Page 54 of A Tinsel Tale

“Sounds like fun. But how he could miss out on this, I’ll never know.”

Jamie casually slings his arm across my shoulders and I’m hyper aware of his solid bod pressed against me. I point and snort with laughter when I catch sight of Tank across the room. There is no hiding when you’re six-four and built like a Mack Truck. His back is to me and his sweater looks like the hind end of a cartoon reindeer. The white tail is loose and dangling, strategically placed smack in the center of his butt. He’s wearing antlers on top of his head and the number twenty-two pinned to his back. “Hm. Twenty-two. Tank may get my vote,” I say.

“Wait till you see the front. Hey, Tank,” he yells over the din. Tank turns and I double over. He has on a red nose that blinks and the entire front of his sweater is a cartoon reindeer with antlers that protrude from the shoulders. Best I can tell, based on the red and green rings hanging from the antlers, they are not just decorative but serve as a ring toss as well.

“He’s in 3D,” I say gleefully. When I look up, Jamie is looking at me with such tenderness that I can’t breathe for a second. He leans down and kisses my nose. I melt inside. Now my legs feel like jelly.

“I love you,” he whispers in my ear.Gulp.Really! Now you’re going to say that in the midst of a gazillion people?

29

JAMIE

Ireally didn’t mean to drop a bombshell and it’s not like my feelings aren’t obvious. Evie’s eyes are huge and her delicious mouth is forming the perfect O, a flush staining her cheeks.

I swallow a laugh at her expression. “You can’t tell me you didn’t already know.”

Cameron chooses that moment to bounce into our orbit. “Hey love birds. Why don’t you join the rest of the party. We’ve got a game of ornament guess going on over there,” he says waving to the far corner.

“What do you want to drink? I’ll grab it then mosey on over.” I wink at Evie and can’t keep the amusement from my voice. I mean, her reaction is everything. Her cheeks are still pink and she looks like she’s in a state of shock.

“Wine?” she says tentatively, making it sound more like a question. “Red?”

“Come with me my sweet,” Cameron says, taking her arm and propelling her away from me. I move towards the makeshift bar and make small talk with the group gathered there. Glancing around, it appears everyone is in the holiday spirit and having a great time. Cam is blindfolding my babe and I smile.

Looks like a good mix of ages are playing pin the tail on the reindeer at the other end of the room. Right now, Casey is also blindfolded and just finished being twirled around by Tank, who now has his huge paws on her shoulders pointing her in the direction of the reindeer pin-up. I glance back at Evie and she’s laughing at something Cam’s saying.

“Earth to Jamie,” Deacon says.

“Did I miss something?” I say.

“Yeah. Sure was nice when my best bruh wasn’t some lovesick bull moose,” he says.

I scoff. “You still act like you’re on your honeymoon half the time.”

“Beside the point. Anyhoo, as I was saying, we got the kids a small four-wheeler for Christmas. They’re going to be psyched.”

“Brave.”

“Right?” he laughs. “I had one as a kid and survived.”

“We all did,” I agree. I take a slug of my beer. “What did you get the wife?” He turns to look behind him. “Coast is clear,” I say. “She’s busy talking with Sam and Jen and my sister Taylor.”

In a stage whisper Deak says, “We’re going on an Alaskan cruise, my man. In July. All booked and paid for. My mom and dad are watching the kids.”

“Dude!” I high five him. “That should score you some points.”

“Ya think? Expensive as shit!” he jokes. “What about you? I know you were whining about what to get for Evie. Come up with anything?”

“She’s got everything. She makes three times what we make and has nobody to spend it on but her dad and herself. What the hell. So, I kept it simple. I took one of our high-school prom photos, one taken at the actual dance, and had it transferred onto a custom blanket. Obnoxious but sentimental at the same time. She’s going to love it. Then, I had a keychain made with a pic of me in my old football uniform. I was quite the stud. But the real gift is a telescope. She’s always been into stargazing.”

“Cool! All sentimental, bruh.”

“Thanks.” I pour a glass of wine for Evie. “I’m heading over to the game, catch up with you later.”

“Yeah, I’d better check on the little monsters or I’ll hear it from Theresa the whole way home.”

“As it should be,” I say.

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