Christmas with the Gerard's

5

18 days till Christmas 

“Pheebs I’m telling you; she kept the whole house awake most of the night with her cries of pain and frustration!”   

“Your mum is a savage Delia, now I know where you get it from! How’s everything else? Everyone ok?”   

“Oh please! Could you be any more obvious? You want to ask about him ask!”  

“I don’t know what you are talking about Delia?”  

“Oh Pheebs! You are so crushing on Theo!” 

“I am not! How dare you say that?! You b***h!!”  

“Don’t worry, is crushing on you too!” 

“Has he said anything to you about me?” 

“No. But that’s Theo for you, he’s clueless.” 

“Delia! You are killing me!” 

“What?!” 

“Building a girl up only to let me down!” 

“Hey, can I call you later? Someone’s knocking on my door.” 

“Yeah sure, Delia?” 

“Yeah?” 

“You suck! But I miss you” 

“Me too. Love you Pheebs” 

“Love you too” 

***  

“Was that her?” Theo asks as he sneaks into my room, just like when we kids. He pushes me over and slides inside the bed with me, “Well was it?” Jeez, could these two be any worse.  

“Yes.” I reply dryly, I wanna make him sweat a bit. 

“Did she um, did she ask about me?” He rubs the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed to be asking his little sister about her friend, and I can’t help but notice how buff Theo has gotten over the years. For an I.T. specialist he is not that nerdy, at least physically, cos when he gets going about computers, he could put an elephant to sleep.  

“What’s this? The mighty Theo is in being shy?! “I tease and he blushes. He actually like full on blushes! “Theo?” I ask him, and he throws his head back, banging it on the headboard. “Something happened between you two didn’t it?” He doesn’t answer, simply nods his head and sighs. 

“Not what you are thinking, on her day off, while you were at work, we just talked all day, we started by talking about you, I wanted to know more about your life and one thing led to another and soon we were sharing our own life stories. Turns out we actually have quite a lot in common, we just kissed Delia, but that one kiss was just like... Urgh! I’m turning into a girl!!” He says as he jumps out of my bed, and paces my room, his hands furiously rubbing through his black short hair.  

“Theo, it’s ok to have feelings! It’s been long enough since you’ve been with someone. I know Sally did a number on you, but Pheebs is a kind soul. She would never hurt you.” I stad and reach for his arms, I try and stop his pacing but he just pulls his arms away from me 

“It’s not me I’m worried about, it’s her. She doesn’t need an insecure thirty-seven-year-old man in her life, she’s so strong and free. I don’t want to bring her down.” He says, pain evident in his tone.  

“What if she brings you up instead? Maybe Phoebe is the one for you, maybe she is the one to make you trust and love again, maybe, just maybe, she’s the best f*****g thing to ever happen to you!” I say and he stops pacing, his eyes now focused on mine. My words seem to be sinking in and he sighs. 

“I just, why is this so hard?” He asks, his voice trembling a bit 

“Because you have been hurt in the past. Sally really did f**k you up monumentally! Theo you used to be so confident, so free spirited and that bloody snake crushed you. But she’s gone, and Pheobe is not Sally.”  

“I need some time ok Delia; I mean why am I fretting so much? We kissed once; she probably doesn’t even feel the same way!” He says and rushes out the room before I can tell him she does. What he needs is a good kick up the ass. I grab my phone and text Pheobe * Theo is like super confused, I think he is actually really into you, but too scared to hurt you. Get your ass up here by tonight! * I throw my phone on the and head for a shower before every other person in this house gets there. When I come through again, I have two texts, one from Pheebs and one from the unknown number. I read Pheebs first *On it. I can’t let that man slip through my fingers, soz babes, I know he’s your brother but that boy is fine! * I laugh and open the other text; my laughter dies in my throat straight away. 

*Don’t for one second think this i***t can protect you. * Attached is a photo of Colton coming out of our house, from the clothes he is wearing, this was yesterday morning, after our run in in the kitchen. the photo is a bit blurry but it’s definitely Colt, I’d recognize him anywhere, but what catches my eye, is the dark figure behind the curtain in the lounge window. I zoom in on it but I can’t see who it is, but one thing is sure, whoever it was, that person was watching Colton and I. Definitely someone in the family.  

***** 

The day went by without much happening, we did the usual. Me and mum tidied up a bit while Gabriel took nan to the doctors. Theo pretty much hid in his room all day, and Heidi spent the day at the local spa. I hope they’re giving plenty to drink, I’m sure she lost half her body’s water last night!  

Around seven pm we were in the lounge watching telly when I hear a honking sound getting closer. I jump off the sofa and run to the door. My family following close by. I throw the door open and see my beautiful fiat 500xl driving up the drive way, Pheebs parks it behinds Gabriels focus and run out. 

“Pheebs!!” I shout running towards her “You’re here!!”  We hug for ages while my family watches from the door step.  

“Who’s this?” Gabriel asks, moving slowly towards Pheobe, I pull away and watch as her eyes widen, yeah little Gabe has that effect on women, with his six-foot tall and broad frame, chocolate brown eyes and sandy blonde curly hair. He knows he is gorgeous and he doesn’t hide it. He screams confidence, his clothes are always on point. Somehow, he looks just like our mother, the same eyes and hair, but everything else is just the spit of our dad.  

“Hi, I’m Gabriel. Delia’s younger brother. You are?” He extends his hand and she places hers in his shaking it. 

“I’m Phoebe, Delia’s housemate and best friend. Nice to meet everyone!” She drops his hand and waves at everyone. They all smile and wave at her, except James, he just narrows his eyes at her and turns back into the house.  

“Well, come on in everyone, let’s get some hot food into the poor girl.” My mother says and we all follow her indoors, Phoebe’s eyes scan the crowed room for Theo, and I feel awful.  

“He’s not here, he went out with Colton for a few pints, he left after I told everyone you were coming.” Her face crumbles and her shoulders drop, defeated. We sit around the table to eat and the conversation flows easily, Pheobe fits in like a glove, she is quick with her comebacks and doesn’t shy away when James glares at her, or when my an asks her intrusive questions, she does however seem a bit flustered when my mum speaks to her and it makes me giggle. She wants my mum to like her. I chuckle to myself and she slaps my leg under the table.  

Mallory walks in a little bit after nine pm, dressed to the nines.  

“Come on losers, let's go out!”  

“It’s Monday you lunatic! Where the hell are we supposed to go?” I say, she rolls her eyes and turns away from the lounge, se comes back through with a plastic bag and lifts two bottles of vodka out of it. “Let’s make some cocktails and you and your friend can get ready while we drink. There’s a party at Monroe’s tonight. We are going to crash it little sister!” It’s pointless to argue with Mallory, for a thirty-nine-year-old, mother of two, Mallory behaves like an eighteen-year-old. She’s a brilliant responsible mother, but when her ex-Austin has the boys, she turns into a party girl. We get ready in record time, Mallory decided to curl her hair, making her reddish-brown locks look like she just walked out of the stylist, her make up is subtle but does the trick, the black smokey eye brings out her hazel brown eyes and the red lipstick makes her lips look plush, not to mention they match her killer red heels, her hourglass figure is encased in a tight black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline. Phoebe opted for a thigh length velvet green dress, the spaghetti straps showcase her lovely feminine shoulders, the sweetheart neckline hugs her breasts, her long fiery red locks are tied into a high ponytail, leaving her long neck on display, she kept her make up simple with just black eyeliner and a glittery lip gloss, her golden heels and bag finish the look along with her gold hoops and a beautiful gold layered chocker that cascades down from her throat to her cleavage. Me, I went for the classy look with a red draped dress, the plunge neckline is offset by the knee length skirt and long sleeves, I paired it with shiny black pumps and a black bag, Phoebe and Mallory help me tame my shoulder length black hair into a bun at the base of my skull, I put on my pearly earrings and do a simple smoky eye and red lip. You’d think we were off to the Oscars, not the local bar!  

**** 

 We arrive at Monroe’s just after eleven pm, and the party is in full swing. I had forgotten how much the people of Knimow loved to celebrate Christmas, no matter the day of the week, if it’s December, there will be a party.  The girls rush to a table while I head to the bar to get our drinks in, even though we had our fair share of Cosmo’s at home, I order us some more and make my way to our table, as I near the table I see a small group of four guys chatting to my sister and Phoebe, I walk with the tray and place it on the center of the table.  

“Cordelia? Cordelia Gerard is that you?” I look up to find my old school friend and first boyfriend Thomas, my first everything.  

“Thomas?” He walks around the table and hugs me hard, pressing my whole body into his, my breasts crushed against his hard chest. After a few awkward seconds he lets go. “How have you been Thomas?” I ask politely. 

“I’ve been good. You? I heard you moved to Kenling?” He leans close to me as the music drowns out his speech and I notice the smell of alcohol in his breath. 

“Yeah, I moved there at sixteen. It’s lovely cozy town” I shout by his ear. He leans closer, his lips grazing my ear, making me shiver, his breath hot on my neck as he whispers  

“You look f*****g hot Delia!” I laugh at his words, he must be joking, but one look at his face tells me he is not. He pulls me into his arms once more. “Let’s go dance gorgeous.” He pulls my hand and we move through the throng of people towards the dance floor.  

The music is loud, the thump thump thump goes right through my body, we are dancing close together, his chest pressed to my back, his hands on my hips, my bum grinding on his crotch, and the hardness of it is getting hard to ignore. The whole time he keeps whispering in my ear, making me laugh as he reminisces about our escapades as teens, the conversation quickly turning s****l when he starts talking about all the times we were together intimately, his hands roam my hips and waist, moving up towards my flat tummy, suddenly he swings me around and I wobble a little, out of balance with the quick movement, he grabs my waist and my hands land on his chest, I can’t stop myself, my hands run over his hard muscular pecs, and he grinds his crotch onto my tummy. I gasp at the movement and he tilts my head back, his fingers under my chin, his green eyes focused on mine, and in that moment, I feel the full force of all the alcohol I’ve drank tonight, I am drunk. Not drunk enough that I don’t know what I am doing, but drunk enough to know that I didn’t even check for a ring or ask him anything about his private life. I haven’t seen this man since we were sixteen, and here I am in the middle of a bar, grinding him like a desperate hoe about to snog him. His face leans down and my thoughts evaporate, I close my eyes and turn my head slightly, my hands reach over and I wrap my arms around his neck, my hands slide into his brown hair and I run my fingers through it, my lips are ready for his, my body remembering his touch for all those years ago and yearning for it again. I lean a bit more and stop when I stumble forwards as his body moves violently backwards, I feel like I’m about to fall, my balance completely thrown out by the lack of Thomas’ body to hold me up, but I never fall, as a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around my waist, I look over my shoulder and recognize Theo’s blue eyes, why is Theo here? What’s happened to Thomas? I turn my head when I hear a scream, I was not prepared for the sight of Colton standing over Thomas’ body, holding him by the collar of shirt, his fist driving straight into his face.  

“Stop him!” I shout at Theo, I wriggle my body trying to get out of my brother’s hold, but it is useless, his grip is iron clad around my body, I look around at people, everyone has stopped dancing and a circle has formed around us all, but no one is stopping Colton.  

“Colton, stop! You’re hurting him!!” I shout, but he doesn’t stop. I watch as the three guys that were with Thomas run into the circle and start finally pulling Colton off Thomas. I catch a glimpse of his face, it’s bloodied, his nose is already starting to bruise, it looks crocked and I know it’s broken, there’s a cup on his cheek and lip and his left eye is swollen shut. Colton done a number on him. Two of Thomas’ friends hold Colton back while the third helps Thomas stand and leave. Once he is out of sight, they drop Colton and literally run. Theo lets me go and I stomp my way over to Colton, His hand is a bit bloodied and looks swollen and bruised. 

“What the f*****g f**k was that?” I shout while poking Colt’s chest.  

“He was gonna kiss you D!” Colton shouts back, I look around and see a few stragglers listening in on us, but right now I don’t care. 

“I know that you i***t! I was gonna kiss him back, till you showed up!” I push him backwards and he stumbles, I turn to Theo, tears gathering in my eyes “Why the hell didn’t you stop him?” I shout at my brother.  

“Delia, you haven’t been here for fourteen years, Thomas is not a good person to be getting tangled with.” He says as he walks towards me 

“You could have just grabbed me and pulled me away to explain that to me? You didn’t need to stand back while Colton broke his face, literally.” I move past him and head out of the bar, Mallory and Phoebe right behind me, Phoebe catches up to me and wraps her arm around my shoulders.  

“This night was a fiasco huh? “She smiles kindly at me 

“Tell me about it. I blame her!” I say as I nod my head back at Mallory. 

“Hey!” She says as she moves next me and grabs my free hand. “Not my fault Colton went all caveman on Thomas.”  

“I know right?” Phoebe says, “Did you see the power behind his fist? His arms bulged so much I though his shirt was going to rip open” Phoebe says in a dreamy voice.  

“He used to have a massive crush on me when he was a teen, if I knew he was gonna grow up so f*****g hot I would have definitely got with him!” Mallory says laughing, I shake my head at these two idiots 

“Vodka is bad for you two!” I giggle  

“Us? You were the one about to make out with the town’s...Argh!!”  

Mallory is interrupted when she breaks her heel on a cobble stone and falls over, pulling me and Pheobe down with her, we land on the path in a heap on top of each other, laughing like crazy. 

“God!” Theo shouts from somewhere behind us “We can’t leave you lot alone for five minutes.” He says as he grabs at Phoebe’s arm to help her up. I rach for his hands but instead grab a bloodied hand, Colton pulls me up, harder than what he needed to and I land with a thud against his hard body. Good God, the man is made of muscle.  

“Uh, any one gonna help me up?” Mallory asks, clutching her broken shoe in her hand. We all rush forward to help her and once she is up, Theo calls a taxi to take us home.  

“D? Can we talk?” Colton asks 

“What about?” I say coldly. I try and give him the cold shoulder but he holds my hand and turns me around to face him, 

“About what just happened.” He says, his blue eyes a bit hazed from the alcohol and anger. I sigh, I’m about to say no, when the taxi pulls up. The girls clamber in the back and Theo slams the door shut before I can get in. I look at him and furrow my brows. 

“Go with Colton, you two need to talk.” He says, “You will be ok, it’s Colton not the bogeyman!” He gets in the taxi and they drive off. I turn around and Colton is leaning o the wall, his hands shoved into his pockets, his leather jacket undone, his hair all ruffled, he looks delicious. I shake my head and walk to him,  

“Come on then, start talking.” I say to him and start walking the opposite direction. He soon joins me, I shiver at his closeness and next thing I know his warm coat is being draped around my shoulders, I look up at him and smile, thankful for the kind gesture.  

“Thomas is the town’s drug dealer, I'm pretty sure he is a murder and I know for a fact he is a pimp!” He blurts out and I stop walking! 

“How do you know this Colton?”  

“He’s the one Sally cheated on Theo with.”