Page 52 of The CEO's Christmas Wife

“But it does sound like a lovely way to top off a perfect day. So, what do you say about dinner?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’m tired. I’ve showered, and I’m just watching this movie to help me fall out, Kandi.”

“Have you eaten?”

“I was about to make a couple of sub sandwiches.”

“That sounds so pathetic. Subs on Christmas Day when you could be eating a Christmas ham, macaroni and cheese, dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans with red potatoes, and?—”

“Okay, okay. What you tryna do, torture a man?”

“No, just telling you how pathetic you are.”

“Damn.” He chuckled. “You don’t take it easy on a nigga, do you?”

“Not when that nigga ain’t acting right. I mean, that’s the least you can do considering that I had to spend an impromptu week with your family, spent my birthday alone in a hotel, and most of Christmas Day traveling.”

“Hey, I tried to make up for the birthday. You told me it was the best you ever had.”

“And was. But still, that doesn’t negate the fact that I had to be alone for most of it. Besides, that can’t make up for the entire week with your family.”

“You saying you don’t like my family?”

“Saying y’all come with your share of drama.”

“That we do,” he replied with a thoughtful tone. “Tell you what. Text me the address, and I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay.”

I ended the call, jumped off the bed, and did a fist pump before I started dancing. The smile that took over my face was cheesy, but I didn’t care. My baby was on his way over.

I stopped dancing and thought about that. It was odd how quickly I considered him my baby. I needed to slow my ass down. I headed downstairs and found my mother and sister in the kitchen.

“Mama, can we have one more for dinner?”

“Sure, baby. The more, the merrier. Who is it?”

“That boss of mine who you wanted to give a piece of your mind.”

Mama and Holly turned and stared at me in confusion.

“He didn’t have anyone to spend the holidays with. He’s been such a Scrooge in the past that no one wanted to be bothered with him. I thought if anyone could change him and help him find the Christmas spirit, it would be us,” I explained, pouring it on thick.

“Sounds like we have a mission, baby. Go ahead and set another place at the table while your sister and I put the finishing touches on the meal.”

“Thanks, Mama,” I replied and kissed her cheek and Holly’s before I dashed off.

I heard snickering and my mama whispering, “She ain’t fooling nobody,” as I left the kitchen, but I didn’t care.

26

NEW YEAR’S EVEN PLANS

Kayn

I had been reticent about coming to dinner with Kandi’s family. I didn’t believe that we were at the stage of meeting families yet. Despite her point about her meeting mine, it was a moot point because her meeting my family wasn’t something we had planned. Due to the circumstances, it was unavoidable.

Yet, I didn’t want to argue that point with her after all she’d gone through with me. So, I decided to have dinner with her family. The only reason that Kandi and I weren’t in a relationship anyway was because of me. I knew how she felt about me. I could see it in her eyes, hear it in her whispered words of assurance, and feel it in her touch and the way her body responded to my touch.

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