Page 6 of Stolen Holidays (The Miller Brothers #5)

six

Callie

Ten Days Until Christmas

As Eli and I let ourselves into Jace and Rylann’s home, we are assaulted by Christmas.

It looks like Buddy the Elf broke into their house and decorated it from top to bottom.

I can’t help but smile as my eyes take in every stocking, string of garland, Christmas tree, present, and twinkling light.

Homemade paper snowflakes hang in the entryway. It’s fantastic.

Their house looks and smells exactly how I envisioned it to be during the holidays. Like my home was before.

My chest tightens thinking about my mom spending Christmas alone. Before I can think too hard about that, Rhys comes bounding into the hallway.

“Callie!” He crashes into me and wraps his little arms around my waist in a tight hug, which I return tenfold.

“Rhysie.” Over the last couple of months, Eli’s nephew has become my favorite Miller—aside from Eli, of course. Rhys is so talented and sweet. I just adore him.

“Get your own girl, you little twerp.” Eli rips Rhys from my arms in a roar of laughter.

“It’s not my fault Callie likes me more.”

Eli throws Rhys over his shoulder and tickles him. Rhys’s shaggy brown locks fall around his face as he wiggles in Eli’s hold, and a vision of Eli playing with our son has me placing a hand on my stomach.

Could there already be a little guy in there?

I watch Eli and Rhys from the hall, hoping with all my heart that I am pregnant. As if she can read my mind, Rylann appears out of nowhere and tugs me down the hall.

“Hi.”

“Shh, come with me,” she hisses as she places her forefinger over her lips. I let Rylann pull me into the bathroom, close the door, and flip the lock. She pulls out a familiar paper bag and places it on the counter. “Scarlett hid this in here for you.”

“She didn’t.” My hand covers the spot where my heart races beneath.

“She did. But don’t worry. It takes very little to distract Levi, if you know what I mean.”

I bark a laugh. “Oh, I bet. These cavemen are easily distracted.” The bag crinkles, and my hand shakes as I open it and pull out the pregnancy test. A thrill rips through me at the thought of finding out if my suspicions are correct in a matter of minutes.

“I’m scared,” I admit without thinking, looking over at Rylann.

I’m met with one of her warm smiles. “But the good kind, right?”

I return her smile. “Definitely. I think I’m more scared that it will be negative. Or that it’s positive and I won’t be able to keep it a secret for ten days. You know?”

“We can wait.”

“No.” My voice is strong and determined. I rip open the box and pull out the stick. “I just pee on this, right?”

“Yep. Easy as hell. Scarlett even splurged on a digital one.”

“Perfect,” I unbutton my jeans as I walk over to the toilet.

Rylann turns around as I pull my pants and underwear down and sit. She instructs me to take off the cap, pee, and then dip the spongy part in the stream and count to five.

“I can’t believe I’m in the bathroom listening to Callie Wright pee.” She shakes her head and laughs.

My body shakes as I giggle. “Stop it. I’m just a normal person.”

Rylann throws her hands in the air. “Don’t you think I know that? But still… You’re you. You’ve been on the cover of magazines. You’ve won awards. People pay to listen to you sing. It’s still weird.”

“I’ll trade you,” I tease, which makes Rylann snort.

“No way. That’s all you.”

I cap the stick, finish my business, and flush the toilet. “Fine. But don’t treat me differently. I love just being a part of your family.”

My friend turns around as I wash my hands, her eyes watery with unshed tears.

She grips my wrists as she showers me with affection I didn’t know I needed to hear.

“We are elated and grateful that you are a part of our family. You are kind and thoughtful. You love my son and give him free guitar lessons. You’re a wonderful friend.

And most importantly, you make Eli happy.

Happier than I have ever seen him. He’s his old self again, and it’s all because of you. ”

“Oh, shoot.” My throat grows thick as my eyes cloud with tears, and my voice cracks. “You have no idea how good it feels to hear that. He makes me happy too. You all do. I’ve always wanted a big family.”

“You have it. Forever.” Like her son before her, Rylann throws her arms around my waist and squeezes.

“Forever.”

We rock from side to side, neither of us ready to let go.

A bang on the door makes us break apart. “Sunshine, are you in there?”

“Shitake,” Rylann hisses. I’d laugh at her creative cursing, but the bang on the door makes me jump. Our eyes pass between the door and the stick sitting on the counter. It hasn’t been long enough, and the little glass is still blinking in the window.

“What do we do?” I whisper.

She grabs the stick, tosses it into the bag, crumples it up and shoves it back under the counter. “We’ll check it later.”

“Rylann, what the hell is going on?” Jace growls, and I can picture his furious face. It’s one I’m all too familiar with since it’s the same face Eli uses on me.

“Just a second,” she sings at the door. The doorknob jangles.

“We are so busted.” I place my hands on my flushed cheeks as a wave of nausea hits me.

Rylann catches the look. “Oh, no you don’t. You wanted the surprise, so now you act your cute little ass off, superstar, and walk out of here like nothing. I’ll distract him. He won’t even remember he was mad or why he was banging on the door.”

I nod, though I’m unsure if I can pull this off. My palms are sweaty, and it feels like my heart is going to leap out of my chest.

“I got this,” I chant and pull my shoulders back. With a deep breath, I unlock the door and swing it open. A very grumpy-faced Jace rears back at my unexpected appearance. It takes everything I have to calm my nerves. “Oh, hey, Jace.”

“Callie?” His eyes dart past me to his wife. “Is everything okay?”

“Perfectly fine,” I cut in.

Rylann makes a face. Act better.

“I was just asking Rylann for advice about, uh, my Christmas, uh, present for Eli.”

Jace, like any good lawyer, catches my stutter and lifts his brow at me. “Is that so?”

“Yep. Well, thanks again, Ry. Bye,” I mumble too quickly. My nerves are thoroughly rattled. I hustle down the hall like my ass is on fire. If the stories are true, then whatever Rylann is about to do to get Jace off my trail, I definitely do not want to be around to hear it.

I make my way to the kitchen and do as Rylann said and act my little ass off.

I distract everyone by getting Rhys to play a few carols with me on the guitar.

No matter how many songs I sing or cookies I eat, I can’t take my mind off the stick that is currently shoved under the sink with the answer to my future stamped across it.