Page 47 of Happily Ever After… Again and Again

Nix takes his bowl of fruit from Rowan, keeping it well out of reach of his pesky soulmate. “You can do it, Ro!”

“Fuck.” The baby alpha stands and cracks his neck. He finds a flat box under the tree, tosses it into Grayson’s lap, and then stands, arms crossed. “There. Merry Fucking Christmas.” It sounds more likeI hope you choke, asshole,rather than a festive greeting.

Grayson’s eyes pop wide and fly straight to Rowan’s face. His shouldersdroop, and maybe he’s a little ashamed. “Thanks, Ro.”

“Well, don’t keep us waiting! Open it,” Gideon grouses. “At this rate, I’ll never get that damn turkey in the oven.”

“Fine. Fine,” he whispers. He’s turning the box over, looking for where it opens. The wrapping is so bad that even Jay can see the end where the rough edges are held together with too much tape. “The paper is beautiful, Ro.”

“It really is. Where’d you get it?” Leo asks, picking up his second cinnamon bun, this time ignoring Luca’s open mouth and quiet chirping noises. He puts three-quarters of it in his mouth in one bite, and then the rest once he’s masticated it enough that there’s room.

“In your wrapping room.”

“Really? Huh. Maybe I ordered it and I don’t remember.”

That makes Jay’s brain hurt, because there has never been a truer statement when it comes to Leo Costas and online shopping.

While they’d been discussing the wrapping paper, Grayson had carefully removed the tape and the paper. Inside is a plain black box. When he lifts the lid, he freezes. He pulls out a very,verypoorly knitted scarf. After placing the box on the floor, Grayson stands so he can get the full effect.

It’s a beautiful color. If Jay has to guess, it’s the exact color of Grayson’s cock. He keeps that tidbit to himself, but when he glances at Luca, Leo has his hand over Luca’s mouth, preventing him from saying the same thing and ruining the moment.

The scarf has to be eight feet long, at least eighteen inches wide at one end, and maybe ten at the other. With at least twenty randomly dropped stitches and a single hole near the bottom, big enough for a fist to fit through, it’s not anywhere near perfect. But none of that stops Grayson from wrapping it around and around and around his neck until he’s covered from his chest to his nose in rose-colored wool. Wrapped like that, the holes aren’t as visible, and it looks beautiful with Grayson’s skin.

His blue eyes seem to glow with something electric, and when he speaks, his normally smooth tone is rough with something Jay could only describe as a surplus of emotion. “I love it.”

Rowan looks uncertain. He hates the scrutiny, and when you add in the fear of disappointing his mate, he’s pumping out more rum than spice. “You do? Even ifImade it?”

Grayson approaches him slowly so he can take his face in his palms. He leans in to get a kiss, only to realize his mouth is still covered by the wool. “Could you give a guy a hand?” he whispers.

Rowan smiles his biggest smile and pulls the scarf away so he can claim his reward.

Nix sniffs beside him, and Jay pulls him in under his arm. “So romantic.”

Rowan pushes Grayson away shortly after, when he realizes they’re all watching with embarrassing heart-eyes. “Ugh. Fuck, that’s a relief.”

Jay: II

“That’s so nice. Wasn’t that nice?” Nix said with a sigh.

No one goes for the tree to get their gift, so Jay thinks he might as well bite the bullet. “Me next, then.” He pulls out a small gold bag he’d stuck into the branches of the tree. He hadn’t wanted what was inside crushed by the cats or wrestling enigma dumbasses. If it also meant Luca couldn’t reach it for extra snooping, then that was good too.

“Nix, this is for you.”

“You got me? Yay!” He claps his hands—though no doubt he would have the same response about any of them. “Please.”

He takes the bag, tosses out the glittering tissue, and freezes.

Tilting his head, he still hasn’t pulled out his gift. “Jamie.”

“What is it?!” Luca squeals.

“It’s my phone.”

Jay isn’t surprised that it has been in the bag for two weeks and he hadn’t noticed. Nix still couldn’t get the hang of keeping his cell phone handy. To be fair, he never went anywhere by himself. Ever.

“Ha ha ha, James, are you trying to make a point?” He’s got tiny frown lines between his perfect brows.

“No, although I think we might need to talk about how you didn’t know where it was for two weeks. But not now. Here, can I show you?” He holds his hand out for the phone.