Page 79 of Sideline Play

Waving him and his Grinchiness off, I dismiss, “Same thing.”

“Ro, are you wearing the shirt? You know we have to wear the shirts. And where’s your elf hat?”

Moaning as if he’s in pain, my brother pleads, “Please don’t make me wear the hat, Squeaks.”

“But it’s tradition!”

“It’s three o’clock in the morning. Tradition can bite my ass.”

“Scrooge!”

“No hat!” our dad answers just as bright eyed and bushy tailed as me, sliding into the kitchen, wearing his old Disney World t-shirt that saysMost Expensive Day Everand a Santa hat that’s sitting cockeyed on his dark head.

“What?” I demand as Roman praises God, Jesus, and the maker of Dr. Pepper for small miracles.

“But he has to go, right?”

“Nope, just you and me Princess.”

“But…” I start to pout looking to Remi for help. “It’s our tradition…”

Scrubbing his hands down his face, his sleep roughened voice offers, “I’ll go with you, baby. Just give me uh… ten minutes?”

Planting a kiss on my cheek as he passes behind me, dad goes to the fridge and pulls out the after feast sandwiches he prepped last night. Tossing one to me, I catch it and greedily unwrap the foil before taking a massive bite and glaring at Roman.

With two held in one hand for himself, my dad pushes his other down on Remington’s shoulder, telling him, “Stand down, Tate. This is just me and Scarlet today. You three rest up because the real elf in the family will probably be drafting a to-do list for y'all while we’re gone.” Then pointing at my whiskey-colored leather jacket and chunky pink scarf that’s wound around my neck, he asks, “Are you wearing it?”

“Like you even have to ask,” I scoff. Putting my sandwich and coffee on the counter, I hold my scarf in my teeth and open up my jacket to reveal myTangledt-shirt that readsBest Day Ever.

“Phone charged?”

“Remi plugged it in last night and ran the update. Besides, it'll charge in the car on the way there.”

“Fair. AmEx, bank card, and cash?”

“Check, check, check,” I repeat, slipping out the slender wallet from inside my jacket to show him.

One step ahead, I exchange it for my plan of attack and wave it like a battle flag as he asks, “Stores and gift list? Good. Then we are all set, Princess.

“Boys, enjoy your morning and be ready for Part Two of Christmas Day One when we get back.”

“Aye-aye, Skipper,” Roman sarcastically salutes as Reeves asks, “Is she gone yet?” while Remi, sweet as ever, simply responds, “Did you want me to get anything else while you’re out?”

Throwing a piece of unwanted crust at Reeves and another at my brother for good measure, I smile, “No, but I’m wondering if I don’t need the tree since we’ll be going home once I finish finals.”

“Baby, you want a tree, you’re gettin’ a tree.”

“But it’s only for like ten days. It’s a waste.”

“You want it, you’re gettin’ it. Now come on, I don’t want to find out what happens if you and Colt fall behind schedule.”

Walking us to the front door, Remi snatches my keys before I can and passes them over my head to my dad. Outside in the icy dark, he steers me to the passenger seat and helps me into my car, pulling the seat belt across me and buckling me in as my dad gets in on the driver’s side. Hands on my cheeks, he kisses me, once, twice, then a third time, lingering just a bit on the last.

When he pulls back, he leaves one more on my forehead, cautioning, “Be safe, Scar.” As he pulls back, he retrieves something from his pocket and clasping both of his over mine, passes me a card, shushing me as I begin to object. “Take it, use it.”

“Remi—”

“Even if it’s just to buy a coffee or one of those strawberry juice things from Starbucks.”

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