Page 24

Tai rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Bridge? You haven’t noticed the way they are around each other?”
He untangled a stubborn knot in the lights. “You mean the constant bickering?”
“Duh! That, and the way Fenn can’t take his eyes off her.”
That he had noticed. He just hadn’t come to the same conclusion. “I always figured he was watching his back, you know, making sure she didn’t sucker punch him or something.”
Tai made a frustrated noise. “Didn’t you ever pick on a girl you liked back in school?”
“When I was seven.”
“Same principle applies.”
Bridger wasn’t convinced. He studied Tai’s face, trying to gauge if his friend was yanking his chain. But Tai looked sincere, if a little exasperated.
“And then there’s Kate,” Tai continued. “The way she?—”
Bridger held up a hand. “Wait, you think she likes him back?”
“Hello!”
But Bridger was only half-listening. His mind raced, replaying interactions between Fenn and Kate, searching for clues he might have missed.
Nah. Tai was seeing things that weren’t there. Wasn’t he?
He was about to argue his point when the scent of warm vanilla and sugar wafted into the room. He turned to see Jane walking in, a plate of freshly baked cookies in her hands.
Before Tai could move, he snagged the biggest one, giving his wife a peck on the cheek. “Thanks, babe.”
She eyed Tai’s smile. “What’s so funny?”
“Besides your man’s total lack of relationship wisdom?” Tai took a cookie from the plate. “Not with you,” he quickly clarified. “We’re talking about Fenn and Kate.”
Jane brightened. “Oh, you mean wondering when they’re going to make it official?”
Bridger nearly choked on his cookie. He coughed, crumbs spraying everywhere. “You, too?”
Jane set the plate down. “Honey, it’s completely obvious.”
Bridger’s mind reeled. Was he really that oblivious? He prided himself on his ability to read people, to pick up on the smallest details. But apparently, when it came to matters of the heart, he was as clueless as a blindfolded man in a dark room.
He devoured the rest of his cookie and licked the crumbs from his fingers, groaning silently. Tai was right. That dad-bod was right around the corner.
Tai and Jane were watching him with amusement. He sighed. “I can’t believe I missed it.”
Jane’s laughter was gentle, understanding. “You’ve had a lot on your mind lately.”
Her gaze drifted to the towering Christmas tree, and her expression softened. “Kellen is going to flip when he sees this.”
Bridger followed her gaze, taking in the twinkling lights and the smell of fresh pine. His chest tightened as he saw the flicker of sadness cross her eyes.
“I don’t think he’s had a tree in years,” she said quietly.
Bridger’s jaw clenched. The thought of all the Christmases Kellen had missed, all the years he’d spent believing a lie, was like a punch to the gut. If Jane’s ex wasn’t already dead, he’d track the man down and show him exactly what he thought of a man who could deceive a child like that.
But that wouldn’t change the past. He couldn’t fix what had happened, but he could make sure Kellen never wanted for anything again. Not love, not affection, and certainly not a ridiculously oversized Christmas tree—or three—and a mountain of presents.
He reached for Jane’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “He’s got a lifetime of Christmases ahead of him. We’ll make sure of it.”