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Shawna scoffed, looking out the window. “You’re no help.”

“She’s no help for me either. Learn to live with it,” Sloane told her.

“You don’t need the help,” Shawna grumbled.

“If you and Sloane ever decide to have children,” Ana informed him. “Let this be an excellent example of what you’ll have to go through.”

“Mama,” Sloane groaned from the back seat. “Don’t.”

“Kids?” Dean asked, not caring that it came out as a squeak.

Good lord, they hadn’t even been dating for a year yet. After six months of Sloane’s first relationship with a man, Dean wasn’t eager to push too hard for much more. He hadn’t even dared to bring up living together, even if they did spend more time at one another’s place than separately.

A soft chuckle rose from the backseat. “I think you broke him, Mom. And Sloane looks like he’s going to have a stroke.”

Ana blinked innocently at the rearview mirror. “Sloane, honey, Diana’s right. You are looking a little stressed.”

“Can we please just get to the house so I can pretend to hide in my room away from you all?” Sloane asked voice muffled as though he’d covered his face with his hand.

“It’s cute that he thinks he can hide from us,” Ana said to Dean.

“I said, pretend!” Sloane barked.

“And that he thinks he’s staying in his old room,” Ana added.

“Wait, why? What did you do to my room?” Sloane demanded.

“Your room worked perfectly well when you were the only one staying in it,” Ana informed him. “But considering it’s the same size bed as when you were a teen, I thought you might do better in the guest room.”

“The bed was fine,” Sloane complained. “We fit just fine in it last time.”

“I knew you didn’t sleep on the floor and let him have the bed,” Ana accused.

“Yeah, and we both fit just fine,” Sloane repeated.

Ana huffed. “Yes, well, this time, you’re not sleeping in it as friends. So you can have the guest room.”

“Which is on the other side of the house,” Diana proclaimed. “Away from the rest of us.”

“Which means we don’t have to hear our big brother’s sex noises,” Shawna added.

Sloane gave an ugly squawk of protest, and Dean groaned, slumping against the door. “Ana, please feel free to leave me here on the side of the road. I’ll happily join the woodland creatures for Christmas.”

Ana chuckled. “As if you’ll get awaythateasily.”

“Like hell, are you leaving me alone with them,” Sloane called to him.

“You love us,” Shawna proclaimed loud enough that Dean winced.

“Define love,” Sloane growled.

“So much love,” Diana tacked on.

“Let go of me!”

Ana gave Dean a rueful smile. “Welcome to the family, Dean.”

It wasn’this first time visiting the house, and he was relieved at the sight of the two-story building as they rounded a curve. It had once been a duplex split down the middle. Growing up, Sloane had taken the living room, allowing his sisters to share a bedroom and their mother to have one to herself. After leaving, he sent money home, allowing Ana to purchase the other house and tear down the shared walls and doors. Now, it was a modestly sized two-story with enough rooms for each of them and a spare at the back for guests.