First Kiss: The Ghost Bird Series: #10 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series)

First Kiss: The Ghost Bird Series: #10 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series) by C. L. Stone Read Free Book Online

Book: First Kiss: The Ghost Bird Series: #10 (The Academy Ghost Bird Series) by C. L. Stone Read Free Book Online
Authors: C. L. Stone
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Mystery & Detective, Teen & Young Adult, Romantic, spies, Mysteries & Thrillers
hadn’t occurred to me. I realized online shopping was a normal thing and I suddenly felt silly I hadn’t thought of it. “I don’t have a credit card.”
    “Here,” he said, pushing his plates of food away and reaching for the iPad. “Let me show you how to get it to work.”
    He placed the iPad between us, facing me, and used it upside down to show me different websites. Some were his favorites to shop at, and others were ones he often used to buy things for Gabriel, Luke, and the others.
    Then he went to a bookmarked page: a retail department online.
    “I’ll show you how to use the credit card autofill app,” he said.
    “Victor,” I said. I’d been leaning forward to look at him, and then reached out to stop his hand before he could touch the screen again. “I shouldn’t use your card.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Victor said. “They all use it when they need something.”
    I’d not seen anyone use a credit card that was like Victor’s. Most of them had their own debit cards or carried cash. “I can...give you the money I’ve got so far from the diner this week,” I said. “To help pay for it. And I can get more...”
    “Sang,” he said, his eyes brightening. “Just say thank you.”
    I sighed. It was normal for them to share what they could without asking for anything in return, like when they had taken me clothes shopping. I settled back into the seat. “Thank you, Victor,” I said quietly.
    “Don’t feel awkward,” he said. “I agree with you that they should get some surprises this Christmas. They’ve gone too long always knowing what they’re going to get. It’s hard to surprise them anymore. It’ll be good for you to give them a surprise, especially if they think they’ve wrapped everything already.”
    “How can I get the gifts and make sure they’re wrapped and at the house?” I asked. “I can’t just get them sent to Nathan’s house. Any one of them might open a box that comes in. Or at the least, they’ll know I’ve gotten more stuff. It’ll ruin the surprise.”
    Victor drummed his fingers on the table, his fingers tapping like he was playing a tune at his piano. He did this quietly for a moment and then nodded. “You’ll send it to my house,” he said. “I’ll make sure they are wrapped and will bring them on Christmas. I’ll hide them under the tree when I’m sure everyone’s asleep.”
    I got more excited about the idea, liking that the others would really be surprised. “You’ll know what I got you.”
    “Maybe the shop you buy from will have a gift wrap option,” he said. “But you’ll just have to trust me this year if we’re going to surprise the others. Maybe next year you can surprise me.”
    I smoothed my fingers over the surface of the now dimmed tablet, bringing it to life again. I might not be able to collect all the boxes without the others noticing, but maybe I could get one sent to Nathan’s house. Nathan would understand, and wouldn’t give away my secret. I’d pretend I only did it for Victor, and then Nathan would still be surprised at his own.
    I asked Victor for ideas of what to get for Mr. Blackbourne as we lingered over dessert.
    “What do you know he likes?” Victor asked as he spooned out some chocolate swirl ice cream.
    I went over what I knew about Mr. Blackbourne. “He likes music,” I said. “Both violin and piano. And I kind of know what types of songs he likes.”
    “He composes sometimes,” Victor said. “You could buy him sheet music.”
    I made a face. It wasn’t exactly the kind of gift I wanted to give.
    He laughed at my expression. “What else?”
    I thought some more. I tapped at the little iPad as if staring at it would give me some ideas.
    When we were done, and after he paid and left a tip on the table, we walked out together, me still holding onto the tablet. Items filtered through my brain, but I dismissed them all. He had ties and that was a boring gift anyway. He already had a violin, and

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