Page 94 of Hooked On Them

The walk back to the SUV was quiet, each of us lost in thought. The weight of what we were walking into, not just Christmas with Nora’s family, but this entire situation, suddenly was very real.

* * *

“They’re here!” Nora called out, her voice carrying through the house with a note of excitement I’d never heard from her that twisted something in my chest.

“Dom!” Nora spotted me in the kitchen, where I’d just knocked back the rest of my whiskey, and waved me over. “Come meet my sister!”

The soft cream sweater dress she wore hugged the slight curve of her stomach. It wasn’t noticeable to anyone who wasn’t looking for it, but I couldn’t stop staring.

I pasted on what I hoped was a normal human smile and approached the group gathering in the entryway of the house. Nora’s arm slid around my waist, casual and possessive in a way that made my brain short-circuit momentarily. Lately, she’d been touching me more in front of others, and each time it made my body buzz.

“This is Dominic.” Nora squeezed my side like I was some kind of stress ball. “Dom, this is Josie, Gabriel, and Laney.”

Josie assessed me with eyes exactly like her sister’s. “So, you’re the man who knocked up my sister?”

My throat seized in a vicious contraction that would’ve turned any remaining whiskey into a projectile weapon. Good thing I’d already swallowed. Her blunt comment landed like a sucker punch to the throat, so direct and efficient it left me momentarily unable to form words. I swallowed hard against the phantom burn, feeling heat crawl up my neck that had nothing to do with alcohol.

But then Josie burst out laughing, a full, uninhibited sound that instantly transformed her from intimidating to approachable, and she moved in for a hug that caught me completely off guard.

“Ignore her. She’s been talking all day about how she planned to roast you.” Gabriel stepped forward next, his daughter clinging to his hand like she thought he might float away and extended his hand. “Nice to finally meet you.”

I shook his hand, appreciating the firm grip. I knew of Gabriel Badden but had never met him in person. He ran the sports apparel company that supplied uniforms and merchandise for the Titans and many other sports teams across the country.

The little girl, Laney, still had a grip on her dad’s hand but had moved back so she was partially hidden behind Gabriel’s leg. She eyed me suspiciously, like I might suddenly break into a hockey fight in the middle of the living room.

I crouched down, putting myself at her level. “Hey there. You must be Laney.”

She nodded solemnly, her small fingers tightening on Gabriel’s hand.

“I’m Dom.” I was painfully aware of everyone watching this interaction. “I, uh, like your shoes.” They were sparkly and had unicorns on them. At least I knew she’d like the unicorn dog plush we’d gotten her.

This earned me a slightly less suspicious look but still no words. Great. Even five-year-olds could tell I was out of my depth.

The living room filled with conversation and laughter as everyone came to greet Nora’s sister. With the Christmas music playing, the tree lit up in the corner, and the smell of food and desserts cooking, it was like a scene from one of those Hallmark movies my mom had watched every December. Except in those movies, the story never included a pregnant woman juggling three men while her dad made everyone cocktails ten feet away.

Nora was glowing. There was no other word for it. The way she laughed at Carter’s jokes and leaned into Miles when he whispered something in her ear had me paying attention to her and only her. Every few minutes, her eyes would find mine across the room, a silent check-in that made my chest constrict.

I was part of this. And also, completely outside it.

“Who’s up for some pool?” Brett’s voice cut through the conversation like a coach calling a timeout. “We just got the table re-felted. We might as well break it in.”

Carter straightened like he’d been waiting all night for this. “Absolutely. Been itching for a rematch.”

Miles raised a brow. “You mean a rematch of me absolutely destroying you last time?”

“You sunk the eight ball early, Collins. It was a fluke.”

“Uh-huh.” Miles set down his drink and stood. “Let’s go.”

Brett’s gaze landed on me. “Dominic?”

The old me would’ve jumped at the chance, eager to prove something and earn points. But tonight, with my head still spinning from how easily everyone else seemed to belong, I shook my head. “Think I’ll sit this one out.”

Miles and Carter disappeared downstairs with Brett, Gabriel headed to the kitchen to help Mateo, and moments later, Josie pulled Nora aside, their heads bent close in sisterly conspiracy.

Which left me in the living room with Laney.

She’d set up at the coffee table and was carefully arranging glitter gel pens beside a notebook. The TV played some animated Christmas movie at a low volume, casting colorful reflections across her small, serious face.

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