Secret Santa Gift Exchange! Novels & Stories

Finally, the car stopped at a park. With Christmas trees and lights all over the place. So many fun activities are going on. It was snowing. I came down and started jumping, and the loud Christmas music made it more fun. “Merry Christmas!” I screamed. Did he just smile? Zayne was watching me play around. I dragged him into the circle and made him jump with me. This felt so good. “Here, have this jacket. It is very cold.” He removed his jacket and gave it to me, but I was finding it difficult to put it on because of the gloves on my hands.

I join the conversation when someone asks me about my school. When it’s time for the gift exchange it is absolute chaos. There at 50 or more people and the gifts are all stacked in the middle for the adults and there are small piles for all the kids under 15. We watch the little kids open and then it’s time for us. I’m so busy trying to understand what is going on, I miss that it’s my turn. “Täydellisyys,” Nathan calls without thinking. Only those around him seem to notice but Patrick steps in quickly.

I stand alone on the icy field, turning back every few minutes to look at the road behind me. When my hands grow numb from the cold, I scroll my social media feed and see a recent post from my younger sister, Giada Soave. Holding gifts in her arms, she sits beneath a luxurious crystal Christmas tree with my parents embracing her from both sides. Ivano stands behind her with his hand resting lightly at her waist and his eyes full of tenderness. The caption reads, "Merry Christmas, I'm grateful to spend the holiday with those who love me most!" The comments section buzzes with blessings, praise, and envious messages.

The dinner table fell into a dead silence. “Sweetheart, come with me.” Mom led me to the backyard and pushed open the storage room door. In the corner were more than a dozen neatly stacked cases of the exact same whisky. Some were damp and moldy, others were covered in cobwebs. These were all the New Year’s gifts I had my husband, Kevin Zane, buy over the past three years. “W-What is this?” My voice came out dry. My throat was tight.

“Yes, tonight. And wear something decent for once.” I rolled my eyes automatically. “You say that like I dress like a stripper.” If only he knew. “This is important,” he continued. “My friend’s son is flying in for Christmas.” “What friend?” “Patrick Laurent.” The name sounded vaguely familiar. “He was supposed to surprise us for the holidays, but your mother and I already booked that Aspen trip this weekend. So you’ll host him instead.” Something about the way he said man instead of boy made me pause. “And Ivy?”

He didn’t recognize the gift. Furrowing his brows, Dominick went over and picked up the gift box. The box was plain with a line of text scribbled on the bottom right. “See you never.” “What is it? It looks so tacky.” With a frown, Gia was ready to throw the gift away. Dominick pressed down on her hand, his eyes narrowing on the line of text. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach. He opened the box with trembling hands, and his body seized up.

I hated his guts for betraying me, but I couldn't find it in me to throw those letters away, so I kept them. We had this ritual where we'd write a letter to Santa asking for a gift. Of course we knew Santa wasn't real, but it was our thing. We'd sneak off when the other wasn't looking and check each other's letters and surprise each other with whatever we'd asked for. “I was right, Mommy, it is him,” Lucien said, looking from the photograph in his hand and back up to Ryan, before stopping at the last step as he stared at the picture and then at Ryan, who was now staring back at Lucien. He rushed to stand in front of Ryan, tilting his head back as he looked at the tall man, before raising his

“Juni and I are going to the store to pick out gifts this morning. Christmas is weeks away and everything will be sold out soon, so we have to go today.” She glances over at me, probably to check if I am onboard with the plan and I offer her a smile. “Of course you can go sweetheart.” Dante answers calmly. “And yes, what are you getting me this year?” She beams and Dante chuckles. “It's going to be a surprise just like you every year.” Adelaide groans. “Daddy gets me the best gifts. He bought me a car last time, I wonder if he can top that.” She says to me,

Kai's voice rumbles low against her ear, darkly amused and dangerously enticing. "Yes." She shivers as his tongue traces the edge of her ear. "I didn't listen because I crave that danger." Kai chuckles, a deep, sinful sound. "Oh, you're my naughty little Christmas gift." Movement catches their attention. Jackson approaches now, no longer fighting or confused about what he wants.

"And they're delivered by Santa Claus, I suppose." "Of course," she replied, smiling. "Santa always delivers the presents on Christmas Eve, but they don't open them until Christmas morning. After delivering the presents, Santa reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' to them and then they sing songs and have hot chocolate." Caden tilted his head. "How do you know all this?" Jocelyn blushed. "I volunteered there many times before, since my parents passed." "Do they always have enough presents for all of the children?" Caden looked back toward the tree and the family walked into the restaurant.