Celia turned and grinned. “They’d just come unplugged.”
I laughed, watching her bright, ice-blue eyes sparkle. “You’re amazing.”
“It was a plug. Even I can deal with unplugged lights.”
And a whole lot more.
Twenty-Two
Celia
Since we’d gotten stuck in Snowsville, every evening Sebastian would either walk me home or appear at my door at some point after I’d gotten into my pajamas. We’d spend the rest of the night together, swapping stories, drinking hot chocolate or just straight brandy, and then exploring each other’s bodies like we knew time was running out.
Tonight was the twenty-third. Our last night together.
Although not unexpected, when he knocked on the door, my stomach dived to the floor as if tonight was somehow different. Maybe because I was hoping that he’d tell me he’d decided to stay for Christmas. Or even move here.
A part of me, a completely unrealistic, Santa-believing part of me was hoping this wasn’t going to be our last night together.
“Should I ask about the wand?” He nodded toward the pink glitter wand in my hand. “You know this is Christmas and not wizard school, right?”
“Semantics. It’s all magic.”
He smiled and shook his head in a way I’d come to recognize as saying, I’m-not-quite-sure-what-to-do-with-you-but-I’m-rolling-with-it. Much better than the disdainful look I’d come to expect from Carl when I was involved with anything Christmassy. Or frankly did anything that I enjoyed. Looking back, I don’t think he liked me that much. It can’t have always been like that. We must have had some good times. It was difficult to remember them now.
“You want a drink?”
“You’re not wearing Christmas pajamas. What’s going on?” He unbuttoned his coat and pulled out a padded envelope.
I shrugged. “I’ve only just got in.” I glanced at the bag. “What’s this?”
Sebastian took a seat at his usual sky-blue chair at the kitchen table while I set the bag next to him before pulling out mugs for our drinks. “Open it,” he said. “Before you make drinks.”
I glanced over at him, trying to get a read on his expression. If I didn’t know better, I would say it was slightly bashful. “Is it a gift?” I asked as I peered into the bag.
He replied with a shrug. “I’m not a great wrapper.”
“But I’ve already had a beautiful Secret Santa gift from you.” I kept the weather house in my bedroom so I could see it as soon as I woke up and last thing before I went to sleep.
“This isn’t from Secret Santa. It’s from me. Just open it, but don’t get excited. It’s very practical.”
I tried my best not to break into a grin but it was supremely difficult, given the handsome reformed grinch had bought me a second Christmas present. He might be leaving tomorrow, but tonight he was making me feel like I was at the center of his world.
I shook my head, trying to push silly thoughts like that out of my brain. I wasn’t the center of Sebastian’s world. Tomorrow he was leaving, and the practical part of me doubted I’d ever see him again.
I pulled a slim parcel from the bag. “What is it?” I asked, shaking it.
“I know it’s a radical idea, but why don’t you get it out and have a look?”
I tore the wrapping paper off to reveal a padded envelope. Inside were a set of keys. I glanced across at Sebastian. What had he bought?
“You want to take a look?”
“Keys to what?”
He pulled them out of my hand, stood and ushered me to the front door.
He grabbed the blue and white bobble hat I’d worn to the Snowsville Christmas market and plonked it on my head, so low I had to push it up to see.
Then he opened the door.
“Ivy tells me people fill each other’s stockings with practical gifts,” he said. “I couldn’t find a stocking big enough, but I think this fits the brief.” He stepped aside to reveal a bright red Mini.
It was as if someone had thrown a snowball at me and it had landed square in my chest, knocking out my breath.
“You’d be better off with a Land Rover around here, but I didn’t think it would particularly suit you,” he said. “So I chose a Mini. With four-wheel drive.”
I knew I should say something, but what? “You . . . bought me a car?”
“You need one,” he said, like he’d just bought me a colander. “I don’t know how your petrol tank suddenly emptied itself, but a car that’s doing stuff like that isn’t safe.”
He wasn’t wrong, but a car? “So you fixed it. Like the web site and branding and the tree . . . bringing influencers and journalists to the market. You like to fix things.”
“Are you upset?” he glanced at me and pushed his hands into his pockets.
I was being rude. “Of course not.” I reached for him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “It’s just . . . No one’s ever bought me a car before. I’m a little lost for words. But completely in a good way. Thank you. It’s incredibly generous of you. Are you sure?”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head as we stood gazing at the brand-new Mini. “Of course I’m sure. Just one condition, I don’t want you to drive it for the first time in the dark. Can you wait until tomorrow?”
He was so caring and protective. I would never have guessed it when I’d first met him. But if he cared enough to buy me a car and worry about my safety, couldn’t he care enough to stay? I knew it was hopeless, but I couldn’t help but wish. “If I didn’t know you were so determined to leave, I might try to convince you to stay.”
He pulled me tighter. “I can’t.”
“Not even just for Christmas? I heard Barbados is beautiful in January.”
“The last two weeks have been . . . great. Much . . . better than I expected.”
I rolled my eyes. Here was the grinch back. “Well, on behalf of Snowsly, we’re pleased it hasn’t been so much of an endurance for you to be back. And we’ll see you in another ten years.” As soon as I’d said the words, I wished I could take them back, or at least re-say them without the snappish tone. I didn’t want to ruin anything. I just didn’t want him to leave.
A twitch at the corner of Sebastian’s eye hinted that we were veering into uncomfortable territory. “You’re a great person, Celia.”
My stomach churned at his words and I shook my head. “We don’t need to have this conversation. It was a joke that came out wrong. I know this was never anything more than a . . . pre-Christmas fling. And it’s been lovely.” My voice had reached ridiculously high notes. “I don’t want to spoil it.”
“I’ll be up more often now. Granny’s getting older and it’s selfish to expect her to come to London. And Griffin being here in thirty minutes in his helicopter—well, I’d never considered that I could cut out the drive like that. I’ll be around, but—”
“I never had any expectations and I’m not asking for anything.” I really wasn’t but at the same time, if he’d turned around to me and said, I’ve really enjoyed this and I really like you and I’d like to see how things go, and what if you come up to London and I can come up to Snowsly—urgh how was I holding out hope for something so completely unrealistic?