Page 22 of A Very Grumpy Christmas

“Kip!” I scream as I come, and he groans my name as he follows me over the edge.

I’m not sure when he moves, but a moment later, we’re lying on our sides facing each other, both of us still panting and flushed.

“So that’s one fantasy,” I tell him and he huffs out a laugh.

“One down. A million more to go,” he whispers, and I smile as I cuddle into his side.

I just need to close my eyes for a moment. That’s what I tell myself as I nestle against him and slowly let sleep claim me.

I feel Kip kiss my forehead right before I drift off.

“Merry Christmas, Ginger,” he whispers, and I smile as I fall asleep.

NINE

Kip

“So it goes Olive,then Maple, then Saffron, and you’re the baby,” I clarify, and she nods against my chest. “Did you like being the baby?”

“Yeah, I just wish that… I had more time with them,” she finishes softly, and I know that she’s talking about her parents.

“I know, baby. I’m sorry.”

“What about you? Ever wish that you had siblings?”

“Sometimes. It was lonely growing up with two doctors for parents. They were always too busy off saving other people to remember me, and then I would feel guilty for wishing that they were with me when I knew that their patients needed them.”

“You needed them, too,” she reminds me, and I nod.

“Yeah.”

“Do you ever talk to them?”

“Sometimes, but not a lot. They’re disappointed in me. They wanted me to be a doctor too, but I couldn’t. It’s not what I wanted.”

“I couldn’t do it either. All of the blood and stuff,” she says with a shudder, and I smile.

“What do you want to do?” I ask her as I rub her back lazily with my fingers.

“I don’t know. I just… I always wanted to be a mom. I want a family. I want a home.”

“I’ll give you that,” I promise her, and she smiles up at me.

“I know you will.”

She kisses my chest, and I smile. I could stay like this with her forever.

“We should get up,” Ginger whispers, and I tighten my arms around her.

We’ve been lying in bed and cuddling, talking about anything and everything for the last few hours, and I don’t want it to stop. I love being with her like this. It feels so right, so natural, and effortless.

“Five more minutes,” I argue, and she laughs.

“We’re going to be late if we stay in bed any longer.”

I groan as she pulls away from me and watch as she stands and heads towards the bathroom.

“Come on. I’ll let you wash my back,” she says with a wink, and I grin.

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