Page 63 of Only Ever You

“She can stay gone.” I huff.

“Let’s finish our lunch and I’ll get you back to your man. Okay?”

I nod. I’m not about to let that woman darken my mood.

Chapter Twenty

Deacon

Christmas Day is a little overwhelming.

It’s been a long time since I was part of any family, and the Chapmans are just so welcoming and wonderful there’s a part of me that wants to run away and hide for a while.

“Everyone’s coming for lunch, so we’ll open the presents before we eat,” Pippa says.

Lucas sighs loudly as we enter the living room. “Are you ready for the family onslaught, Deacon?”

“How bad can it be?” I ask, dropping onto the couch. Pippa sits beside me.

“The grandparents and our aunt and uncle will be fine. It’s Lizzy you’ve always had to watch out for.”

I pick up a cushion and throw it at him. He roars with laughter.

“I was reminded of that by Pippa.”

He grins. “I bet. She had such a thing for you. It was a long time ago, but on the other hand—she’s single again.”

“I’m not.”

“I don’t think that’s ever stopped her before.” Pippa wraps herself around my waist.

“There’s only one woman I want, Pippa, and that’s you. And you know it.” I pop a kiss on her head.

“Doesn’t mean I’m not insanely jealous of other women.” She pokes her tongue out.

“You don’t need to be. But you do need to be careful, or I’ll give you another use for that tongue.”

The cushion hits me in the head after Lucas throws it back at me. “You can cut that out right now. That’s my sister.”

We all laugh, and it feels so good—like it used to be.

The door opens, and the living room is suddenly full of Pippa’s family. She sticks with me, holding my hand and squeezing it as if she understands I’m a little overwhelmed.

And then before Lizzy walks in, Pippa gives me a gentle push and tells me to move down the couch until I’m on the end, anticipating her cousin’s move.

Our parcels are already under the tree, but the pile grows as her grandparents settle in, and then her aunt and uncle arrive.

We never had Christmas like this back home.

Sure enough, Pippa called it. Lizzy walks in and takes one look at us cuddled up on the couch and rolls her eyes.

Lizzy’s a good-looking woman. She’s tall, blonde, and everything Pippa thought I wanted. It’s probably why Pippa’s a little paranoid about her. But I only have eyes for Pippa, and no one’s going to distract me from her.

Her cousin’s eyes dart to my end of the couch, and I swear you can see her mind ticking over as to what excuse she can use to try and make me move.

Pippa pats the spot on the other side of her. “Lizzy, there’s plenty of room here.”

With a huff, Lizzy makes her way to the opposite end of the couch.

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