Chapter 1
Kaylinn
“Are you ready to make a gingerbread house, Reece?” I ruffled my nephew’s curls as the three of us approached the small event facility where they hosted all sorts of holiday activities that started just after Thanksgiving, which is when we decided it would be best to go.
Reece beamed. “Ready! I’m gonna do a chimney and a roof and windows and icicles and–”
“Alright.” His mother, Mariah, laughed on his other side. “We can all make a game plan once we find our table. Maybe we can do a color scheme. Or would you rather just be a rainbow?”
“Rainbow!”
“That’s my boy.” I held my hand out for a fist bump, my yellow, blue, and pink bracelet displayed proudly and matching the rainbow one that he had secured around his wrist.
He bumped my fist with his before taking my hand again.
“Oh no.” Mariah groaned once we stepped through the first set of doors and reached the second.
I followed her gaze to the sign posted on the door. A multi-colored poster taped to the glass instructed families to divide into teams of two, one team per table. No groups allowed.
“What the–” I turned to Mariah with raised eyebrows. “I thought it was for families?”
Mariah frowned.
“I did, too.” She rubbed a hand across her face. “How do pairs even make sense? It’s a holiday thing. Aren’t they all for families?”
“It usually is,” came a voice from behind us.
I turned around to see another woman holding hands with a young girl about four years old. She was short and had vibrant red hair like her daughter. It was just like how mine and Mariah’s blonde curls matched Reece’s to a T.
She smiled. “I’m Angie. I came here last year with my daughter, Zoe, and it was a group thing for families. I guess they think making it pairs is more inclusive for families with only one parent.” She shrugged. “I mean, I get it. Her dad’s not here this time, but we brought her godfather as a substitute, so he’s kind of on his own now.”
I turned to Mariah, whose frown had only worsened.
“That’s–” I started, only for Mariah to cut me off.
“Thank you,” she said to Angie. “Have a great time with your house.”
Angie smiled and nodded before leading her daughter through the doors and into the main event space. The room was loud with chatter, so plenty of people were already here and had chosen their tables.
Mariah met my eyes. “I’m sorry. I dragged you all the way down here for–”
“Stop right there.” I pointed at her. “I will find who’s in charge and give them a piece of my mind. This is ridiculous. If you want to be inclusive, then just let families come in by any number. There are only three of us. I promised my nephew that I would do this with him.”
“Kaylinn, you can’t.” Mariah rubbed her hands across her face before she paused, getting that wide-eyed look that only meant trouble for me. “I mean, maybe the godfather has room at his table.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You want me to play nice with him and the people who can’t be bothered to plan properly?”
“Kay, please.”
Mariah was looking at me with her big puppy dog eyes, and I knew I didn’t stand a chance.
“Mariah,” I sighed, silently begging her to stop.
“Kaylinn.”
I groaned. “Fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just join forces with this godfather and see if you and Reece can beat us.” I crouched in front of my seven-year-old nephew and tickled him.
He laughed and swatted at me. “You’re on!”
Mariah softened. “You’re sure?”
I stood, nodding. I was on a mission now. “Absolutely. Now, how about we get you two set up, and I’ll find my new partner.”
It was easy after that, getting Reece and Mariah set up at their table. They were two tables behind Angie and Zoe, who pointed across the room to where a man leaned casually against a table as he looked around the room, taking in all the parent-and-kid duos tying on their messy red and green aprons.
He was cute, actually. He didn’t appear very tall, but he was in shape, had light brown hair that looked soft as hell, and looked so relaxed and easygoing, much more than I’d expected . I guess I’m used to parents having the patience of a saint, but I hadn’t been around many godparents, or even aunts and uncles, at Reece’s school events.
“Maybe it’ll be fun for you after all,” Mariah whispered.
I turned around to find her smirking.
“He’s cute,” she offered innocently.
I scoffed. “Wow, trying to marry me off already? I haven’t even met him yet.”
“So, go meet him, you goof.” She gave me a good shove.
I gave Reece a quick squeeze before making my way to the man’s table.