him, practically screaming in the garage. If I had the TV close to me I would turn it on, if I called Ray he probably would know.

"You said it was important". He said in rebuttal, once he had found out I knew. I laughed at his intolerance.

"Good luck with your game, may Santa deliver you a merry gift". I joked with him as he laughed more, I would do anything right now just to see his smile.

"I know you'll do great". I sincerely said as he thanked me and hung the phone up. I clipped the phone into my back pocket and pulled the trolley near the car. The overly large car Luca had let me drive, which meant I could really take any of his cars, considering there was a stash of keys belonging to each car down here.

This time around, normally Ally would be helping me stash toys into black trash bags, but right now she was off on some excursion with Allen, who now I assume they were on good terms. Her relationship scared me of how uncertain it all seemed. I needed reassurance and affirmations to understand what we were to each other, that's what I appreciated about Luca; he was so straightforward and direct.

But it was just me this year, just me in this large garage, by myself. And I hated it, I wished Luca wasn't working today of all days. I hated it when he was away. I still had so much to do, thankfully I had dropped Ray off at Mariam's house, he was beginning to love her and he even called her grandma. I think it made it easier for him, considering he had never had one before, and you can have more than one. It was an honorary title nonetheless, and Mariam deserved it, she was a great grandma.

"Need help with anything, lady?" A voice appeared from the far distant, a shadow overlooking him as I squinted my eyes to see if I recognized him, to see if he had a uniform on.

"I'm good, thank you". I said, moving quicker as he came closer, his jeans were ripped and he wore a large jersey shirt, and from the colors I knew we were rooting for different teams tonight. He had a beer bottle in his hand, and a cigarette in his other.

"That's an awful lot to be doing alone". He coerced his way over, walking like he had a mission to complete. His voice made chills run down my spine as he closed his eyes and came into the light.