Page 148 of If You Claim Me

“That sounds like an amazing Christmas so far.”

“Yeah. And Roman dressed up as Santa again this morning, but don’t tell him I know it’s him.”

I make a lips-zipped motion and toss the imaginary key aside. “Did he bring any elves with him this time?” I ask quietly.

“He said they had the day off.” She narrows her eyes. “And now you and Dred are a family, which is good because Dred deserves to have one.”

“I think so, too.”

I put her down, and she pulls me over to the tree to show me her gifts. Roman’s gift-giving prowess is stamped all over the place. There’s a huge stuffed axolotl that’s nearly the same size as Callie, new hockey equipment, books, and clothes.

“Wow, you must have been really good this year, huh?”

“Mostly, yeah.” She nods and fiddles with the end of her ponytail. “I sort of hoped Lexi would have the baby for Christmas, so I’d get to be an aunt, but she said the baby is still growing.” Her lips push out. “I don’t know though, ’cause Lexi’s belly is really big. She looks like a balloon that’s ready to pop.”

I laugh.

“Can you imagine that? Just boom!” She makes explosion hand motions. “And instead of confetti, out comes a baby.” She thinks for a moment. “Are you and Dred going to have a baby?”

“Callie!” Fee appears and covers her sister’s mouth with her hand. “Sorry! She’s fully focused on being an aunt these days.”

Callie pulls at her sister’s hand. “They’re married. Married people have babies,” she says defensively, wrinkling her nose.

Everly nods. “You and Dred would have really cute babies.”

“Lexi and Roman’s baby will be the cutest,” Callie declares. “I’m going to go say hi to Victor.” She stomps off.

Everly snorts an indelicate laugh. “Someone has some feelings.”

“She had her and Connor’s whole wedding planned out last year,” Fee explains. “They were going to get married on the ice when she turned eighteen.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I glance over to where Callie is now hugging Victor, still looking over her shoulder at us.

“She even asked me to draw their fictional ceremony,” Fee confides.

“Did you?” Everly asks.

“Oh yeah. It was proudly displayed on her wall until he married Dred, and then it moved to the closet.” Fee gives me a look. “But the picture of you riding the unicorn is still on her wall.”

“You’re not hard to look at,” Everly blurts, then covers her eyes for a moment. She grabs Fee’s arm. “Why don’t you show me your art stuff?” She steers Fee away.

Mildred sidles up next to me. “What was that all about?”

“Apparently Callie had plans to marry me.”

She laughs, then nods to the couch where Callie is sitting cross-legged, showing Victor one of her sketchbooks. “Looks like maybe that crush is shifting.”

“He could be her babysitter,” I mutter.

“Give it ten years.”

There’s suddenly a flurry of activity at the door, followed by loud feminine excitement. “Hollis and I are engaged!” Hammer shouts.

Mildred and Lexi rush over to check out the ring, followed by Fee, Everly, and Callie. Hammer’s mother and Roman’s ex, Zara, and her life partner, North, are there, too. Suddenly, Christmas turns into a whole different celebration.

After the whirlwind subsides, I end up standing with Roman, Hollis, and North, while Victor gets pulled in with the girls. He doesn’t seem to mind the attention.

“Congratulations, man.” I clink my drink against Hollis’s.