Page 54 of The Sleight Before Christmas

“Yes, if you want absolution, you absolutely should.”

“I masturbate regularly,” he immediately starts, “but not too often.”

I cringe. “Let’s skip the sexual debauchery for now.”

“Oh ... well, that’s all I have to confess.”

“That’s all?”

“Yeah,” he nods.

“Figures,” I blow out a breath. Eli’s a hard man for another not to try to measure up to. Over the years, I’ve found myself doing it more than I’m comfortable with. But it’s his history that doesn’t keep me envious. He’s fought really hard to get to where he is in life. His path to Whitney tracked with loss, self-discovery, and a hell of a lot of fight. It’s in thinking about that that I lean in, gripping him tighter to help him through the worst of this.

“Eli, I promise you, you’re going to be fine, man. You’re going to live a long, happy life with Whitney.” He nods as I add, “and kid-free.”

“We get sad sometimes ... about the kids—orno kids,” he admits, and my heart sinks. They both married just edged into their forties, and sadly, a part of their paths led to their inability to have children.

“Ever think about adopting?”

“No,” he studies his hand, opening and closing it, “we decided not to because we have yours to shower with affection. We like the perk of giving them back. So don’t keep them from us no more.”

“I’m sorry, bro. I won’t.”

“It’s cool, but, man. I love Peyton so much. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Gracie, Wyatt, Conner, and Jameson too,” he says. “Very much, but Peyton,” he looks over to me. “Something about that kid gets me good.”

The fact that he’s speaking a lot more coherently is a good sign, and I decide to try and keep him engaged.

“I get it, and he is yours, too. In fact, take him home. Please take him with you.”

“You say that, Thatch, but that kid is a daddy’s boy.” Eli takes a deep breath and holds it before pushing it out.

“Think so?”

“Are you kidding? I know so. All he asks for is play tools and hammers,” he shakes his head at me as if it’s obvious. “You think he’s just into construction?” He squeezes my hand. “Thatch, you’re a good dad,” he dips, his tone low, “way better than Brenden.”

“Anyone is better than Brenden,” I chuckle before the guilt kicks in. “Okay, he’s not that bad.”

“I mean, he kind of is, but you? You’re different.”

“Not lately,” I admit.

“Well, it’s going to work out because it’s you,” he states.

“What do you mean?” I ask, most definitely fishing for compliments.

He turns to me, his ice-blue eyes sincere and a little dreamy. “Because it’syou, Thatch. Everyone knows you’ve got your family, man. You’vealwaysgot them.”

The words don’t even fully get a chance to leave Eli’s mouth before Peyton’s shriek fills the air. “Jesus for Christ!”

“Peyton!” Serena screeches next, a horrific gurgling sound coming from below. And just as a shatter reaches us, Eli full-on blanches white before he passes right the fuck out.

“Hey, sweetheart, come on in,” Ruby greets, opening the door for me with a ready smile. “Dinner’s almost ready.” I step in, the smells from the kitchen and the feel of the house sinking into me. “Do you mind going to grab Serena?”

“No, ma’am,” I say as music blasts down from the second floor.

“Tell her to turn that shit down if you don’t mind,” she tosses over her shoulder as I head up the stairs, a smile twisting my lips. Traveling down the hall toward the sound of the music, I place it as “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” by Eve and Gwen Stefanie. Knowing the girl playing it is probably in some sort of mood by the song choice, it’s confirmed when I peek around the corner to see her shaking her pert little ass to it. Kicking back for the show just outside the doorway, I watch as Serena taps her hips perfectly to the beat, her long, silky hair dancing just inches from the top of her jeans. The camisole undershirt she’s wearing hugging her palm-sized tits and tapering to hermuscular, trim waist. She’s slightly more bottom-heavy in the best imaginable way. A little thicker in the thighs, her heart-shaped ass everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman.

Everything about this girl turns me on.

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