Page 139 of Stuck with my Mountain Daddies

Garrett

“What isthat?”I demanded the moment Lucy pulled out a bag labeledDefinitely Not Fashionable.

“Something for tonight,” she said with a smirk. One I didn’t like the look of at all. “For Christmas Day evening drinks at Lucky’s.”

“Apparently, it’s tradition,” Riley added as she joined in, her eyes sparkling as if she was about to commit a felony with a glitter gun. “Ugly sweater time.”

Beckett groaned, personally offended. I wasn’t far behind.

Asher, on the other hand, lit up like one of those damn inflatable lawn Santas. “Oh hell yes.”

“This one’s perfect for you, Garrett.” Riley giggled, pulling out something red and fuzzy. “It has a moose. In a Santa hat.Smoking a cigar.”

I stared at it. It stared back.

There were bells on the sleeves.

“Absolutely not.”

Riley grinned wider, stepping in close and holding it up to my chest. “Come on. It’s very rugged lumberjack. With holiday flair.”

Beckett snorted. “You mean it’s a crime against fabric.”

“I’m not wearing that,” I said flatly, arms crossed as if I were facing down a hostile forest fire.

“You are,” Riley said, matter-of-fact, “because I said please. And also…” she batted her lashes dramatically, “you love us and want me and Lucy to have thebestChristmas ever.”

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

She had me there.

“Fine,” I growled, snatching the sweater out of her hands like it might bite me. “But I’m not wearing the bells.”

“You’re absolutely wearing the bells,” Lucy chimed in, already waving a green monstrosity at Beckett. “We suffer together.”

His eyes narrowed. “Is that a reindeer twerking?”

“It’s dancing!” Lucy protested. “He’s festive!”

“He’s an abomination,” Beckett said, horror creeping into his voice as she handed it to him like it was sacred cloth. “There’s glitter on this. Literal glitter.”

“Christmas glitter,” she corrected, beaming.

Asher was digging through the bag like a kid on Christmas morning. “Please tell me mine lights up. Please tell me it has LEDs.”

“It has lights,” Riley said cheerfully. “And a 3D elf hat sewn onto the hood.”

“Yes!” Asher held it up victoriously. “I’m gonna blind people with holiday cheer.”

“And yours,” Lucy said, turning to Riley with all the drama of a runway reveal, “is this beauty.”

She pulled out a sweater so pink it could cause eye strain. It was covered in sparkly ornaments, a sequined tree across the front, and in glitter text, it read: “Sleigh All Day.”

Riley squealed. “I’ve never loved anything more.”

Lucy’s own sweater was no less ridiculous, an aggressively festive red number with a giant stuffed gingerbread manstitched to the front and the words “Oh Snap!” printed beneath his broken cookie leg.

We looked like a group of elves gone rogue.

---