Merry Little Christmas

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Peyton

Present Day

“What time are they getting here?”

“In two hours!” Cole called. “Stop stressing out, baby. You’ll be fine.”

“I’m not stressing out.”

“Tell that to our bedroom floor. I’m surprised you haven’t worn a trench into the carpet.”

On my next pass from the bathroom and through the bedroom, I smacked right into Cole’s hard chest with an audible “oomph!” Strong arms surrounded me, and I relaxed.

That’s what I needed: my Daddy. My head grew fuzzy.

I wanted my Little space so badly, but I’d been hesitant to slip into it before dinner.

My brother, Jesse, was joining us with his Little.

Bentley was new to the scene, where Jesse had apparently rescued him from sitting in the corner of a club like a deer in headlights.

He thought it would be a good idea for Bentley to meet someone who was in a healthy Daddy/Little relationship—even if we had different ideas on regression.

As Cole rubbed my back, I felt myself slipping more and more. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea… “Come on,” Daddy said.

Almost of their own volition, my feet carried me through the bedroom and to the nursery.

I waited in the corner while Cole grabbed a cozy outfit from the closet: a neutral tracksuit, in case I became Big again once Jesse showed up.

Daddy helped me change, then procured one of my soothers from the basket beneath the changing table and sat in my favorite chair.

Like a magnet, I gravitated toward him until I laid across his lap.

A diaper or a bottle would have put me right to sleep, so Daddy settled for holding my pacifier in place for me.

Bentley would be the first Little I’d meet, and I wanted to make a good impression. Don’t get me wrong, I was so grateful to have had Daddy in my early days—before he was my Daddy—but I couldn’t help but think that I may have adjusted easier if I’d had a group of Littles.

And play dates. I couldn’t wait for play dates.

With Daddy’s strong arm around my back, and my hand blanketing his, I relaxed.

He always knew what I needed—he always had, and he wasn’t even bothered that I’d pulled him away from work to sit with me.

Georgia had been the victim of another ice storm, and both my brother and Cole were swamped with work.

The weeks leading up to Christmas were always busy, but harsh weather made it ten times worse.

My hand shifted, the diamonds in my wedding band catching the light and reflecting off Cole’s gold ring.

It was hard to believe that it had only been a year since our story began.

Well, our real story, that is. Cole had been such a big part of my life for so long that I struggled to remember a time where he wasn’t there.

Those two hours passed way too quickly for my liking. Eventually, Daddy got a text and when he grimaced, I knew that it meant and released my soother. “They on their way?”

“Yeah. Why don’t you—”

“Splash some cold water on my face and remember that Bentley might be more nervous than I am; I know.” Planting a dry-lipped kiss on Cole’s mouth, I slid off his lap and trudged to the bathroom.

Since I often regressed when I got anxious, it wasn’t the first time I’d had to bring myself out of it quickly.

By the time I left the bedroom, Jesse was standing in the entryway. I’d grown accustomed to my big brother being loud and annoying, so hearing him speak in such a hushed tone surprised me. “It’s going to be fine, sweetheart,” he whispered. “They’re going to love you.”

As I rounded the corner, I caught my first glimpse of the man who’d managed to get my brother all twisted up—and he was adorable. Jesse helped Bentley out of his coat, brushing fresh snowflakes from golden-blond ringlets. When he raised his head, my heart nearly cracked in two.

Bentley looked like a baby doll, with cold-flushed cheeks that accentuated a smattering of brown freckles and deep, shining blue eyes.

When he noticed me watching, the color in his cheeks deepened from a wind-bitten pink to a cherry red.

“Hi,” he said, so quietly I almost didn’t hear him, lips quirking into a shy smile.

“Hi.” I cautiously stepped forward and offered him a hand. “I’m Peyton.”

Bentley slipped his palm into mine. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

With his arms around the boy’s waist, Jesse asked, “Where’s Cole?”

“Probably in the kitchen, hiding the sugar cookies he thinks I don’t know about.”

Bentley’s face brightened, and I smiled. My brother narrowed his eyes at me. “You are such a brat.”

“I know.” I focused my attention on Bentley. “Would you like something to drink?”

Instead of answering me right away, he looked up at his Daddy. He barely touched Jesse’s shoulder, requiring him to crane his head to do so. My brother gently nudged him, and that’s when he said, “Yes, please.”

The two of them followed me into the kitchen, where Cole was putting dinner on the table.

While he introduced himself to Bentley, I put myself on drink duty.

Jesse was driving, on top of Daddy duty, so I didn’t need to ask to know that he would only have water.

Since we were hosting, I poured Cole a couple fingers of his favorite whiskey.

On a hunch, I grabbed juice bottles for me and Bentley.

They were silly, but they were an easy way to make me feel better when I was nervous.

As I suspected, his eyes lit up when he saw them. “Do you want—”

“Pua!”

“Remember your manners, Bentley,” Jesse scolded.

“Sorry…” Blushing, the boy shrank back in his seat. He seemed to be in the exact state I was: hovering frustratingly on the edge of Little space. “Can I have the Pua one, please?”

I happily handed it over, sitting down with my Blue’s Clues one. While Jesse opened Bentley’s the boy directed his attention to Cole. “So, you’re Da–Jesse’s best friend.”

“That’s right. Since we were thirteen.”

It was my turn next. “And you’re his sibling?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Watch it, Peyton.”

“You’re not my Daddy,” I teased, shifting in my seat. I was going to pay for it later, but the look on my brother’s face was worth it.

“How did the two of you end up together?”

Cole and I shared a look, fond memories rushing back to the surface. “You start,” Cole told me, picking up his whiskey. “I’ll jump in.”

I made myself comfortable as we began to eat. “Well, it all started with the flu.”

“The flu?” Bentley giggled, brows furrowing.

“Yes, the flu. Just stick with me here…”