37. Jensen
37
JENSEN
“ W hat is all this?” I ask, walking into the kitchen area and taking in the way Nessa somehow transformed the space into a holiday extravaganza.
And set the table.
With a lot of plates.
I didn’t even know I owned that many plates.
I’d only been gone half an hour after she waved me toward the bedroom to shower and change, completely ignoring my attempt to have her join me.
Now I know why.
“Oh, shit!” she squeaks, obviously startled as she pulls the tray from the oven and drops it onto the stove top.
“Did you burn yourself?”
“No, but it was close,” she says, waving the oven mitts Mama bought me when I first moved in here. “I have lots of practice with frozen pizza.”
“Is that on the approved Tornadoes food list?”
“It is if they want to keep their sweeper happy.” She winks, just as there’s a knock at the door. “It’s open!”
“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” Mason cheers as he walks into the kitchen, a bag of gifts in his arms. Bodhi’s entry is far more subdued, but he allows Nessa to hug him after handing her a covered dish before coming over to shake my hand.
“Heard that about you,” I say, causing a glare from Mason and a snicker from Nessa.
“Merry Christmas. Thanks for having us,” Bodhi murmurs as we watch Mason place presents under the tree to join those from Nessa, me, and everyone at the station.
“Merry Christmas. Thanks for coming although I had absolutely nothing to do with this,” I say to him.
“Nessa was very excited to put this whole thing together and,”—Bodhi rolls his lips inward, his gaze locked on Mason—“we’re thankful to be a part of it.”
“It means a lot,” I say, a little choked up as I pull him in for a quick, back-slapping hug before he shakes his head and wanders toward the kitchen.
“Merry Christmas, Daddy,” Mason calls cheerfully like he’s been waiting for this exact moment to deliver the line.
“You’re lucky I tolerate you,” I murmur, accepting the crushing bear hug he offers and trying to hide my smile.
“Seriously, man, how awesome is this? Baby Girl’s first Christmas and I mean, she’s one lucky lady, already has a bunch of uncles who love her, a couple of aunts, and well, basically all of Blackstone Falls.”
“It is remarkable you got all that out without takin’ a breath,” I joke but the brightness in his eyes dims just the slightest bit. If I hadn’t been watching, I would have missed it.
“Just part of my charm,” he says with a megawatt smile.
Rubbing the back of my neck, I let him see my sincerity—vulnerability—when I say, “There’s no one else I’d want to do this with.” I motion toward the table. “And yeah, my biggest problem is how much you’re gonna spoil her.”
Mason’s smile is softer, more real as he nods. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Do you want to go get her? I think Nessa set out her dress.”
“Do I want to…” He makes an affronted sound before sauntering toward the hall.
Montana, Ellison, Archer, and Bea all pile into the kitchen right as Mason returns with Remi, a large bow on her head, my heart squeezing at the sight.
My daughter’s first Christmas.
It’s too much—the emotion dam near bursting as I let that revelation settle over me. It wasn’t the tree or the music or the presents now spilling out onto the floor, it was her. Nessa did all of this for us, for me, and I just need this one last thing.
Without thought, I close the distance between us, trying like hell not to haul her over my shoulder as I spin her to face me and cup her shocked face in my hands. Slanting my mouth over hers, I do everything I can to show my gratitude for giving me such a precious gift.
“I read the time right, didn’t I?” Ellison says far too loudly, earning a round of chuckles from the group.
“Should we come back later?” Bea adds, her voice enough of a teasing singsong that it forces me to rip my mouth from Nessa’s, her hands gripping my forearms as she stares at me.
“I have a no PDA rule,” she squeaks, her eyes never leaving mine.
“Fuck your no PDA rule,” I counter, surprising us both if her dilated pupils are any indication.
“Virgin ears!” Mason hisses, making my lips quirk up as I finally straighten, dropping my hands and taking a step back.
“You don’t get to just claim me like that, Jensen Kade,” she barks, taking a step toward me and erasing the distance I’d created.
I look around the room, my eyes lingering on everything she’d made happen for tonight. “Looks like you already took care of that.”
“But they didn’t know,” she hisses like everyone’s not watching us duke this out.
“Y’all aren’t really subtle,” Archer mutters, making Bea snicker.
“Yeah well, don’t think this makes you my boyfriend,” she says, jamming her fingernail into my chest. My body’s reaction is instant. The memory of her dragging them over my skin, biting into my shoulders, has a fair amount of blood rushing south.
“I think he’s too old for that title anyway,” Montana adds helpfully.
“You’re not much younger, ya know,” Ellison sasses him, earning her a slap on the ass and a bunch of whispered promises I want to know nothing about.
“We can negotiate later,” I offer and her lips twitch.
“He means when they’re naked,” Bea stage-whispers toward Mason and Bodhi, earning a snort from the former and an eye twitch from the latter.
“Yeah, well, let’s eat before anything else happens I can’t unsee,” Archer deadpans, earning another round of chuckles, but it works. Glasses are filled and the island is covered in a buffet of everything imaginable as dishes and pans are placed on top.
Music plays and laughter fills my house in a way it never has before.
It’d been a house.
A structure with walls and a roof and doors—safe and reliable.
A shelter.
But tonight, it became a home.
The solitude I’d reveled in no longer holds any appeal. I want this today and every day after—love and joy and family.
My family.
Chosen and blood.
Because here, tonight, it is all the same.