When History Repeats Itself

Wrapped in You

My phone pinged.

I shot up like lightning and snatched it off the table.

A message from Dom lit up the screen: Can I call now?

"I forfeit!" I called out, already halfway to my room.

I closed the door behind me, flopped onto my bed, and pulled open my laptop. My fingers flew across the phone screen as I hit the video call button.

My heart did a little somersault as the dial tone rang.

Dom answered almost instantly.

His face filled the screen, all bright eyes and unusual boyish grin. "Merry Christmas, Kerry," he beamed, waving dramatically before leaning in to kiss the camera.

I laughed. "Merry Christmas, Dom."

"How's Christmas with your mum?"

"Chaotic. Her boyfriend and his three sons are here. We played charades earlier—complete disaster. Now we're doing Scrabble. Fight to the death."

He gave me a quizzical look.

"Are you... at the beach?"

"Yeah." He angled the screen slightly, revealing a bright blue sky and a stretch of golden sand. "Christmas Day at the beach with my dad, his girlfriend, and a bunch of their friends. Thankfully, Lucas came to my rescue."

I blinked. "Lucas flew down to spend Christmas with you?"

"With my dad too, technically. But mostly with me. He was my boo before you showed up, you know."

I smirked. "That sounds so wrong. And I'm pretty sure Lucas would not appreciate that comment."

"Oh really?" Dom laughed and angled the laptop again. Lucas came into view, lounging on a deck chair, sunglasses on, drink in hand.

"Hey boo," Dom teased.

"Hey boo," Lucas echoed, grinning as he blew him an exaggerated kiss.

"Merry Christmas, Kerry!" he called out as Dom turned the screen back around.

"Merry Christmas!" I shouted so he could hear.

Dom shook his head dramatically. "So. You obviously haven't received my gift yet."

I narrowed my eyes. "Nope. Where is it, anyway?"

He sighed. "I asked Tim to do one thing. One job. He owes me for all those times I covered for him, and now he drops the ball on this?"

"Relax, it's Christmas Day. I'm sure he'll get it to me tomorrow."

Dom leaned back and gave me a look. "Anyway, Lucas ruined your surprise. He told me about the shoulder bag before I even unwrapped it. Alexa let it slip, and the rest is betrayal history. But—I love it. Took the hint too. My laptop bag was embarrassing. Like... startup tech-bro energy."

I laughed. "That's because it was embarrassing. This one can fit your laptop, your sketches, tablet—basically your whole life. And it actually makes you look like the Brand Director instead of one of those IT guys on the second floor."

"Dom gasped. "Wow. You don't hold back, do you?"

Before I could reply, I heard my mum calling my name from downstairs. I sighed. "Boyfriend time is over. She's on a mission to make us bond. So I'm off to go... bond."

Dom grinned. "I've got a bonfire beach party tonight—courtesy of my dad. I'll try and call later, if you're not asleep."

"Okay. Merry Christmas again, Dom."