Page 63 of 27 Kisses

And for the most part, there isn’t any drama. Until Jonah arrives. Garrett leads him in to introduce him to everyone. When he gets to Vivian, he turns to Garrett. “What is he doing here?”

“Do you know each other?” Garrett asks, looking from one to the other. Neither of them looks happy.

“Unfortunately,” Vivian huffs. “Hard to forget the guy who tried to get me fired.”

“Too bad it didn’t work.”

“Fuck—”

“Stop. It’s Christmas. And you’re both guests here. So either get along or get out.” I point my finger at the doorway. Maybe I’ll get lucky, and they’ll leave.

“This is Garrett’s house,” Jonah says, crossing his arms. Is he showing off his muscles? Probably. I catch Vivian looking him over. “He invited me.”

“I was also invited.”

“Stop fucking aground.” Garrett glares at them both. “Aidyn’s right. If you can’t get along, you can either take it outside or go somewhere else.”

I smirk at them because I can be petty, and they might as well learn that about me.

Jonah doesn’t back down. “I’m not the one who starts it.”

Garrett rubs his forehead. “Jonah, stop.”

“Let’s open presents,” Jane says, jumping to her feet.

“Wait, Daddy.” Simon tugs on Isaac’s shirt. “Don’t forget Justine.”

Zye groans but smiles when Simon looks at him. “Great idea!”

Miles goes to the barn to get Justine, and Garrett’s mother pulls a hat from her bag of wool. This isn’t a knitted hat. It’s the hat he’s been trying to avoid. “Why do I have to play Santa?”

“Santa is busy getting ready for tomorrow,” Simon says as if it’s obvious.

“Garrett, you’re the host.”

He accepts the hat from his mother and jams it on his head. He looks so cute that I waggle my eyebrows and grin. I’ve got plans for that hat. Maybe I can get Santa to sit on my lap later.

Garrett shakes his head, but not like he’s opposed to my lascivious thoughts. More like he’s trying not to smile.

Simon and Lanie are the big winners. Most of the presents are for them. Garrett, Lanie, and I are exchanging gifts on Christmas, but we have presents for the others. Justine ignoresher balsa wood blocks and tries to go after all the sparkly presents. Simon laughs and looks so happy surrounded by his mom, his dad, and Adrian. And, of course, Reginald.

“This is for you, Reggie,” he says, handing him a present that I hadn’t gotten to yet.

“You’re supposed to wait, bud.” Isaac gives me an apologetic look, but I wave him off.

“The lad’s fine.”

It’s a bracelet Simon made out of gold and green pipe cleaners. Reginald looks flabbergasted. “Thank you, Master Simon.” He hugs Simon, and I notice even Garrett looks a little emotional.

It’s a nice moment until Garrett jumps to his feet. Is he going after Justine? She’s pecking at his mom’s shoes, so maybe not. He checks his phone and hands Miles the hat. “Can you take over for me? Just for a few minutes?”

“Sure, no problem.”

Since I do have a problem, I weave through the group and catch Garrett as he heads into his office.

“What do you need?” he says into the phone, and his no-nonsense tone tells me it’s work. But I already suspected that. I dart in front of him, and he almost runs into me. “Oh. Aidyn.” His free hand goes to my bicep.

“What’s going on?” I ask, planting my feet.