Page 159 of Taste of Addiction

“It’s never about the money with me.”

“I know that, but figured I would warn you anyway so you wouldn’t be shocked.”

“Come on, you worry too much.” At least that’s how she has been lately. Ever since she got notice of the acceptance for the internship in Los Angeles, she has not been herself. I want to ask her more about it. I want to find out if things are okay between her and Ethan. But now is not the time nor the place to put her on the spot. We’ll just have to do another girls’ night soon and really catch up.

Claire and I exit and make our way into the living room where the entire room is alive with anticipation and energy. Donna has hot drink dispensers set up along the side of the room on a rolling cart. Beside the dispensers, there is a mimosa bar. Where the charcuterie board was set up last night, in its place is a breakfast spread fit for an army. Pastries, breakfast meats, breads, fruits, and miniquiches fill up the entire wooden table.

Germain instructs us all to eat, standing back and admiring his family. He is giving me a window into the future of what Graham may look like in a few decades.

“Here, sweetheart,” Graham says, handing me a mug of fresh coffee that he fixed the way I like. He brings a pastry up to my lips, gesturing for me to take a bite. I do.

“Yum.”

He takes a bite along the place where I just did. “Yum,” he agrees.

We then spend the next three hours snacking, opening up gifts, and taking a crazy amount of pictures. I laugh so hard as Graham unwraps his gifts from me.

“You really are like a twelve-year-old when it comes to gifts,” I giggle, watching him tear through the paper like a madman.

He pulls off the lid of the huge clothing box, revealing a series of related items that I handmade with my heat press.

“Hold them up, let us see,” Donna yells from across the room. “We can’t see.”

Graham unfolds the T-shirt that has my face printed across the entire front. Everyone laughs so hard.

"Because he is obsessed with me,” I explain, as if anyone is really clueless to how he is.

“That I am,” he agrees, admiring my work.

He holds up a tie that has dozens of little Angie faces all over it. Matching work socks. I even made him boxer shorts that are plastered with my face and then shiny lettering across the butt cheeks that says, “Angie’s Man.”

“Keep opening,” I beg. “I got you more.”

He takes the box from my hands and shakes it, placing his ear up to the side.

“Just open it,” I whine.

Graham pulls off the paper into little confetti pieces, pops open the lid, and then removes the tissue paper to reveal a series of four custom mugs.

“What do they say?” Penny asks, watching her brother intently with his gift.

“Big Boss Man, Teddy Graham”—he pauses while everyone laughs at him—“Angie’s Eye Candy, and In Love With the World’s Worst Feminist. I love these.” He kisses me passionately on the lips, making me blush an unhealthy shade of red, I am sure. “Your turn.”

He crawls behind the tree and pulls out a huge box. I smile at it and start peeling off the paper. I hate having all sets of eyes on me—always have—but I just block everyone else out while I reveal a beautiful luggage set. There are three different pieces, each with a personalized luggage tag.

“I love it. I don’t even own a suitcase,” I say thoughtfully, looking down at the pull-out handle and the wheels. “These are great.”

“And I bet it will come in handy on our trip.”

I stop fidgeting with the custom tags and look up at Graham with confusion. “Trip?”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you?”

My mouth drops. “No, Graham. You didn’t tell me.”

“As part of your graduation gift, I’m taking you to Florida. Key West.”

“What?” I say, jumping up and throwing myself into his arms. “I am so excited!”

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