Page 6 of First Christmas

“You caveman,” she teased.

“Only for you.” I replied, tucking my cock back into my boxers and pants and rebuckling everything. “Does something to me to know I’m all over you and you’re all over me.” I kissed her gently.

She smiled up at me, rolling her eyes, as she stepped away to open the bags.

“Cupcakes too?” she asked, shaking her head, thinking I’d spoiled Nat.

“Caroline sent them. Said she hoped she felt better soon. She let us have it all on the house.”

I watched Becks’ face as she gasped, staring at me.

“She didn’t have to do that!” she exclaimed.

“I know, I told her that. They do that for the servants of the community sometimes. Get used to it, Becks. We’re a community that takes care of one another.”

She shook her head, staring at the three quarts of soup and half a dozen chocolate cupcakes.

“I don’t know if I will ever get used to it,” she admitted softly.

I nodded knowingly. My fiancée struggled to accept help and did so sparingly. Sometimes I had to pry it out of her. I leaned over, kissing her forehead gently.

“I’m gonna go check on Peanut,” I said.

She nodded, already distracted and moving away to pour the soup into a pot to heat, and plating the cupcakes.

I smiled, turning and leaving the kitchen.

Chapter 3

“Can you grab the salad while I get the cake?” I looked over at Lucas as he pulled into Monica’s freshly-plowed driveway a couple of days later. I’d bet money that Trevor had been here to do this for her. Lucas nodded, squeezing my thigh, and smiling over at me.

Nat was already squealing and leaping out of the back of his huge, black truck. She had gone through roughly thirty-six hours of fevers and body aches. She’d only been sick twice more and had been happy to get back to school to close out the semester before Christmas break.

“She’s gonna break her freaking neck.” Lucas griped, rushing after her. I laughed, shaking my head at both of them.

We usually met at Monica’s house, or her and the girls came to our house, for dinner once a week.

I jumped down from my side of the truck as Lucas started towards the house with the salad, yelling at Nat to slow down. Opening the back door to my side I reached in to grab the cake I’d made that afternoon. Lucas was going to grill some chickenthat Monica had marinating. He was in a hurry to get to the patio and a cold beer despite the winter weather.

I knew he still struggled coming over here and not having his best friend to share a beer and hold down the grill with. Nat and Lexi usually ended up out in the backyard with him instead, showing off their cartwheels or volleyball moves. With the snowfall I was positive there would be some kind mischief.

The girls were more intuitive to our feelings and emotions than we often gave them credit for and they could tell Lucas missed Paul and provided distractions for him. I grabbed the cake and shut the door as Lucas disappeared into the house.

Monica was standing in the doorway waiting on me as I walked around the back of the vehicle. I smiled and waved at her. I was watching my steps as the snow and ice on the ground were slippery when they froze over again in the evenings. I was a klutz without the hazardous conditions.

Just as I cleared the back corner of the truck to start up the sidewalk a shot rang out over the neighborhood and I didn’t even think. The cake upended from my hands and landed, chocolate strewn across the pristine snow. My knees hit the ground, provided a slight cushion with the powder, as I covered my head with my arms. My heart felt like it was trying to crawl out of my throat as I gave a small scream.

My entire body was frozen and the blood was rushing in my ears as my brain rapidly fired information through my head. We were in a suburban neighborhood in Reading, Pennsylvania. Who would be shooting at us? Fight or flight be damned, I was frozen in fear.

I was in a memory six months earlier, fighting and screaming to get to Paul. He was shot in front of me and bleeding out. “Tell my girls I love them, Becks. Tell them for me.”

I thought I was crying, I knew I was hyperventilating, but it was so cold I couldn’t tell. I heard voices yelling faintly. The blood rushing in my ears wouldn’t let me focus on much for long.

“Becks,” a gentle voice said.

Monica’s soft hands touching my arms and pulling me up gently. I met my best friend’s eyes, reality crashing back in around me.

“It was a truck backfiring, hon.”

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