Chapter 37 #2
“Let’s go.” Cole jumps up, followed by Logan and Dom, and the three boys are soon directing traffic down the hallway.
Portia chases after them. “I want a turn too!” she yells, and before we know it, the only children who remain in the living room are the quiet little angels—Jane, Nichelle, and Harley.
“I better go and make sure Charlotte and Kendall don’t lose an eyeball.” Aunt Blake gets up, nursing her coffee mug as she trails after the kids.
“Zoey, do you mind going to help?” Mom gives me a pleading look, and I roll my eyes.
Why am I always put on kid detail?
Getting up with a huff, I’m about to follow Aunt Blake, but then the doorbell rings. Since I’m still on my feet, I give my mom a triumphant grin and head for the front door instead.
I open it to find a courier standing out in the cold.
“Hey.” A cloud wafts out of his mouth as he greets me. “You’ll need to sign for this.”
I nod, mystified by why a courier is showing up to our door on a Sunday. And who the hell ordered—
“Hi there.” Uncle Tyrell rushes into the entryway, looking all anxious and excited as I sign for the package. “Thank you so much.”
He takes the small parcel off the guy, and as soon as I shut the door, I can’t help teasing him. “That must have cost you a freaking bomb to get here.”
“It’s worth it.” He grins at me.
“Uncle Ty, did you forget to buy your lady love a Valentine’s gift or something? You know you’re a day late.”
His eyes are sparkling as he wiggles his eyebrows at me. “This is a little something extra.”
Tucking it behind his back, he wanders to the living room, and I chase after him, desperate to know what it is.
I have to wait until after breakfast, which is all things painful, but traditions are traditions, right?
As the kids play with Aunt Blake and me standing watch in the rec room, the adults prepare a delicious Christmas breakfast.
We all squish around the massive dining table and eat croissants stuffed with ham and brie, plus gooey cinnamon rolls that Aunt Libby made. They are so freaking good, but Mom only lets us have one each. Spoilsport.
Once the dishes are done and everything’s cleaned up, we pile back into the living room so the adults can open their gifts, and then we can all suit up for the annual football game.
“Okay, kids. Let’s go.” Uncle Wily, now dressed in sweats and a T-shirt, wiggles his fingers, pointing at the tree, then excitedly at himself.
Logan laughs and reaches for the adult jar, pulling out the marbles one by one.
The kids then get to present their selected adult with a present.
Because the kids outnumber the olds, they usually go in pairs.
Aunt Libby works it out every year, and I just go with the flow.
Olly and I got Uncle Wily, and we bought him a Super Soaker because we’re going to the lake with them this summer and we want to make the most of our time there.
He’s stoked and wants to use it immediately, but Aunt Libby won’t let him.
I love how much he loves it. And I love the bear hug I get from him too. He really is the best.
Once all the gifts are handed out and Dad’s going around collecting wrapping paper off the floor, Uncle Tyrell stands up and clears his throat.
“I have a little extra gift, if that’s okay.”
Everyone stops to look at him while Kendall points at herself. “Is it for me?”
The adults all laugh and she frowns at them, obviously confused by why that’s even funny.
“Uh… no.” Uncle Tyrell scratches the back of his neck. “This one’s for Aunt Dani.”
Every head in the room swings her way, and she lets out a nervous laugh, handing Tucker to Mom as Uncle Ty drops to one knee in front her.
I gasp, along with Aunt Nylah.
“I know I asked you this yesterday and you’ve already said yes…” He pulls a small box out of his pocket.
“You what?” Uncle Wily booms. “You proposed and you didn’t tell us?”
“Wily, shhh.” Aunt Blake frowns at him, turning her attention back to Uncle Tyrell.
“And I know you said you didn’t want a ring. And baby, if you still want a tattoo more, then you go ahead and do that. But… I wanted you to have this too.”
Popping open the box, he reveals an old-looking diamond ring.
“This belonged to my grandmother, and… well, I got Mom to courier it to me as soon as I made the decision to ask you. I—”
“It’s so beautiful,” Aunt Dani interrupts him, her eyes filling with tears as the little kids crowd around Uncle Ty so they can get a look.
“Pity!” Kendall points at it, then looks at her mom. “It’s a ring, Mommy!”
“I can see.” Aunt Blake smiles at her. “And it’s a super special one, because it’s an engagement ring.”
Uncle Tyrell smiles at his lady, his eyes soft with affection. “Still want to marry me?”
“Yes,” she blubbers, grabbing his face and kissing him.
It’s so sweet that the boys don’t even gag or complain about the PDA. And when Uncle Ty slips the ring onto Aunt Dani’s finger, everyone cheers.
It’s the cheesiest thing ever, but so incredibly cool at the same time.
That’s what I want. A love like that. The way he’s gazing at her, like she’s the only person in the room.
I want that one day.
Not asshole guys like Curry who think they can have it all.
I want to be someone’s one and only. Someone’s everything.
My heart’s all mushy and gooey, and it stays that way as I help Dad clean up the wrapping paper, then head upstairs to make sure the kids are dressed warm for the football game.
When I go back downstairs, I pause just outside the kitchen. Adult voices catch my ear, and I don’t want them to stop talking if they see me, so I lean against the wall and listen in.
Sounds like all of them are in there, discussing future plans.
“…and Carson’s going to be starting up a business,” Aunt Nylah says.
“Am I now?”
“Yes, you are.”
A few adults laugh, and Mom asks, “What kind of business?”
“We’re buying a garage with the money Carson’s dad left him. He’s going to run it, and I’ll do the books and admin. It’s going to be amazing.”
“Wow, that’s so cool,” Uncle Wily says. “And so you, man. What an awesome way to honor your dad too.”
I peek my head around the doorframe, wanting to catch a glimpse of Uncle Carson’s face. He still hasn’t said anything and he’s shaking his head, but then Aunt Nylah gives him a pointed look, her right eyebrow arching, and he finally gives in with a sigh.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be good.”
“Yay! I knew you’d come around.” Aunt Nylah hugs him and he wraps his arm around her back, wincing at his buddies but then smiling when Dad and Uncle Grady give him a thumbs-up.
“Speaking of big changes…” Uncle Wily drapes his arm around Aunt Libby’s shoulders. “I’ve decided to stay home with the kids and let this little lady finally pursue her teaching dreams.”
“Wow, that’s huge.” Aunt Blake laughs. “Good luck, bro.”
“I’ll be fine.” He waves his hand through the air. “Plus, we’re thinking of moving to Nolan, so I’ll be close enough to hang with you on the days I need some support.”
Aunt Blake crosses her arms with a skeptical frown. “I live four hours out of Nolan.”
“Meet in the middle. It’s called a road trip, butt face.” Uncle Wily grins.
“Nolan?” Aunt Nylah’s getting all misty-eyed. “That would be so amazing!” Limping across the kitchen, she pulls Aunt Libby into a hug.
My shy aunt smiles, patting her back and saying, “We need to talk to the kids about it first, so nothing’s set in stone yet, but we’d love to do small-town life and—”
“Nolan is great!” Aunt Nylah pulls out of the hug. “It’s such a cool town to live in, and it’d be so nice having you nearby.”
“Maybe we should consider Nolan,” Aunt Dani murmurs to Uncle Tyrell, but everyone hears, and now Aunt Nylah’s pulling Aunt Dani and little Tucker into a hug.
“I would love to have you guys around. We could meet up and do playdates and—”
“Well, Satch will be busy, but I’ll come playdate with you ladies. That’d be super fun.” Uncle Wily’s smile is so big and dopey. He’s gonna be the best stay-at-home dad.
“I’m getting FOMO.” Dad crosses his arms, and my chest bunches into a tight knot. We’re not moving too, are we?
Uncle Grady laughs and slaps his shoulder. “You’re not allowed to leave LA yet, brah. You’ve still got a Super Bowl to win.”
“Yeah.” Dad nods. “Damn, we were close this year.”
“Next year,” Uncle Grady and Uncle Ty say in unison.
“And we’ll all be there to cheer you on.” Mom smiles, kissing his cheek, and I quickly duck out of view before someone sees me.
Thank God we’re not moving.
I wonder how Dom and Jane are gonna feel about leaving Texas. They moved there just before Seb was born, when Uncle Wily got traded to the Houston Texans. It’s been their home for like five years now.
The little ones probably don’t care where they are, but Dom and Jane would have made friends at school.
I guess they can make new friends.
And it will be cool to visit Nolan and be able to see everyone at the same time. I get why Dad’s having FOMO.
But I’m happy in LA, and if they start talking about moving before I graduate from high school, that’s gonna be a hard pass.
I don’t even really remember Nolan. I lived there for a year when I was like two. And, of course, I go back to visit Uncle Carson and Aunt Nylah sometimes. It’s a cool-ish town, I guess. Has a big college that my family all rave about.
Wonder if I’ll go there.
Wonder if there’ll be any cute guys I could fall for.
My lips twitch into a grin as I wander down to the rec room and walk into utter chaos. Yeah, we really need to get this football game under way before Seb accidentally kills someone with his Christmas present.
“Who wants to play football!” I shout above the racket.
“Me!” a unanimous roar comes from most of the kids.
Jane and Harley share reluctant smiles but rise from the couch, because this game is a tradition that no one’s allowed to get out of.
I wait for them by the door, taking one hand each and walking them up to the living room where the adults are organizing the tribe into teams.
Peeking out the window, I see a few flakes twirling in the air and smile. Yep, football in the snow is the best. We’ll all come back inside cold but energized, and then we can snuggle up with a Christmas movie and drink Aunt Libby’s hot cocoa, which is the best!
As I trail outside to get bossed around by my dad and Uncle Grady, I can’t help a grin.
I love this family.
Even though they annoy me sometimes, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Lining up with my cousins, I get set for the first play and feel that rush of excitement when Cole shouts, “Hut, hut!”
Squeee! I love that ending so much. I love seeing the Football Frat Family together and I can’t wait to revisit some of these characters in the Nolan U: Gen 2 series.