Page 76 of Her Marine
“Hello, Journee,” Thomas greeted. “It’s nice to finally meet you and put a face and a name to my wife’s musings.”
Journee laughed while Gena made a noise as if she were offended by what her husband said. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
The food was finished, and the five made their plates before sitting at the table. Thomas blessed the food, and as they ate, the conversations continued. Journee answered questions and told his family about herself. Now and then, Ziggy would ask a question that Killian didn’t want to answer, and he’d tell her to mind her business.
Journee enjoyed watching their dynamic. It was different from her and her sisters. While he gave Ziggy a hard time, it wasn’t hard for Journee to see that he adored his sister, which she’d figured out from conversations she’d had with him that Ziggy was brought up in.
When they finished eating, Journee volunteered to help Gena and Ziggy do the dishes. To which she received a “No, thank you.” Gena told her not to worry about it because she didn’t plan on doing them until later that night.
They headed into the living room once all the dishes they’d used were rinsed and in the sink. Ziggy began singing about it being time to exchange presents. Journee couldn’t help but giggle at her excitement as it reminded her of a little girl on Christmas day.
Gena and Thomas sat on the couch while Killian sat in the armchair, pulling Journee onto his lap. Ziggy took up a post at the tree, and Journee figured, like Aariah, she was the designated gift distributor.
The first things Ziggy passed around were the cards Journee brought. She’d placed a gift card in each one, and when they opened them, they told her she didn’t have to get them anything, but she’d just responded that she wanted to.
Ziggy passed out gift bags next. When she handed a red one to Journee, she went to pass it to Killian, but Ziggy stopped her.
“No, that one’s yours. This one is Killian’s,” she stated, handing him a green bag.
Journee removed the decorative paper from the bag before pulling out a planner set in a blue and gold marble design.
“We weren’t sure if you planned everything digitally or not, but I saw this and thought it would be nice,” Gena told her.
“You didn’t have to get me anything, thank you,” Journee responded. “I do still take notes analog at times, and blue is one of my favorite colors.”
Gena smiled at her. “I know. Killian was nice enough to tell me at least that much since you have that in common.”
“Is this my hoverboard?!” Ziggy questioned excitedly as she picked up the box that housed a bow on top. She squealed, bouncing from one foot to the other. “Thank you, Kil!”
“You’re welcome, but if you fall and break something, I’m not responsible,” he responded.
After getting her excitement under control, and Journee was sure, stopping herself from opening the hoverboard immediately, Ziggy sat on the floor in front of the tree. She fiddled around for several seconds before standing again and passing out the last round of gifts.
She gave Journee a small gift bag with a smile that rivaled the cat that got the cream. Removing the decorative tissue, Journee reached into the bag, and when her hand came in contact with the soft fabric, she stopped.
She peered into the bag, seeing what it was before turning in Killian’s lap and showing it to him. He rolled his eyes, and they both turned to look at his little sister, and Journee had to contain a laugh from the other woman’s self-satisfied smile.
“Really, Zaliyah?” Killian questioned.
“What? I thought you’d both like them.”
“How did you even know what size to get?”
“Well, since I didn’t have a way to find her on social media because you were being stingy with her details, I bought several different sizes, from skinny cutie to beautifully voluptuous. Then, after meeting her, I picked the best option before giving it to her. If it isn’t right, I have other options.”
Journee pressed her lips together to keep from laughing because she realized that was what Ziggy was doing at the tree a moment ago.
“Ziggy, what did you buy?” Gena asked.
“Just something for them.”
“I’m sure there are more under the tree that she discarded,” Killian responded.
Journee watched Gena get up from where she sat and look under the tree before pulling out multiple pairs of panties like the ones in the bag. She was sure they all read the same thing on the butt;I make his dog tags jingle.
“Zaliyah Marie, this is not an appropriate gift to give someone you just met,” Gena informed her.
“Technically, Mom, the gift would be for Killian. Journee just happens to be the one wearing them.”
