Page 32 of Tickled Pink

Thad doesn’t give me enough time to question it. Before I can even open my mouth, he takes off into the dark hallway, following the string of Christmas lights down to the second floor.

I step inside, easily seduced by the warmth of the hallway. As I close the door behind me, I hear the first notes of The Twelve Days of Christmas echoing loudly throughout the house from downstairs.

My lips curl on their own. “Follow the music, huh?” I mutter to myself.

Ah, hell.

Might as well.

Chapter Eight

Phoebe

I follow the music down the stairs. A permanent smile has dug into my face by the time I reach the second floor. My cheeks will surely burn for the next week with how much my boys have made me smile tonight, but I don’t mind at all. It’s made me realize something; something I foolishly should have had cemented in my brain from day one.

I’m their girl.

And that’ll never change.

It doesn’t matter how many parents disapprove or how many strange looks we receive on the subway.

I’m theirs. They’re mine.

And nothing can come between what we have.

I pause on the second floor where the music is the loudest. A new trail of lights curls down the hallway, leading me straight toward our bedroom. I bite my lip, eagerly wondering what they have in store for me once I get there.

Each step I take is like a bolt of lightning to my core. An evening of teasing has left me feeling like a caged animal just begging to be let loose. I know that when I break free, my boys will take good care of me.

I reach the open bedroom door, and my smile grows.

The lights continue on inside and curl up the bedposts, illuminating the entire bedroom with a healthy holiday glow. The fireplace burns across the room, heating the space and tickling my nose with that delightful scent.

And my boys…

Max and Thad stand on either side of the bed, each one still sporting their black suits and ties, though Thad’s red checkered tie is still dangling around his neck where I left it. The only other difference is that they’re now both wearing bright pink Santa hats.

Happy chuckles ripple throughout my body as I follow the makeshift runway toward the foot of the bed.

Thad bobs his head. “Season’s greetings, milady,” he says over the music.

I laugh, unable to hold it in.

“Have a seat,” Max says, gesturing to the edge of the bed.

I swallow hard beneath two perfect jawlines and I do as I’m told, practically tingling with excitement as I sink into the mattress. My hands twitch in my lap and I lick my lips as they walk forward and stand in front of me.

“Thank you,” I tell them. “Tonight has been absolutely perfect.”

They look at each other and laugh.

“You think we’re done yet?” Max asks.

“Yeah,” Thad shakes his head, “you ain’t seen nothing yet, Pink.”

And I’m not even at all surprised.

Thad withdraws his phone from his pocket and changes the music with a quick swipe of his thumb. Jingle Bell Rock blares through the speakers and he tosses the phone away as they both simultaneously grip the front of their pants...

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