Page 136 of Love Not Qualified

My palms faced the air. “I just… this is my first proper Christmas and I want it to be perfect and then, I’m meeting your family for the first time and I don’t want to screw it up.”

“You still have time to invite your friends over if that’d help you ease the tension,” he suggested.

As much as I wanted them on my side in this, I knew this night was important for Tristan. I was going to meet his family and I wasn’t going to transform Christmas day into a meet and greet of each of our friends.

We were going to spend the second day of Christmas with them and also Sebastian and Nadia. That way, we were able to give full attention to his family tonight and do the same with our friends tomorrow.

We could spend the next holiday together.

Shit.

I was already picturing a future with Tristan by my side without realizing it.

“No, it’s fine,” I told him and avoided his eyes, afraid that he’d see right through me.

It wasn’t normal to feel like all of this was meant to be. Not yet. We’ve been official for a week now and I already placed him in every future event in my mind. I had to get a grip of myself.

“Everything is perfect. You made sure of it.”

The ring bell echoed in the house and I turned to stone. They were here.

My first instinct was to look in a mirror, but the closest one was in the bathroom under the stairs. I didn’t have time to go there to make sure I looked presentable.

I patted my hair, threaded a hand through my curls, then moved toward the door and back to Tristan. “Shit, shit. They’re here. How do I look?”

Tristan leaned down, a smirk on his face. “Fucking hot,” he whispered. “You’re lucky we have guests, because otherwise, I would’ve shown Santa what a bad girl you are.”

My thighs clenched and I threw him a look, heat rising to my cheeks. Now was not the moment to make inappropriate comments and I opened to tell him just that, when his family walked in.

“This place looks amazing,” said a stunning woman with a red bow in her hair.

My body was pointed to the door when I felt Tristan gluing his back to mine. “See? I told you,” he whispered.

I stepped up to them. “You must be Esmeray.” I smiled at her. “I’m Haelyn.”

“Nice to meet you, Haelyn. I have to admit, you transformed this place from a dark cave to Santa’s home. It’s beautiful,” she continued, her eyes roaming over all the decorations I put around the house. “This is my husband, Kai. My sister, Raven, and back here”—she pointed behind the three of them—“are Lacey and Kiaran.”

What was it like for her to join such a big family? Was she as nervous as I was? Or did she click with them from the first moment?

“I’m so happy I finally got the chance to meet you all,” I said, letting my gaze wander over all of them.

“Can we share the presents now?” Lacey, the blonde little girl, asked.

Kiaran groaned and touched his stomach. “Can’t we do it after? I’m starving and this place smells like an oven.”

“No. I’ll go first,” Lacey insisted.

I fought a smile. “You can put the presents under the tree.” I pointed at the large green tree, decorated with white globes and artificial snow behind us.

Lacey didn’t hesitate and walked to it, emptying her arms there and the others quickly followed her, but not Kai. I slowly walked away, giving them some privacy.

“I thought you didn’t like Christmas,” I heard Kai say to Tristan.

“I thought that too.”

Since we didn’t know each other well, all of the gifts we exchanged were the usual Christmasy things—socks, blankets, decorations. Esmeray gifted each of the girls a red bow like hers and helped us put it on. We all looked adorable.

When I gave Ryker his gift, I held my breath, playing with my hands in my lap. Tristan squeezed my elbow, but my eyes were solely focused on his brother.

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