The Bet (Book 1 in The Deception Series)

Chapter 29: gifts and heart flips

Taylor

~~~~~~

"Love"- Lana Del Ray

I wake up to the bright winter sun shining through my bedroom window. I smile to myself when I hear my mom blasting Christmas music from downstairs. The one thing I like about winter is Christmas. My mom goes full out for Christmas. She decks the whole house in Christmas decorations, we bake cookies and I make my amazing hot chocolate. And of course, even though I'm a full grown adult. I still get excited for the presents.

I quickly get up and brush my teeth. I grab my phone and text Garrett who hasn't texted me since I left the hotel the other day after he cried in my arms.

Me: Merry Christmas!!!

I put my phone away before running downstairs. I walk into the kitchen and see my mom wearing her Christmas pjs.

"Merry Christmas, my beautiful girl." She smiles as she mixes the cookie batter.

"Merry Christmas, Mom." I say as I go over to her and hug her.

"Cookies are gonna go in soon, why don't you start on the hot chocolate." She says.

"Got it." I say before I grab all the ingredients for the hot coco.

"Does Garrett wanna come for dinner?" She asks.

"Uh, I'm not sure. He hasn't texted me since the other day." I tell her.

She gives a sad smile as I pour milk into a small pot on the stove. I didn't tell her everything about what happened at dinner. Mostly the part where his dad beat him or the part where I cussed out his dad. I only told her that dinner didn't go well and he was upset about it.

"He'll come around. He probably needs some time alone." She reassured me.

"I hope." I say as I put the cocoa powder into the hot milk.

My mom finishes up the cookies and puts them in the oven. The strong smell of the candle she had lit filled the entire room.

"We have marshmallows? Right?" I ask.

"Yup, right here." My mom says as she throws them on the counter.

I smile at her. If I could relive anyday of my life, it would be Christmas day with my mother. It was the one thing I looked forward to in the year. My birthday was a close second.

Once the hot coco is finished I pour it into two cups and top it off with marshmallows.

I grab the two cups and meet my mom in the living room to open presents.

"Okay, open yours first." I tell her as I grab her gift from under the tree.

I hand it to her and she opens it to reveal a beige cashmere sweater.

"I know, it's pricey but you've always wanted one so I thought why not?" I tell her.

She looks at me and smiles.

"Thank you, Taylor. It's beautiful." She tells me.

I smile and nod at her.

"Here's yours." She says as she grabs mine.

She hands me a tiny present and I open it to see a small wooden box with a rose carved into it.

"Rose is your birth flower." She explains.

I run my fingers over the flower and smile.

"I love it." I tell her.

"Good, you put some jewelry in it if you want." She smiles.