Chapter 11 Nash
Chapter eleven
Nash
Arms full of presents, I staggered up the stairs of Ryan and Kelsi’s house. I missed the last step, nearly face-planting and upsetting the entire load. I groaned and shifted the gifts. No doubt Ryan would get a kick out of this playback video when he reviewed his door camera footage.
I gave the red door three light kicks with my foot, signaling my arrival. As late as it was, I didn’t want to risk the doorbell waking the boys—especially the baby.
“Saint Nick came early!” my hyperactive friend cried, throwing open the door and simultaneously pulling me through it as he tried to grab every present I carried.
“Hey!” I pivoted, avoiding his grabby octopus hands—seriously, how were they everywhere at once?—but he followed me like a persistent puppy.
“Ooh, is that my name?” Ryan tried to swipe another gift—green-papered this time.
“Stop it!” I growled, shoulder checking him.
“Kelsi, come distract your husband, won’t you?
” We might be grown men, but we still had the ability to turn into teenage boys at a moment’s notice.
Or at least, Ryan brought that particular flaw out in me.
Must be a side effect of his spending so much time with teens.
I jumped as a ginger-haired woman just appeared at my elbow. Gingersnaps, how did she do that? Twenty years of theatre experience no doubt. She tugged Ryan away from me, drawing him into a kiss. Then two. Then a longer one.
Okay, then.
I scooted around them into the living room and set down the assortment of packages, taking a moment to admire the newest cinnamon-stick ornaments the boys had added to the tree.
I glanced over my shoulder, but they were still making out, so I settled on arranging the gifts neatly around the tree skirt, being careful to place all of Ryan’s out of sight. Petty? Maybe.
Another shoulder glance. They were still at it.
I cleared my throat. “Get a room, guys. I said a distraction, not a show.” Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled for my friends and their happy marriages.
That didn’t mean I wanted a front row seat to their lip locking.
Emmett and Danielle were rational creatures who kept PDA to a respectful amount in company.
But Ryan and Kelsi did PDA like the world was on fire and kissing was the only way to stay alive.
Apparently taking pity on me, Kelsi pulled away first, and Ryan groaned dramatically. “That wasn’t for your benefit, Nash.” She smirked, patting her husband’s chest before disappearing into the kitchen.
“You already been to Emmett’s?” Ryan asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets and eyeing up the tree. No doubt already trying to find his name.
“Stopped there first. Can’t have the girls thinking Uncle Nash forgot them.”
“Should I be offended you picked him first over me or take it as a sign you saved the best for last?”
“He literally lives fifteen minutes closer to my place than you do.”
“So best for last then.” Ryan laughed when I shook my head in defeat. “All ready for tomorrow?”
I flicked through a mental checklist. My suitcase was packed. My ugly sweater was ready to go. And I’d spent way too long trying to decide on a gift for Stephanie. What I had picked I wasn’t sold on. Was a necklace too personal for a fake relationship? “As ready as I’ll get.”
“And you have no concerns about this whatsoever?”
Kelsi handed us both a glass of sparkling juice. Peach from the smell of it. She leaned up and kissed Ryan’s cheek. “I’ll let you two talk. I’ve got one more deadline to meet before the holidays start. And for now, the baby’s down.”
Ryan reeled her closer, stealing a quick peck. “No rest for the gorgeous.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
Kelsi rolled her eyes, but a smile touched her lips. To me, she added, “Merry Christmas, Nash. We’ll miss having you this year, but I’m glad you and Steph are finally giving this a go.” She gave me a hug.
“Yeah?” I was stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Not admitting it was fake because I didn’t want to embarrass Stephanie, but also not admitting it was real because she hadn’t decided yet.
Kelsi barked a laugh. “We’re not blind, Nash. Pretty sure everyone noticed the chemistry between you two. You’re not exactly subtle.”
Just to Stephanie, I guess. I chuckled. “Merry Christmas, Kels. Not sure how this guy lucked out with you.”
She grinned saucily, winking at Ryan. “I keep telling him the same thing.”
After she disappeared up the stairs, we sank down on the leather couch, silently enjoying the drink, the enchantment of the twinkling tree lights, and the crackle from the fireplace.
“So, you have no worries about this?” Ryan prompted. “Because it takes guts walking onto Hiram Addams’s home turf. And I’m not sure you’ll have any guts left when he’s finished with you.”
I grimaced, eyeing him. “Your pep talks need some work.” I wasn’t worried about myself in this situation.
If anything, I was more concerned about Stephanie.
From the vague comments she occasionally dropped about her father, I gathered they weren’t close.
Absentee dad it seemed. Walking in with me on her arm might put more of a target on her back.
But I’d stand with her. Protect her. Stephanie was the best thing that had happened to me, and I wasn’t taking this glimmer of a chance for granted.