Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
No. Not when they were given by my family, they weren’t.
I licked my teeth and said, quietly, “They’re probably empty, or very close to empty. They think it’s funny to give joke gifts.”
Quincy made a sound low in his throat, and I plastered on a smile as Humfrid was up.
“Oh!” she cried out when she got to my gift. “That’s so awesome, Hollis! Thank you!”
I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes.
I’d gotten her a messenger bag—again, something I’d also told my mom and dad I was getting her—but it was probably half the price of the one my parents had given her. Though it still cost me close to five hundred dollars.
She tossed it aside like it was last year’s goods, and then turned to Tay. “Your turn, Tay.”
“This one is from me,” Mom beamed as she pushed a large box over.
Inside, was a brand-new electric guitar.
My stomach clenched.
I’d priced that guitar, thinking maybe I could get it for him, but it’d been over two grand, and I didn’t have that kind of money in my budget.
“This one is from me,” Dad said, tapping a big box that looked like it could hold something exciting.
Only as I opened it, I deflated even further, if that were possible.
“Thanks?” I said as I saw the massive roll of paper towels.
I didn’t even use paper towels.
Not that they weren’t good for other people, but I used reusable paper towels because I felt like I was doing my part to save the trees by doing so.
And Mom and Dad knew that.
They hated coming over to my place and using my flannel rags.
They’re not absorbent enough.
Assholes.
Arms going around myself, I looked at Humfrid and watched her open up a set of keys.
That’s when I really started to get pissed.
“Is this it?” Humfrid gasped.
Dad beamed. “It’s it.”
She gasped and stood up, her arms in the air. “You got me a moped?”
Dad nodded, and together, they all went outside to look at it.
I gathered up the trash, then went into the kitchen for a trash bag.
When I got there, it was to see the light on in the oven, and none other than my least favorite dish in there cooking.
Everyone loved shrimp… except for me.
And it wasn’t that I didn’t like it. It was because I was allergic to shrimp. I couldn’t eat it.
And they knew it.
I must’ve stood there too long because Quincy came to find me long moments later.
“What are you staring at?” he asked curiously.
I licked my lips. “My mom made shrimp alfredo.”
He paused, his hand on my hip, and said, “You’re allergic to shellfish.”
I’d told the man once, and he’d remembered. Meanwhile, my parents couldn’t seem to retain that information even after over twenty years of having me.
I deflated even more. “Yeah.”
“Can you even be in the same room with it if they’re eating?” he asked, sounding like he was speaking through gritted teeth.
“Not a small room, no,” I said. “I might not ingest it, but it still affects my breathing. Clogs my nose up and makes me wheeze a little bit.”
“Hollis!” Humfrid bellowed from the living room. “You have my gift left!”
Woodenly, I walked into the room and grabbed the last present.
Inside was… the stupid gift set she’d been gifted last Christmas. The one she’d shown me with disgust on her face when Grandma had given it to her.
I stared at it… and lost it.
Not bothering to clean up the rest of my trash, I slowly gathered my things.
“Will you grab that?” I pointed at the smaller amp.
Quincy nodded, picking it up, startling Tay with the move, causing him to flinch backward.
I walked over to the couch and snatched up the messenger bag.
I’d return it.
I’d return that amp, too.
Then I’d go buy myself my computer.
What was the freakin’ point of them asking me what I wanted if they weren’t going to buy me any of it?
“Where are you going?” Mom asked in surprise.
I didn’t answer her, just caught up my purse on the way out and left.
Quincy followed with the amp, and then we were walking toward my beat up car.
I passed Tay’s nineteenth birthday gift—a brand new BMW X4. Then I passed Humfrid’s seventeenth birthday gift, an Audi Q8. My mom and dad’s matching Mercedes.
Then Humfrid’s new moped.
When I got to my Corolla, which I bought my freakin’ self, I threw everything inside, and barely contained my tears.
Getting into the driver’s seat, I took a few short breaths, then watched as Mom and Dad started yelling at me for leaving and ‘ruining’ everything.
My back door gently opened, and the amp was set on the seat next to the hastily discarded messenger bag.
The door shut, then my door opened.
Quincy crouched down, looking at me with a smile on his face. One that was soft and welcoming. “Olive Garden?”
I felt my breath hitch.