Taste of the Holidays (Taste of the Holidays #1)

Prologue

Sasha

“Sasha, what if Zoe has horrible holidays because her dad isn’t here? What if she hates me for it?”

I sighed and pulled Angie, my best friend’s wife, into a tight hug. “She won’t hate you. She knows he would be here if he could. He’s deployed. It’s just how it goes. He’ll be here for her birthday in April and make it up to her then.”

Angie sagged against me and returned the embrace. “You really think so?”

“I know so. Zoe’s a tough girl, and she knows how this goes by now.”

“But it’s her first holiday without her dad.”

“I’m here. I’ll be the best godfather she could ever ask for. I’ll be here all the time, I’ll go do all the festive activities with you two, and we can make that disgusting peanut brittle you think is the best holiday treat but tastes like ass.”

Angie pulled away so she could give me her signature not-taking-shit look. “I thought that was your thing.”

“Hey, don’t shame me for having a boyfriend.”

“ Ex- boyfriend. He didn’t deserve you.”

I shrugged. “Better luck next time, but I’ll worry about my love life after the new year. It’s just the three of us until then. I promise.”

Angie smiled. “Okay. Thanks, Sasha.”