Chapter 19 Cinnamon And Secrets
I woke up to the sound of my alarm, stretching my arm, my eyes half closed. I turned it off with a groan. Sitting up, I stretched my hands out, rubbing my eyes. I felt hungover as I held my head while wobbling my way to the bathroom.
As I washed my face, the memories of last night came back and my face turned red as a tomato. My fingers moved voluntarily to my lips as I remembered the kiss.
Deep down, I had mentally beaten up myself last night for leaving half way but I had no choice… I didn’t want to feel like an escape route. I wanted him to give himself up to me whole.
I walked downstairs for breakfast. Summer was already sitting beside mum and Aurick who were wearing matching Christmas pajamas. Summer was extra bubbly today as she gave me a squeezing hug.
“Good morning,” She greeted.
I raised a brow with a small smile. “Good morning to you too, Summer. I’m sure you had a pleasurable night.”
Her eyes widened in realization and I nodded and looked at the others.
“No one told me today will be a matching pyjama morning,” I said, the sumptuous breakfast on the table made my stomach grumble.
Pancakes were lined up in plates, filled with fruity toppings, syrup dripping from the sides on to the plates with bacon too.
I took a sip of my coffee as I watched my mum’s face flush as she glanced at Aurick. The smiles on their faces made my heart tighten about last night…
“Well, Aurick decided that this will be a thing for us,” Mum responded, their fingers intertwined together on the table.
“That’s cool,” I nodded, taking a big bite of my pancakes. The syrup dripped from the corner of my mouth and I licked it, relishing in its rich taste.
“Barth, you are awake. Come sit with me son,” Aurick called out. “How was last night?”
“It was enlightening…”
I avoided his eyes by all means, almost spitting out my coffee but I felt his gaze hot on me as he sat across from me.
Enlightening?
“Last night…” Aurick began. “You stood up for Yvonne and I must commend you for that. It shows that your relationship is improving and that’s very important to the growth of this family. I and Valerie would love it if you both continued in this way showing love to each other as siblings.”
I choked on my coffee as he said the word “siblings”. I coughed slightly, muttering an apology as I bit on my lower lip.
Siblings don’t do what we did last night…
Barth's chuckle made me look up and I finally met his eyes which were dark. His hair was disheveled and in a mess. Did he sleep at all?
As he reached for the syrup in front of me without breaking contact, my skin prickled. As I peel my eyes away from him.
“In the light of that, we will be opening up our presents,” Mum added. “Aurick will go first.”
I smiled lightly as mum unwrapped the gift Aurick had given her. It was a red Chanel bag that mum had been eyeing for a long time.
She pecked him on the cheeks, her eyes watering as she checked out the bag asking me for my opinion and I gave a thumbs up.
Mum gifted him a portrait of the both of them when they were in Maldives. “I realized we didn’t have any portrait of the both of us around so I made this and not only that…”
She handed him another bag. In it was a pair of black shoes and a journal.
“I know you have a peculiar taste for journaling your thoughts so I thought it would be wonderful to get you your own personalized journal.”
Aurick’s grin widened and he hugged my mum.
“Well, Summer, I got you this from a shop when I and Barth went to pick supplies and I hope you love it.”
As she tore open the package, I sneaked a peak at Barth remembering our bickering back at the store and I wondered if he was thinking the same too.
Summer squealed as she took out the swan from the box. “This is beautiful, Bree. Thank you so much, nice of you to remember my love for birds especially swans. You do remember the story of how they only pick out one partner to spend the rest of their lives with, isn’t that sweet?”
I smiled. “Of course, I do and I’m glad you love it.”
Bree 1. Barth 0.
I almost stuck out my tongue at him.
Summer gifted me mittens she had knitted by herself. Soon, it was time for us ‘siblings’ to exchange gifts.
Barth went first.
He handed me a rectangular box, our fingers brushing lightly and I sucked in a breath as I felt electrified. Getting my sense back, I tore at the packet revealing a vintage book on the history of… dance.
My hand spinned. My heart, beating faster than usual.
“What… what’s this?”
Barth’s lips formed a smirk. “Before we met, Dad told me about how you loved dancing but suddenly stopped so I thought that maybe gifting you a book about dancing might reignite your passion for it. Valerie said you were really good so I hope maybe you might show me some of your moves soon.”
I felt bile rise in my throat as I listened to him, my anger working itself up. I felt a soft hand on mine and I looked up at mum with a narrowed brow.
There was a reason I stopped dancing and she knew!
“I’m sorry. Don’t you like it?” Barth asked.
I could sense the panic in his voice and I inhaled sharply, shaking my head. “Thanks.”
He nodded, a smile returning to his lips and I handed him my own gift.
It was a small box that contained a recovery balm that I had picked out specially for him.
“I… uhm… noticed that you usually sustain injuries a lot so I thought it wise to get you this so you could apply to your wounds to aid your healing.”
From the corner of my eyes, I could see Aurick shift uncomfortably in his seat.
Barth gave out a small, soft laugh, staring straight into my eyes, the butterflies in my stomach began running around as his low and husky laughter reached my ears. “Thank you. Very thoughtful of you indeed.”