Page 91 of Checkmate
“You’re so thoughtful,” he said, blowing a kiss in her direction. “Seriously, I don’t deserve you.”
Nope. He didn’t.
“And yet somehow you have me. Lucky son of a bitch, aren’t you?”
“What can I say? God chose his favourites, and I made the cut. I’m handsome, wealthy and charismatic, with a beautiful wife and everything a man could ever want.”
Arrogant bastard.
“Careful, love,” she warned. “Pride is a sin and if God cast his own son out of heaven. I’d hate to imagine what terrible fate he’d send your way.”
“Merry Christmas!”
Erica chuckled as her parents greeted them on the front doorstep, decked head to toe in Christmas cheer.
“Mum, you look lovely,” she said, leaning to kiss her mother on the cheek. “You’ve gone all out on the tinsel this year.”
“If you can’t go overboard at Christmas, when can you?” She kissed the top of Erica’s head and ushered her into the house. “And where is my favourite son-in-law?”
Erica’s heart gave a painful thump as she walked into her dad’s open arms, hearing Alex’s reply.
“Debra, you’re looking as beautiful as ever. Bill is a lucky man.”
Her mother waved off his compliments, but Erica knew she’d have a flush of pleasure on her cheeks. Right then she had never hated Alex more.
How dare he do this to her parents?
“Are you okay, pet?” Bill asked, murmuring against the top of her head.
“I will be soon,” she promised. She couldn’t lie to her father and pretend everything was okay.
“Well, you let me know if I can help, you hear me?”
“Thank you, Dad.” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “And Merry Christmas.”
Moving through to the dining room, her eyes scanned the immaculate table decorated with such elegance. It was in stark contrast to the mayhem of the rest of the house.
Santa’s Grotto had nothing on the Starling family home.
“Erica!” Strong arms pulled her into a bear hug, the familiar smell of her brother’s favourite aftershave invading her nostrils. “Grab some eggnog. Mum’s put an entire bottle of brandy in it this year.
“I have not!” Debra protested, testing her own creation. “It tastes just the same as it does every year.”
“Or your tolerance has just improved, Ma!”
Josh wrapped his arm around Erica’s shoulder and squeezed it once. “Slipper incoming in three, two…”
Erica dodged out of the way as a slipper flew at Josh’s head right on cue. Rolling her eyes, she pulled Liv into a warm hug, chuckling in her ear. “You chose this family,” she reminded her. “You crazy woman.”
Everyone was in good spirits, as one would expect on Christmas day. Even the family dog, Baxter, who was perpetually grumpy, wagged his tail as he bounced around, greeting everyone.
The only exception was Lottie.
Sat by the bay window, still in her pyjamas, her hand curled around a mug of eggnog, she looked completely out of place. Erica sat next to her, resting her head on her shoulder.
“I’ve told them I have period pains,” she said in a low voice. “They’ve left me alone since then except to bring me drinks.”
“I used the same excuse,” Erica replied. “Sorry, Lottie, I feel like I’ve already ruined your day.”
