Page 39 of Promise Me Ever After
I shot daggers at Curtis across the pub. “No big deal. I got Georgie something for her birthday.”
“Not a Blossom gift card?”
“Did you see me come into the salon?” I crossed my arms over my chest ready to fend off her third degree.
“So? What did you get her then?”
Curtis came over with our drinks and I drained the best part of mine in one mouthful. Anything to get out of there and not have to answer all the questions my sister was throwing at me.
I swallowed hard. “A bracelet.”
“You bought her jewellery. Shit, Alex, you do realise that’s a really personal thing, right?” Amber panicked. “You’re not exactly the best when it comes to buying presents.”
“Don’t panic, I got Darcy’s help. She showed me this bracelet Georgie had seen and I paid for it. None of the decision making was mine.”
“Phew. I was worried for a minute. Although, I couldn’t wait to see the look on Georgie’s face when she opened the same set of granny bath salts you got me last Christmas.” Amber swiped a hand across her forehead.
I gave her a sarcastic smile. “Won’t be making that mistake again. Gift vouchers it is this year.”
“Ooo, I can’t wait!”
We finished our drinks. Curtis and Amber went back to their flat to get ready and I dashed home. I wanted to be sure I was back at the pub before Georgie and Darcy arrived. After the quickest shower in history, I sprayed on aftershave and dressed in jeans and a nice shirt. There were a few minutes before I had to head back to the pub. I sat on the edge of the bed and reached into the drawer of my bedside table. My hand closed over the small box I’d wrapped for Georgie. It needed a gift tag, so she knew it was from me.
Heading downstairs, I found Mum in the kitchen making pasta for dinner. My stomach rumbled, part hunger, part nerves. This present was a big gesture for me. I’d never bought something for a girl before, except dinner and drinks.
“Do we have any gift tags?”
Mum twirled around from the cooker. “Gift tags? What for?”
“To put on a present?”
“Yes, I know what they are. Why do you need one?”
I waved the box wrapped in shiny pink paper that I’d bought from Itsy Bitsys. With hindsight, I should have got Darcy to wrap the present — her wrapping skills were probably a hell of a lot better than mine. “For this.”
She waved a hand in the direction of the dresser. “There should be something in the bottom right-hand cupboard.”
I followed her direction and opened the cupboard door. True to her word, there was masses of wrapping paper, cards for all occasions, plus a little stack of gift cards. Selecting a silver sparkly one, I sat at the table, pen in hand.
What the fuck was I meant to put on the card?
Happy Birthday! Love Alex xxx
A gift from me to you x
Can you guess what it is? X
Hope you love it as much as I do…
Seriously, why was it so difficult? I wanted her to know I’d put some thought into the present and that it meant something. But I didn’t want to come across sappy.
Think. For fuck’s sake, Alex.
“You okay there? There’s a lot of huffing and puffing going on?” Mum asked. “Can I help with anything?”
I didn’t want to tell her I couldn’t think of something to put on a fucking gift tag. I was twenty-six, not six.
“No, it’s fine. I’m just…” Suddenly, it hit. I grinned to myself.
