Tied to You by Bibi Paterson

spent eating pizza and watching crappy TV, avoiding all the sappy feel-good holiday films.
    “You okay?” Alex says, bumping his shoulder with mine playfully.
    “All good,” I sniff. “Your mum is amazing,” I say. “I can’t believe she sent me these. She is so thoughtful.” I look over at Alex’s pile and laugh when I see a jar of Vegemite, a packet of Tim Tams and a pair of boxers with the Australian flag on them.
    “Yeah, thoughtful…”Alex sniggers.
    Shyly, I hand Alex the small pile of gifts that I got him. “Sorry, it is not much…” I trail off. I really struggled on what to buy him, especially when Alex probably has the means to buy a third world country. Despite Alex giving me an allowance, which I haven’t actually touched, I made sure I used the money I made from my job with Charles to pay for these.
    Alex rips open the paper and pulls out the soft grey cashmere scarf that I found when I was out and about the week before. I had noticed he didn’t seem to have one, so when I came across this one, the exact colour of his eyes, I thought it would suit him. His presents also include an e-reader with a couple of titles that I thought he would like already loaded and a selection of Aussie sweets that I managed to find in one of those random stores that seem to cater to every nationality who might be missing their favourite foods from home.
    “I hope that you like them…?” I ask hesitantly.
    Alex leans over and gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. “They are lovely. Thank you. You really didn’t need to.” I shrug in embarrassment but refrain from saying anything more. “Your turn,” he says, handing me a stack of boxes.
    “What on earth, Alex?” I ask, and this time it is Alex shrugging his shoulders. I open my presents slowly, savouring my gifts. A few of the packages are filled with clothes and I am guessing Alex must have got some assistant, or his secretary, to help him out because he has my size spot on and everything coordinates. “Are you fed up with my fab style already?” I joke.
    “Nope, just thought that most chicks are into clothes, and you haven’t really been buying anything…” he trails off, looking a little uneasy.
    “Thanks, Alex. These are lovely.” The rest of the parcels contain perfume, chocolates, a couple of books and even a voucher for a spa day. The items are really personal yet Alex has got each one spot on, making me wonder if he has been going through my things. I dismiss the thought and lean across to give him a kiss, murmuring a soft ‘Thank you’.
    The rest of the day is spent cooking Christmas lunch and then slipping into a food-induced coma in front of the TV as we watch films all afternoon. I must have dozed off at one point as I wake to find my head on a pillow in Alex’s lap, a blanket thrown across my body and his hand resting on my hip. I am so grateful for the return of this version of Alex that I lie there for a while, eyes closed despite being fully awake, savouring the moment.

Chapter Eleven
    I pull on my ball gown and then realise I have no way of zipping up the back. Try as I might, nothing is going to help me get that zip up. With a sigh of frustration, I realise that I am going to need Alex’s help. I call down the stairs and moments later I hear his footsteps on the stairs. As he enters my room, I take in the sight of him suited and booted in his tux and, for a moment, my heart skips a beat.
    I turn so that I am standing in front of the long mirror, holding up my strapless bodice, with my bare back to Alex. “Could you give me a hand with the zip? I just can’t seem to get it to budge,” I ask. Without a word, Alex crosses the room and comes to stand behind me. I catch his eye in the mirror and smile at him, but an expression I can’t read crosses his face. I would say it was lust, but I know better than to think that Alex feels that way for me, no matter how tingly he makes me. His hand rests on the small of my back and I hear