Page 2 of A Very Addicted Christmas

Whenever I’m in proximity to Uncle Ryke, it’s media catnip. It’s not a headache unless I make it one, and I’m not going to.

I don’t care about those rumors. You know the ones. Where tabloids say Ryke Meadows is my biological dad even though I have paternity tests that prove otherwise.

Drama free—that’s what these three days are supposed to be. Sulli, Uncle Ryke, and I are spending a few days in Vail before heading to the Smoky Mountains. We’re meeting up with everyone else at the lake house for our winter break vacation. Filled with Christmas traditions and family.

Sulli tugs her knit beanie over her reddened ears. Snow flurries stick to her dark brown hair that drapes on her broad swimmer’s shoulders. “Mof, you know I’m not even doing the black diamond.”

I smile. Yeah, I didn’t think Sulli would run a black diamond. Not because she wouldn’t want to. She’s just deep in swim training at the moment. I’m also in training, but she’s ten times more competitive. And she’s not about to risk injury on a dangerous route.

Sulli has spent most of her time at the lodge’s indoor pool. Her dad has had to practically rip her away. Reminding her that they came forfunand something other than swimming.

She can get into her head a lot. Too focused on one goal.

“It’ll be a scenic run,” she tells me, finished lacing her boots. “You sure you want to miss out on that?”

I crack a knuckle or two. Thinking about this for a second. Before Ryke and Sulli invited me on their three-day trip, I told myself that I’d give them some one-on-one time. I don’t ever really feel like a third-wheel, but I also don’t want to take away anything from anybody. This morning just feels like the perfect opportunity to bow out.

“We still have tomorrow,” I say. “And I’ll catch back up with you later today.”

Sulli looks a bit bummed. Her shoulders drop.

I nudge her arm. “What if I meet you at the pool later?”

Those magic words light up her green eyes. “Fuck it, let’s skip the hills and just go to the pool now.”

“No, nofucking it,” her dad proclaims, hearing what she said. The door to the gear rental shop bangs closed as he exits. Carrying a snowboard, he nears us. His boots are already on and his brown eyes darken on his daughter. “At least one run today, Sulli.”

She picks up her snowboard. “Will you race me?”

His brows knot. “I thought you wanted to take it fucking easy.”

“No black diamond or anything,” Sulli explains. “That’d be good, right?”

He gives her a hard paternal look. “That’s up to you, sweetie. You want to do the black diamond, we can fucking do that.”

Sulli figures out what she wants pretty quickly. “Just an easier route, but not the bunny slope.”

“Alright.”

“And you’ll race me?”

He rests a hand on her head. “Deal.”

She looks up at him with a smile before her phone buzzes. She digs in her jacket pocket. “Right on fucking time.”

Uncle Ryke and I are both next to Sulli, so as she clicks into the Face-Time call, we’re all in the screen.

Aunt Daisy appears, a washcloth on her forehead. She’s lying long-ways on a leather couch at the lake house.

Concern cinches Ryke’s brows. “You look like shit, Calloway.”

Aunt Daisy smiles weakly. “Like hot shit?” She wags her brows.

He shakes his head. “Dais, do you still have a fever?”

She squeezes her fingers together. “I also have the best cuddle buddy.” She angles the camera to show six-year-old Winona who sleeps against her side and chest, hugging a stuffed frog.

My aunt was supposed to be here with Winona, but Winona and Audrey got a bug from school and passed it to their moms.

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