Chapter 27
Chapter twenty-seven
Stephanie
“Merry Christmas, Steph!”
I groaned, pulling the quilt over my head as Hailey’s chipper voice cut through the haze of sugarplum dreams. “Go away,” I mumbled, burrowing deeper into the nest of blankets.
She plopped down on the edge of the bed, making it dip. “There’s a handsome man at the door with a special delivery.”
“I will not be bribed,” I muttered, flailing a hand out and giving her a shove.
“Don’t keep the man waiting—Oof!” She thudded to the ground. “You’ve been working out.”
I grunted, ignoring her. Hailey was worse than my nieces and nephews when it came to being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on Christmas morning. Few Addams relatives were morning people. She’d evidently picked up the bad habit from her dad’s side of the family—the Bishops.
There was a light tap on the door, then the voice from my dreams entered my sleepy reality. “Steph, I brought something that might help.”
I ran a hand over my face, shoving my messy curls aside as I sat up. Dizziness rattled my brain, and black splotches danced across my vision. Slow down.
Hailey scoffed. “Ha, I see how things are. I wake you up, trying to do a nice thing for you, and I get shoved off the bed. Mr. Dreamy over there says a handful of pretty words, and you’re primping.”
“Shut up,” I growled, slipping my Marine hoodie over my oversized T-shirt and shuffling to the door as she cackled, like the deranged woman she was.
“You’re lucky I love you,” I muttered to her, opening the cracked door to reveal a smiling Nash.
I took him in through half-open puffy eyes.
He wore the blue-and-red plaid flannel pajama pants and black hoodie well.
His hair was sleep rumpled, but his eyes were bright behind his glasses.
Goodness, he was adorable in the mornings.
“Ugh, you’re a morning person. That might be a deal breaker. ”
Nash laughed, holding out a gorgeous sight. A Christmas mug full of steaming hot coffee with a pillow of whipped cream. “You’re a delight in the morning, sweetheart.”
I growled and made grabby hands at the mug, catching a whiff of peppermint. But before I captured my bribe, the momentum of standing caught up to me, and I pitched forward.
Nash caught me against his chest. “Whoa! Hailey, can you grab this?”
I shut my eyes against the swimming sensation plaguing my senses and shamelessly nestled into his hoodie. “You smell nice,” I whispered, squeezing my arms around his waist, letting him take my weight after he passed the coffee off to Hailey.
His chuckle rumbled under my cheek. “So do you.” He rubbed my back lightly. “You okay?”
I nodded against the fabric. “Got up too fast.”
“I see you’re falling for me,” he teased. “First in the hallway and now this.”
That cheekiness deserved a smack. Which I felt strong enough to deliver to his shoulder.
After a minute, I reluctantly eased out of his arms, no longer a gangly newborn colt. Nash rescued the coffee from Hailey and handed it to me.
Two swigs in, I hummed appreciatively. The man brewed good coffee, I’d give him that. I stifled a yawn. “Thank you. Merry Christmas.”
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Merry Christmas. You ready to open presents?”
“No.” I grumbled, taking another sip of my mocha. “But apparently, I can be bribed with coffee and forehead kisses from a cute guy in nerdy glasses. Let's go.”
Hailey spluttered behind me, and Nash laughed as he draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. No complaints here as the delightful citrusy scent that always accompanied him filled my nose. “My glasses do it for you, huh? Man, I’m loving this Early Morning Steph with no filter.”
I snorted, taking another sip of coffee and cuddling into his warmth. Don’t judge me—I was cold. “My filter doesn’t kick in till cup number two.”
“Noted.”
Christmas morning held a special kind of magic.
Maybe it was the children’s laughter. Or the winking lights from the tree.
Or the cozy ambiance from the fire in the hearth.
Or just maybe it was cuddling with your new boyfriend on the sofa in Christmas pj's and sipping the most decadent coffee while watching a bunch of kids open presents.
Definitely the snuggling. Highly recommend.
Every family had a different way of opening gifts, and we were the one-at-a-time type or a couple of kids together if it was a group gift. Savouring the moment and reducing noise levels were the ultimate goals.
But first. Stockings. Which was an all-at-once affair. After stockings came homemade shortbread, mandarin oranges, and coffee.
Gift giving was one of my love languages and finding the perfect gifts each year was one of my favourite parts of the season, even if I started planning a year in advance sometimes. This year, Jackson’s gift was my personal favourite accomplishment because—
“CAL SATTERFIELD!” Jackson’s shriek was deafening.
His whole body shook with excitement as he waved the navy-and-silver jersey overhead.
“And it’s signed!” He ran a finger over the bold, scrawling script of Cal’s signature.
“He’s the best player in the AHL. His scoring average is the highest for his position in the Pacific Division.
With his talent, he’s wasting it in the minor leagues. ”
“Should I pass along your assessment to the man himself?” I asked, biting back a smile, even if the last part of his speech stung uncomfortably. Cal had his reasons for sticking to an AHL career. I’d have to chat with Jackson after.
Jackson flung himself into my arms, half landing on Nash beside me as he went in for a bear hug. “I forget how cool you are sometimes when your best friend is Cal Satterfield’s sister.”
I squeezed him a little harder, soaking up the moment before I ruffled his hair.
He was growing up so fast—they all were.
Soon he’d be too cool for hugs from Auntie Steph.
Then came graduating high school, dating, marriage.
Ugh, I couldn’t go down that trail of thought.
Stay little a little longer. “That’s right, I’m the cool aunt.
” What I didn’t tell him was that there was a second half to the gift.
When I had Cal sign the jersey, he offered me a few special tickets for Gabe and Ivy to take the kids to a home game in Caldwell on their way back to San Diego.
Jackson slipped the jersey over his pajamas and flashed me a toothy grin when it came down to his knees. “You’re the best, Auntie Steph.”
“My turn! Here.” Ivy handed me a small burgundy-papered box, tied with a silver bow.
“I thought we weren’t exchanging here,” I murmured. Christmas morning was mostly for the kids and Hiram. Because most of my siblings and I didn’t exchange gifts. Only Gabe’s family and me. And we preferred to do it in quiet pockets of time over the course of the day.
Ivy smiled knowingly. “It’s something small. Go ahead.”
Untying the ribbon, I tore into the box and carefully lifted the tissue paper. Happiness bubbled in my chest, and I laughed. Inside were the ornaments from last night’s White Elephant. “Did Zoe have a change of heart?”
Gabe scoffed. “Hardly. She’s—”
“We bought an extra set,” Ivy cut in, shooting her husband a warning look. “Just in case you lost them in the game. I had no idea they were going to start a fight.”
I snorted. “Your son has excellent taste.”
Ivy cocked an eyebrow. “And who do you think suggested them?”
I reached over to side-hug her, smooshing our faces together. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?” I glanced at Gabe. “You, too, Gunny.” It was practically my duty to annoy my brother with every Marine title except the one he currently held.
Gabe shook his head and sipped his coffee patiently. “You’re like having another kid.”
“And you love it. Your life would be empty without me to temper that ego of yours.”
“I think my ego would be just fine.”
Beside me, Nash snorted and stage whispered, “You sure that filter kicked in after cup number two?”
Gabe laughed, actually laughed. Which was rare for him but also, rude. Whose side was he on?
I stuck my tongue out at Gabe. “My filter is just fine.”
Nash’s arm snaked around my shoulders, and he pressed a kiss to my temple. “And I like you just fine,” he whispered against my hair. He was so perfectly snuggable—could you blame me for cuddling further into his citrusy warmth?
Then it was Hiram’s turn to shine. Gifts were doled out liberally on a performance basis.
Much like how a boss awarded holiday bonuses.
The better you did, the nicer your bonus.
For Hiram, the better you toed the family line, performed in the family empire, the nicer your gift potential.
Which was why, as much as my siblings had a common dislike for how Hiram had treated their mothers, even if they themselves were always treated well, they danced to the puppet master’s strings.
Because none of them wanted to be written out of the will.
Gift wrapping flew in a hundred directions, uncovering Kate Spade purses, Louis Vuitton shoes, new smartphones, keys to an ATV, Tiffany gift bags, and more.
Gifts in Hiram’s world were awarded on merit or bribery.
Gabe and Ivy received a couples’ gift, some sort of gift card.
They were apparently still in Phase Bribery, since the rest of my siblings were high-end merit receivers.
Then it was my turn. Hiram plopped an icy-blue snowflake-patterned box into my lap with a veneered smile. Honestly, after last night, I was expecting no gift. But apparently he still thought I could be bribed?
I shifted uncomfortably, struggling to hold eye contact. “Thanks.” The paper even smelled expensive when I tore it lightly. Please don’t be another pair of designer shoes. A girl could only sell so many pairs.