Page 18 of One Hellion of a Christmas

Jamie tapped me playfully on the ass as he passed me to help, while Sparks carefully unbuckled the child safety seat and released the little whirlwind of wild curls, dimples as deep as the sea, and the biggest set of chocolate-brown eyes. Catching me watching him, he winked, that smile of his promising so many delicious things for later.

I hadn’t been sure what to expect when it came to how the guys would react to such a glaring physical trait proclaiming who our little girl’s biological father was, but that never became an issue we had to address.

Just because she had Sparks’s eyes didn’t make Jamie and Ky love her any less. No one treated her differently, and she sure as hell didn’t discriminate when it came to showing how much she adored her three dads.

“Besties!”

Turning slowly, I watched as Jessa ran and leaped at Amala and Calina. “Bestie!” The girls squealed as they collided. Little-girl giggles were one of my favorite sounds, especially when they were coming from my daughter and two goddaughters.

Kids were already spilling out of the houses, screaming and laughing. A few dogs were yapping, chasing after the savages that were all high on sugar and the happiness of being with their favorite people for the holidays.

My family had added a few smaller homes alongside the mega-house that Anya and Emmie had built for everyone. Some of my family had made Creswell Springs their primary residence. I would have loved to have been closer to Abi more often, but Autumn’s Slumber was way too busy for that.

Sammy walked across the yards, her eyes darting around to make sure there was no danger even as she waved to me, a smile spreading across her face. Behind her, Abi rushed from her own house, her legs eating up the distance to get to me. It had been a few weeks since we’d seen each other. Thanksgiving had been wild with our cousins spread out around the states—the world. But somehow, we’d all managed to spend a few hours together before life got in the way again.

Now, we would get at least a few days before having to return to our usual daily routines.

Taking off at a run, I grabbed Sammy’s hand when I passed and dragged her with me, and we crashed into Abi almost identically to how Jessa had her besties. With anoomph, we stumbled, and I rolled, taking most of the other two’s weight as we hit the ground.

Our laughter filled the air, echoing louder than the little girls who were now up and chasing after their other cousins. Abi lifted her head, her face flushed with happiness. “Bestie!”

“Besties!” I cried, stroking my fingers down both her and Sammy’s cheeks.

“Not a fan of this greeting they have turned into a tradition,” Vaughn grumbled as he and Elias appeared above us.

“It’s adorable,” Elias countered, always the sweet one compared to his brother-in-law’s sour. At least, that was how I thought of them.

“Ignore them,” Abi snickered, staying on top of me. She propped her head on her hand, obviously comfortable. I had a rock digging into my hip, but I couldn’t bring myself to move yet. I was ready for lots of Abi time. “I have so much planned for us. We’re going to have a pajama party with all the snacks while the kids watch mind-rot Christmas shows. Calina wants to do a Christmas carol night, so that’s on the agenda for tomorrow evening. Everyone has to join. I’m looking at you, Vaughn!”

“Yes, wildfire,” he said with resignation.

“He has emotions this year! Kudos, Vaughn. You’ve come so far,” I praised.

Sammy snorted out a laugh. “Right? He’s finally learning how to express himself. It’s only taken forty—”

“No need to be rude, Sammy.” Abi cut her off before she could start pushing all of her brother’s wrong buttons. His age became more of a sore spot for him with each passing year. Pretending like no one had interrupted her, Abi kept listing off her plans. “But first thing tomorrow, we’re going to hit the mall—”

“No!” Five men roared—including Elias, who was normally so chill—causing the girls to pause their play to frown at their fathers and uncles. Sammy couldn’t completely hide how tense the idea made her, the crazy in her eyes trying to shy away, but I knew her too well to miss it.

I rolled my eyes at Abi, pretending that my other best friend wasn’t about to psycho-out. I loved her and all her mental illnesses. “They always say that. I mean, geesh. A girl getskidnapped one time at the mall mere days before Christmas, and they all turn into cavemen.”

“Auntie Hayat is so weird,” Calina muttered to the others.

Jessa shrugged, not the least bit insulted on my behalf. “Weird is cool. Hey, let’s go convince Ciaran to jump off the roof! Do you think he will break his arm again?”

“Jessa Abigail Carver!” Ky boomed her full legal name, causing our daughter to freeze just as she turned away to unleash mayhem on the entire town of Creswell Springs. She lifted her hands as if he were the cops and she was a juvenile delinquent rather than a five-year-old.

Which was fair.

Slowly turning, she smiled that smile that never failed to reduce the three rockers in front of her to goo. “Yes, Daddy?”

His sigh was half frustration, half resignation. I was pretty sure my men and their many emotions rubbed off on Vaughn with all the time they were forced to spend together. “If we can make it through this visit without anyone breaking a bone—”

“Or the house,” Sparks was quick to add on.

“Or the town,” Jamie rushed out.

“—then we will talk about you getting that kitten you want so much.”

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