Chapter 6
The next few days passed in a blur of grocery deliveries, avoiding my family, and spending my evenings with Cole. We’d trade off cooking for each other, but we always stayed at his house—we never went out. We spent our nights watching goofy holiday movies or dancing in the moonlight. And having sex in every position and place in his house, of course. Needless to say, I hadn’t been home, aside from changing clothes and showering, since my run in with Aspyn.
Which was clearly my first mistake.
“You can’t miss tonight.”
My mom had cornered me when I came home from Cole’s to change and get ready for work. I really should’ve packed a bag or something, but that felt awkward and presumptuous. Although it would’ve saved me from this uncomfortable interaction. “What’s tonight again?”
“It’s day seven.”
I stared back at her. She might’ve had her insane Twelve Days of Christmas itinerary memorized, but I certainly didn’t.
She sighed like I’d deeply disappointed her. “We’re caroling in Incline Village tonight. You already missed our caroling in Truckee. The littles are starting to notice you haven’t been around.”
I groaned and dropped my head against the wall behind me. Singing wasn’t my forte, but I felt bad about disappointing the littles. Despite my run-in with Aspyn, I didn’t want to miss out on Christmas with the kiddos. It was the best part of this holiday. “Okay. What time?”
“We’re leaving from here at five thirty.”
I nodded. “I’ll be here. And I can drive a car if you need it.”
Mom waved a hand. “Don’t worry about that. But um, you can bring your friend if you want.”
“What?” My eyes widened in surprise.
“Do you seriously believe we haven’t noticed that your bed hasn’t been slept in the last few nights? Especially since you’ve missed days eleven through eight?”
I shrank into the wall in abject horror. I so didn’t want to have this conversation with my mom. Ever .
Mom rolled her eyes. “You’re an adult woman. Who you want to spend your time with is your business. I know you had a run-in with Aspyn, and we’ve already had a conversation with her. Your father and I do not agree with her views on how you’re living your life.”
I smiled in relief. “Thanks, Mom.”
“But please stop avoiding family time because of what happened. We love you. We want to see your pretty face again. That said, we’d really like to meet this new person in your life. Eventually. Make sure they’re worthy of you.”
I took note of her lack of gender pronoun use and laughed. Only my mom. “I can’t make any promises. They’re not exactly open about their private life. They might have some…reservations about being out and about with us.”
This time her eyes were the ones that widened. “They’re not married, are they?”
“ Mom .”
“That’s not a no.” She raised her eyebrows.
I sighed. “No, they’re not married.”
“Okay. Good. Fine. Just…be careful, okay? I worry about you getting your heart broken on top of everything else you’ve been through. We just want the best for you, that’s all.”
I smiled and closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around her. “I love you guys too.”
Her arms squeezed me tight. Then she stepped back, rubbed my shoulder, and gave me a tender smile. She patted me one more time then walked away. But I noticed that she had to swipe at her wet eyes too.
Damn, I loved that woman. My mom was the best.
And I really wished I’d been a fly on the wall when she’d handed Aspyn her ass.
I dried my eyes and got ready for work, but before I left, I pulled out my phone to text Cole.
Me : Bad news. I can’t come to dinner tonight. Promised my mom I’d go caroling with the fam
Flower Crazy Cole : Christmas caroling? Say no more, I’m in!
I laughed in disbelief. I hadn’t even gotten around to inviting him. Technically he’d invited himself. But somehow I wasn’t too surprised. I’d learned in my short time with him that Cole wasn’t afraid of much.
Me : Seriously? You want to meet my nutty family?
Flower Crazy Cole : Why not? Are you ashamed of me?
Me : Never. But did I mention none of us can really carry a tune? It’s more about enthusiasm than talent with this crew
Flower Crazy Cole : Hey I have plenty of enthusiasm! Count me in
Me : Don’t say I didn’t warn you
I sent him my parents’ address and the time we were supposed to leave.
Flower Crazy Cole : Can’t wait!
How did I get into this situation?
Although a large part of me—that I wasn’t proud of—couldn’t wait to see the look on Aspyn’s face when Cole Jackson rolled up to our parents’ house.
* * *
But come five o’clock, I was a jittery mess. The kids were screaming, hopped up on sugar. Aspyn had been sending me a squinty-eyed glare, while Mom had been giving me a not-so-subtle thumbs up every time she saw me.
It was almost a relief when I saw a blinged out black Range Rover pull up to my parents’ curb.
“Whoa,” Oliver, Aspyn and Matt’s oldest, whispered next to me. “That’s a sick car.”
I wanted to give Olly a huge hug since he was being so cute, but he was apparently too old for that now. Or at least that was what he’d shrieked when I’d tried earlier today—apparently eight meant he was too cool for me. Instead of hugging him, I leaned down and whispered, “Want to check it out?”
“Are you serious? Hel—um, heck yeah!”
Laughing, I threw my arm around his shoulders and led him down the driveway.
Cole was just getting out when we approached. “Hey! I’m not late, am I?”
“Right on time.” I grinned back at him.
Despite our tiny audience, Cole stepped up to me, cupped my face in his hands, and gave a sadly short welcome kiss. “Thanks for the invite.”
“Pretty sure you invited yourself, but technically my mom asked me to invite you, so you can thank her too.”
“I plan to. And who’s this?” Cole stepped back and looked down at our eight-year-old chaperon.
“This is my oldest nephew, Oliver. Olly, this is my friend Cole.”
When he said nothing, I looked down to find Olly gaping at Cole.
“You’re Cole Jackson.” Olly’s wide eyes almost swallowed his face. “This is Cole Jackson. You were kissing Cole Jackson. You know Cole Jackson?”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
“Well thanks, Olly. It’s nice to meet you. Are you ready to sing some Christmas carols?” Cole held his hand out for Olly to shake.
Olly clasped Cole’s hand in his with the cutest, wide-eyed stare I’d ever seen. “Yes, sir.”
“Eh, I don’t think that’s required, right? I’m just Cole. Or ‘hey you’ if you prefer.”
Olly nodded furiously while still shaking Cole’s hand.
Cole grinned down at Olly. “You mind if I take that back now?”
A look of horror crossed Olly’s face, and he quickly dropped Cole’s hand.
Cole smiled. “No worries, Olly. Hey, you want to go ask your parents if you can ride with us tonight? I’d love to have you as my caroling buddy.”
Cole didn’t need to ask twice. Olly was off and running to find his parents.
I was kinda hoping he’d ask Aspyn. I’d love to see that. Turning to Cole, I raised my eyebrows. “Olly’s your caroling buddy now? What about me?”
“Hey, no one said I couldn’t have two caroling buddies.” Cole stepped back to me and wrapped his arms around me.
I couldn’t help but melt into him. He was a magnetic son of a bitch after all. “I have a feeling after tonight, everyone’s gonna want to be your caroling buddy.”
“Aw, but you’ll always be my number one caroling buddy, sugarplum.” He bent forward and gave me a quick peck on the tip of my nose.
Which I then wrinkled at him. “You’re too charming for your own good.”
Before he could come at me with another equally charming retort, I heard a flurry of movement crunching down the snow next to the driveway toward us. “Look alive, caroling buddy. Here comes the insanity. And remember you asked for this.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? What’s going to—”
“Is this him?” my mom demanded as she marched down the snowy walk toward us. “This is the guy you’ve been seeing?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Mom. Could you at least pretend you have manners? Please?”
“ Phbbt .” Mom blew a raspberry at me then turned to survey Cole. She tilted her head as she took him in and her eyes danced over his arms still wrapped around me. Then she smiled. “Oh, he’ll do.”
“You don’t even know his name, Mom,” I protested.
“Don’t need it. I like the sparkle he put in your eyes.” Before I could come up with a retort to that, she held her hand out to Cole. “Rebecca James. Nice to meet you.”
Cole shook her hand. “Hi, I’m Cole. Thanks so much for inviting me tonight. I love caroling.”
Mom stepped back and smiled at Cole. “Well, as long as you know that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Tonight’s all about fun, not musical ability. Just try to keep up.”
Cole laughed as he nodded. “Will do.”
“Great. Welcome. I think we’re getting ready to load up. Do you want to drive or you two can ride with us if you’d like?”
My eyes widened in horror at the thought of that inquisition, but before I could weasel out, Cole spoke up.
“I kinda already invited Olly to ride with us, if it’s okay with his parents.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but Mom’s smile grew wider.
“Oh, that’s what he was babbling to Matt.” Mom looked over her shoulder to where Olly was gesturing wildly to his dad. “I couldn’t make out what he was saying.”
I deflated slightly that he hadn’t asked his mom, but then I understood the move. Matt was a softie compared to his mom. I would’ve done the same. Respect.
“All right, everyone!” Mom shouted next to us on the sidewalk. “Load up! Drivers, we’ll all meet up at the first parking location. Let’s go, go, go!”
Then it was a flurry of motion as children and adults ran for the collection of cars parked in the driveway and on the side of the road.
Mom ran off to coordinate the insanity, and I turned to Cole who watched it all go down while looking a little shellshocked.
“Your mom is something else.”
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me.” I laughed.
Olly came running up to us with a huge grin. “Dad said yes! Let’s go!”
“I got front seat.” I stuck my tongue out at my nephew. “You’re still not tall enough to sit up front, and he’s my date tonight, not yours.”
Olly narrowed his eyes with a look that was so similar to Aspyn that I shivered. But after a beat, he opened the rear door and climbed in, slamming the door behind him.
Cole muffled his laughter. “If you want, you could pee a circle around me. You know, to keep the predators away from your territory.”
“Really? I had no idea you’re into golden showers. Remind me again later.”
The look on his face was priceless.
I waited a beat then couldn’t hold in my laughter any longer.
This time, Cole was the one glaring at me. “I can’t believe you seriously said that within earshot of your whole family.”
My lips twitched. “Most of them are in their cars—including Olly. And it was totally worth it to see that look on your face.”
“Let’s go.” Cole huffed before stomping off to his Range Rover. My laughter followed him the whole way.
Someone had let the others in on my little surprise I discovered when we pulled up to the parking lot a few minutes later. My entire family was lined up like a Greek chorus, watching Cole’s Range Rover park.
Suddenly this didn’t seem so fun.
A kernel of fear twisted in my stomach at what embarrassing thing my family would do next.
But it turned out I was worried about nothing. Mom commanded everyone’s attention when we got near.
“All right everyone! Here’s our lineup tonight.” She passed out packets to everyone old enough to read. “One song per house. Please, no alternate Batman smells lyrics during ‘ Jingle Bells .’ Olly, I’m looking at you.”
Olly hunched his shoulders and hid behind Cole, whose shoulders were shaking.
“Everyone have their hats and gloves?” Mom asked, surveying the littles. “Samantha, where’s your hat?”
“I say we wait ‘til the second verse, and then let the alternate lyrics fly, Olly,” Cole whispered to the little boy still hiding behind him. “You in?”
“Yes!” Olly shouted, clutching his fist.
I shook my head. “You guys are going to get it.”
“I had no idea you were such a goody-goody, December,” Cole scoffed.
“No, I have a healthy fear of my mom, thank you very much. You’re going to regret it.”
Cole wrapped his arm around my shoulder and grinned down at me. “I don’t believe in regrets. You only live once.”
“Let’s see how you feel after tonight. You’ve been warned about our singing abilities—more than once.”
Cole’s laughter had me grinning as we joined the main cluster of my family.
Let the games begin.