Page 49 of Yule Octopi My Heart

“So, right.” Ozzie coughed. “Like I said before, I’ve never brought a guy home, so I apologize if my family is absolutely insufferable.”

“It’s okay, baby.” Tuesday smiled. “I haven’t done a lot of thesemeet the familygigs, but I know for a fact I am very adorable. We’ll be fine.” He leaned in to kiss Ozzie sweetly.

The front door abruptly opened, and Granny, Ozzie’s grandmother, a tiny woman with long white hair stared at them with wide eyes. “Oh. My. God.”

Ozzie sighed. “Hey, Granny. This is?—”

“They’re here!” Granny screamed. “And they’re sucking face on the front steps!”

Ozzie could have died right then and there and considered it a Christmas miracle. “Granny!” He knew his face was as red as Tuesday’s sweater. “This is Tuesday. Tuesday, this is my Granny.”

“Hi!” Tuesday waved. “It’s so nice to meet you. I hear you make the best fruitcake in the universe.”

Granny gasped, and she grabbed Tuesday’s arm, dragging him into the house.

“Hey!” Ozzie chased after them. “Come back with my date!”

Granny pulled Tuesday into the living room where Derrick and his wife, Racquel, were seated on the sofa next to the tree. Uncle Robert and his wife, Dana, were chasing their kids, Samantha and Felicity, around in circles trying to wrestle fake candy canes away from them.

Ozzie’s father, Tucker, was tending to the fire and greeted them with a friendly smile. “Heya, Granny. What’d you find out there, huh?”

Granny waved at Tuesday. “This here is Tuesday, and we’re keeping him.”

Hearing the instant glowing approval from Granny warmed Ozzie down to his bones, and he grinned as Samantha and Felicity immediately forgot about the candy canes and rushed over to investigate Tuesday.

“Whoa!” Samantha cried. “Look at his hair!”

“It’s pink!” Felicity gushed excitedly. “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”

Tuesday giggled. “Oh! Well, hi there! I think your hair is pretty cool too! I like your bows.”

Samantha and Felicity both squealed, hitting notes that probably only dogs could hear.

“Hey there!” Tucker shook Tuesday’s hand. “Tucker Silverman. Pleasure to meet you, young man.”

“Nice to meet you too, sir!” Tuesday said politely. “Thank you so much for having me over!”

“Of course, of course.” Tucker clapped a hand on Tuesday’s shoulder. “Happy to have you. We always have plenty to eat.”

Granny poked Tuesday’s middle. “Oh, just you wait. I made three different flavors!”

Ozzie laughed as everyone continued to fuss over Tuesday, joking, “Sheesh, what am I? Invisible?”

“You don’t like my fruitcake,” Granny accused. “Hmmph.”

“Never fear.” Ozzie snorted dryly. “Tuesday will clear out all the fruitcake in this place.”

“Hey, hey!” Derrick was up now, and he came over to pull Ozzie into a big hug. “Don’t worry. I can still see you!”

“Thanks, man.” Ozzie chuckled, patting Derrick’s back.

“Hi, sweetie. Hey, I can see you too!” Racquel teased as she swooped in to give Ozzie a hug. She turned to Tuesday, smiling warmly as she hugged him next. “Hey! I’m Racquel! Derrick’s told us so much about you!”

“Oh, has he now?” Tuesday teased. “Some of it might even be true.”

“Bah, not much.” Derrick shrugged. “Just that you’ve made my brother the happiest I’ve ever seen him. Like…” He paused to reflect. “Everever.”

Ozzie could not stop blushing, and he wondered if this was just going to be a factor all through dinner.