Chapter 121

The One During The Holidays

NATE

It’s Christmas and at the moment, my family is visiting.

When Arielle moved in, she thought it was a good idea to gather with my family. We hadn’t seen them since my father’s health scare—which was literally so fucking long ago—and after my fake death, Arielle and I wanted for my family to see that everything is alright. For once, everything is good.

We had to go shopping together for not only food, but for a few things to add to Christmas gifts. We already had the shit we bought in Anguilla, but I wanted a bit more for my sisters and Mum. Plus, I had no fucking idea what to get for my stepfather.

We spent all day cooking. I had to show Arielle how to cook a few traditional Pakistani dishes that’d become customary during the holidays for us. She was excited to learn.

I think the idea of me in the kitchen turns her on, if I’m honest.

Eventually, my family arrived. However, Bella didn’t come with them. For the last hour, we’ve been deep in conversation about everything and anything under the sun. Lots of it has been revolved around Eva’s schooling.

She’s doing well, by the way. However, much like me, she can be hard to tame. She’s not always completely focused on the lectures at hand, and the teachers can find that hard to deal with. I used to get in shit occasionally, but it’s because I wanted to go outside and do reckless shit.

I was creative. I didn’t want to sit, reading lines from a book to study. It just isn’t how I learn and Eva’s the same way.

“How are you two liking living together?” Elijah inquires as he sips on his drink. He relaxes into the sofa, peering at Arielle and I where we sit.

“I mean, I can’t speak for Nate, but I think it’s been amazing.” One of her hands rests on my thigh and she squeezes it as she speaks.

By the way, Arielle has been handling my family’s pressing very well. They’ve been inquiring about her life and she’s handled it with grace. I’d already pre-warned my Mum to not ask about her mother or father—which I’m glad I did—but Mum has still asked the usual, like where Arielle grew up, if she has any siblings, etcetera.

My stepfather chuckles at her answer.

“It’s been perfect,” I add. “Although, I did use your body wash the other day.”

Arielle laughs, twisting her neck to glance at me, “Did you really?”

I nod, smile tugging at my lips. “I’m not used to someone else living here. I’ve always been on my own. I grabbed the first bottle—turns out it was yours. I didn’t even realize. Spent all day smelling like flowers and strawberries.”

Mum puts her drink down, “Better than smelling like sweat.”

When I’d first told my mum that Arielle and I moved in together, she was shocked, to say the least.

Bella and her have always bothered me about the fact that I’ve never truly had a woman I’ve been serious over. I’ve dated lots—well, it probably wouldn’t be considered dating, but that’s how Mum understands it—however, my family didn’t meet any of them.

It actually became a running joke in the family that I’d never settle down.

They didn’t know it—or didn’t care to listen to me explain—that I want children. I’ve always wanted them. I never wanted to have them until I was in a healthy relationship and had that sense of stability in my life.

However, in the last few weeks that Arielle and I have been living together in our home, Bella and Mum are now pestering me about proposing. Mum has told me that she approves of Arielle, and of our relationship, and now she can’t wait to become a grandmum.

I reminded her that she’s already got a grandkitty—Storm—but she wasn’t having any of it.

As if she’s telepathic, Mum suddenly pipes up, “What’s next for you lot?”

I open my mouth to answer, but Eva adds in her two cents, “Nate has to propose!”

Arielle is drinking, but she twists her neck and raises an eyebrow in amusement. She seems to be enjoying the grilling I’m about to get from my own family. I don’t blame her, though. If her family was like this, I’d probably have the same reaction.

After placing her glass down, Arielle puts a hand to my knee and looks at me. “Your baby sis is telling you to propose.”

“Put a ring on her!” Eva’s beaming, happy to be stirring shit.

Mum playfully scolds her.

“Y’know, my loving family, proposals are supposed to be a surprise, yeah?”

“Is it really a shock when everyone knows it’s coming? When the two of you tease one another about it?” Elijah jumps in on it now, glancing between Arielle and I.

“You’re already basically married,” Amelia adds.

Everything they’re saying is right. Arielle surely knows it’s coming. When you’ve been together as long as the two of us have been, it’s kind of obvious. She might not know when, but there’s no way I could honestly deny to her that it’s coming.

To add to it, we’ve become so domestic since living together that Amelia’s right—we are like a married couple. I’m quite enjoying it. Although, I’d like to have fun in this stage of our lives a little longer. We really haven’t been able to do so much since meeting.

I almost want to pull Mum aside and inform her that it’s coming soon. That I have a ring and a plan. However, I think I’d rather wait and surprise the entire family when we see them and Arielle is wearing the massive ring I’ve bought her. The one I’ve had custom made so she’ll be able to tell them the story behind the diamond.

It’ll surely be something she’ll be repeating for the remainder of her life and that’s the way I like it. I don’t want just a simple ring bought from a glass case. I wanted it to have a story. Something to represent the journey we’ve gone on to get to this point.

I’m excited as fuck for it, but also nervous. I have no doubts that she’ll say yes—I know she will—but I can’t help but still be nervous. I have a plan and if it doesn’t go down like I want it to, I’ll be upset. I want it to feel special.