Page 34 of Personal Foul (The San Diego Storm #3)

Colin

“ L et me apologize for what is about to happen,” Carson said, looking over at me, all happy and satisfied after a quickie in the shower. He was shirtless but wore low-slung navy sweats.

“Why?” I asked, watching from the edge of the bed. “What do you mean? It’s been lovely.”

“Good. She takes her stocking stuffers seriously.”

My eyes widened. “But I didn’t buy them loads of gifts. Why didn’t you warn me? We could have brought more! Does Amazon deliver on Christmas?”

I reached for my phone before Carson stopped me. “There is no stopping or matching her. And no, they don’t deliver on Christmas.”

We had shopped online, and I’d picked out several things for them I thought they would like. Next year, I’d do a better job.

“Let’s go,” he said, pulling a long-sleeved T-shirt over his head. “I need coffee.”

As soon as we hit the stairs, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and something made of cinnamon wafted through the air.

“God, she’s trying to kill me,” I said to Carson. “I’m going to need to run home if I keep eating like this.”

He tossed his arm over my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I warned you, and it only gets worse today.”

“What gets worse?” my mother asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I laughed, taking in the floor space under the tree that was now covered with more wrapped packages than I’d ever seen in my life. I pulled out my phone and snapped photos of everything. “Everything is perfect.”

“Are you hungry? I made a little spread for breakfast.”

“You call that a little?” I motioned toward the spread of cinnamon rolls, French toast sticks, biscuits with ham, and coffee on the table. Then something caught my eye.

Moving over for a closer look, my mouth fell open as I turned to Elizabeth. “Is that hundreds and thousands?”

“Yes,” she said happily. “The website called it Fairy Bread. I looked it up online. White bread with butter, then covered in sprinkles. I used red and green. I know it’s simple, but I thought you might enjoy it. Is it supposed to have that many sprinkles?”

My grin was almost painful. I hadn’t had it since I was a kid. “It’s perfect,” I said, kissing her cheek. “You’re too kind to me. You know that? Carson is going to get jealous.”

“He’ll be okay. Have some.”

She pulled out of my hug, then held out the plate to me. It was impossible to muck up, and somehow this lovely human thought she could.

Taking the plate from her, I took a piece and shoved it into my mouth. My eyes closed as the buttery sweetness hit my tongue. The sprinkles crackled as I chewed and made a production by moaning before stuffing another piece in my mouth.

“Can I have one?” Carson asked, reaching for the plate.

I frowned and turned away, shielding the plate from his hands. “Get your own. These are mine.”

I winked at him before handing him the plate. “Here. Give it a go.”

He smirked as he picked up a triangle and shoved it in his mouth. His smile was breathtaking.

“Okay boys, time for our stockings,” Elizabeth said.

As I watched her unearth the stockings, I looked out the wall of glass behind the tree to the falling snow. It was postcard perfect.

George handed Carson his stocking with his name embroidered in the band, as Elizabeth handed me one, twice the size of Carson’s. I looked over at him and grinned.

“Told you,” he said, pulling out his little gifts. “Get to work.”

By the time we all unwrapped the small gifts, I looked down at the pile that included everything imaginable from Australia. I was ready to ask if they might adopt me. But I’d rather have Carson.

“We went to World Market and picked up a few things in London. We thought you might enjoy some treats from home.”

“It’s perfect.” I’d even be happy with the jars of jellied eel and Vegemite. Probably wouldn’t eat it, but it was the thought that counted.

“How will I ever repay your kindness to me?”

“Every time you make Carson smile like that,” George said, pointing to him, “is all we’ll ever need. That’s what all parents want for their children. To be happy. And you do that for him.”

I glanced over at my boyfriend, who was smiling at me with soft puppy-dog eyes. He’d been taking photos with his phone. “He makes me happy, too. Not when he’s barking at me on the field, but we’re getting there.”

We repacked our stockings with all our treats, then dove into the packages. Carson had not been joking. It was obscene, and I loved every second.

As we handed out gifts and watched as everyone opened them, my heart was full. I’d purchased an electric wine decanter for them, along with a set of Himalayan rock salt shot glasses for tequila. Even if they never used them, they were cool to look at.

“What the fuck is this?” Carson asked as he pulled out an identical Rams T-shirt to mine.

“I thought we could be matchy-matchy. And now you’ll never forget the moment we met. I thought it was sweet, really.”

Carson laughed and stuffed it back into the box. He didn’t bother to fold it, like he did everything else.

“This is for you,” he said, handing me a box wrapped in red paper.

I smiled. “What is it?”

“You know how Christmas works, right? Open it.”

Pulling back the tissue, I found a Storm jersey. “I have one of these.”

He grinned. “Yeah, but you don’t have one of mine.”

I howled with laughter. I couldn’t say what I wanted to, but I knew what he was doing.

“Thank you. Again, best Christmas ever.”

We spent the rest of Christmas Day watching football and eating. I’d never consumed more food in my life. But it was worth it. It had been a fabulous holiday, and when we had to leave the following morning, it was difficult to say goodbye.

“We’ll see you when we return from London,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll be watching.”

I hugged her, then moved on to George. “Thank you for everything.”

He wrapped me in his arms and patted my back. “Our pleasure. I’ll be in touch about the other issue after the New Year.”

“Sounds good.”

I didn’t care about the money anymore. My life wasn’t there; it was here. With Carson and these people.

For the first time in my life, I felt part of a family that saw me. No masks to wear, no hardened outer shell. Just me. And I wanted more.

After my interview the following day, I officially moved into Carson’s house.

We lugged my remaining things from the guest house to his room.

There seemed to be no reason to keep going back and forth when we spent every night in his bed.

Allister had moved in back in August, so there was nothing to move.

“Do ya think he knew we’d end up together?”

Carson carried in the last box I’d received from Owen and followed me into the house. “Maybe. Animals do have a sixth sense about things. Studies in Japan have shown that cats can detect earthquakes because of their supersensitive paws. They can sense the vibrations before they happen.”

I stopped in the middle of the floor and marveled at him. “You’re a nerd. My boyfriend is a hot, sexy nerd. Do you have secret nerd glasses because I find them hot? I might even drop to my knees right now and suck your nerd dick.”

Carson threw his head back and laughed, sending a jolt of love through me.

I once thought it was simply lust I felt for him, but now I realize it was more all along.

The kind of feelings that give you butterflies and make your heart race.

The feelings that make you say things you normally wouldn’t and lose track of the world around you when they’re near.

It was terrifying, yet wonderful at the same time.

I put my box on the floor, then took the one he was holding down with it.

I was noticing things I’d missed. Carson’s smile is so different now. He was open and didn’t think twice about kissing me or holding my hand in public. And for the first time in my life, I felt his love in my bones.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, smiling at me.

I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight. Carson clung to me, placing sweet kisses on my shoulder.

“Babe? You okay? What do you need?”

What do you need?

He’d always asked me that, and I’d never been able to put it into words. But it was fucking simple. “I just need you. I’m so fucking happy that I almost can’t stand myself. These feelings deep in my gut are electrifying.”

I felt his smile against my neck. “You have me. Forever.”

A wave of emotion rolled up, taking me by surprise. I wanted to cry with my sudden revelation. “Forever will never be long enough with you.”