Page 2 of One Hellion of a Christmas

“Yay!” I cheered.

“Bunny kisses.”

Rubbing my nose against hers, I tightened my arms around her without thinking, closing my eyes as the last of the tension that had been coiled in every muscle began to release.

Yeah, I really needed this break.

“Bestie!”

Turning with Amala on my hip, I held out my arm in time for Abi’s weight to hit me. Thankfully, I’d learned to plant my feet, or all three of us would have been on the ground. Laughing, we curled into a hug, Abi’s big pregnant belly wedged between us. I felt the faint flutter of a powerful kick from the baby growing inside my best friend, and I caught my breath. That never failed to amaze me.

What would it feel like to experience life growing inside me?

Shaking away that thought had nausea roiling in my stomach. Swallowing in hopes of relieving the sudden indigestion, I got lost in Abi’s excited chatter while Ky and Sparks unloaded our luggage.

Sammy was already skipping happily across the yard that separated the mega house from the cottage she’d built herself only the year before, placing herself between Abi and her mother when Anya Vitucci visited Creswell Springs. I didn’t understand her need to protect Abi and Amala from her mother, but I trusted Sammy’s instincts, knowing she would always protect the two people most precious to us both.

As soon as Sammy reached us, Abi grabbed her and pulled her into our girls-only hug. Sammy’s entire face glowed as she hugged us back.

Hearing a vehicle rolling up the long driveway that connected the three houses, Sammy shifted her gaze to the truck that pulled into an open garage. “Look, Amala. Daddy’s home.”

“Hers or yours?” Jamie asked, coming to stand behind me, dropping one hand to my hip while the other joined Amala inplaying with my hair. Abi was doing the same thing, tugging on a few strands unconsciously.

“Jamie,” Sparks hissed in warning as he passed us, carrying the heaviest of my cases up to the porch. We were going to be there for a while, not just the holidays, but the suitcase was mostly full of presents, the majority of them already wrapped, with Amala’s name attached.

“It’s a valid question.” I tried to soothe his agitation at Jamie poking Sammy’s crazy. “And to be fair, I prefer hers, hands down, to Mini’s.”

Sammy smirked at Jamie. “Mine. I have to go.” She kissed Amala’s cheek then hugged me. “I’m really happy you’re here, Hayat. We’ve all missed you.”

“Me too,” I told her with a smile, fighting another cramp. “Let’s have a slumber party at Abi’s one night and catch up.”

“Definitely. I can’t wait.” Waving, she skipped back toward her house, a playful giggle filling the air when she saw Elias waiting for her at the still-open garage.

“Mommy, can I play with my cousins?” Amala asked.

Rubbing one hand over her belly, Abi eyed the rambunctious kids screaming and causing mayhem on the play set. All that energy must have been suppressed during their trips to Creswell Springs, and I was glad they had an outlet to release some before dinner. “Sure. But no fighting.”

Amala gave her mother a wicked grin. “No promises.”

Laughing at how much my goddaughter reminded me of not only her mom, but me as well, I gave her another bunny kiss before setting her on her feet. Her pigtails bounced as she hurried over to the other kids, who welcomed her wholeheartedly to the group.

I watched her climb the rock-wall side of the play set. Even from where we stood, I could see the mischief in her eyes as she said something that Ciaran took as a challenge. He startedclimbing on the other side of her. When she got to the top, she turned to watch the prince of mayhem, who was a foot below her.

Oh shit.

“No, Amala!” Abi shouted, reading the intent in her daughter’s beautiful face. “Don’t you freaking dare.”

Blinking, Amala stepped back, letting Ciaran onto the landing instead of kicking him off.

Amala might have been her mother’s mini-me, but she obviously had a lot of Vitucci in her as well.

Her sweet but terrifyingly diabolical giggle filled the air as she grabbed hold of the first monkey bar, swinging from one metal pipe to another with confidence and ease. Hearing it, I felt my heart lift.

I loved that sound so damn much.

CHAPTER TWO

abi

---