Page 160 of Taste of Addiction

“I can tell,” he says chuckling in my ear. “We will stay there a week and then I thought we could go to San Juan.”

“As in Puerto Rico?”

“Yeah,” he says, trying not to get whiplash as I thrash around in his arms. “That cool with you?”

I look up at him and kiss his lips so hard it hurts. “Yes, yes, yes.”

“We leave a week after the new year.”

“Sounds perfect.”

After every gift is opened, we carry our new belongings back to our rooms and take a power nap before the family games. I wake feeling rejuvenated and still on a high from the knowledge that I get to go to Florida. I have never been to Florida. And I have definitely never been to Puerto Rico.

Graham and I join everyone who have already gathered downstairs in the dining room, sitting at the table.

“Sorry we are late,” I mutter. “Is it game time?”

“That it is,” Donna says, holding up a huge ball of saran wrap. “This game is called Unwrapped. The goal is to wear oven mitts and try to uncover hidden prizes from this ball of fun with a two minute time limit. Any prizes that you are able to unwrap are yours to keep. We will start with Penny and work our way clockwise.”

Germain starts the timer feature on the mobile speaker and Penny goes to town, trying to rip the plastic away from the ball.

“Who comes up with these games?” Claire whispers to me.

“I have no idea. Probably Donna or Germain. They take family game night very seriously.”

“I can tell,” she says with a smile.

The ball gets passed to Nic, with Penny only barely getting the plastic started.

“Go,” Germain yells, as we cheer on Nic, who manages to uncover a G-string thong and a lottery ticket.

“Really, Mom?” he asks shocked, holding up the piece of string from his finger. “Really?”

“That is called a—”

“I know what the hell it’s called, dammit.”

She tosses her head back and laughs so hard that she snorts. Graham places his arm along the back of my chair as we all break down into hysterics.

“I didn’t know if you needed a refresher course,” Donna says innocently.

“Just.” Nic rubs at the scruff on his jawline, tossing the lace into the middle of the table. “Stop.”

I stifle a laugh. I know Nic is single. From everything I’ve gathered, he plans to stay that way—permanently.

When Claire is up, she unwraps a one-hundred-dollar bill right as the buzzer goes off. She looks at it as if she just won the lottery. “Victory,” she chants.

“Nice,” I yell, patting her on the arm.

“Your turn, Angie,” Graham reminds.

“Go.”

I pull and tug at the little pieces of plastic wrap, trying so hard to get something from the ball of fun. Tug. Rip. “Yes! I got something.”

“Keep going, you still have more time,” Germain encourages.

I tear with all my might and release another prize from the ball. I am almost through another when—

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