Page 21 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
“Nick and Holly have that in common.” Ryan reached out and snagged a chip can from the tote.
“What?” Olivia’s brows bunched. “The movieThe Grinch?”
He crunched a chip, offering the open can to Lydia. “Hating Christmas.”
“Oh.” Olivia’s bun shifted as she reeled toward Nick. “You too, huh? You might be in the wrong place, then.” She laughed. “Just wait.”
“About that…” Ryan lowered his voice, causing Olivia, Lydia, and Nick to step closer. “Mom hasn’t decorated inside yet. Things are a little weird.”
“That, and the fact she practicallydemandedwe all come home.” Without missing a beat, Olivia hollered at her kids. “Mason! Quit throwing rocks.” Then she frowned. “What do you think is up?”
Ryan shrugged. “You’re the oldest.Youfind out.”
“I’m also the busiest.” Olivia narrowed her eyes at him, not even shifting her gaze as she yelled out the side of her mouth. “Janie! If you keep sticking your tongue out at your brother, he’s going to keep throwing rocks at you.”
Kat’s white SUV rolled to a stop behind Nick’s truck, and he fought back a wave of claustrophobia. He wasn’t trapped. He could leave anytime he wanted.
But he wouldn’t. That wouldn’t be fair to Holly.
Wherewasshe?
The family clustered around Kat, welcoming her as she slipped out of her car. She was taller than Olivia and slender like Grace, and had her father’s darker hair, which streamed out the back of a baseball cap. She wore an oversized Wildcat’s hoodie and leggings.
Didsheknow about his and Holly’s Christmas date? Nick’s stomach pinched. He and Ryan needed to regroup—and fast. He needed a notebook to keep up with all this. It was going to be much harder to conceal his real goal with all the extra family pouring in.
There wasn’t a single person on this property who knew everything. What if he slipped up? What if Ryan slipped up?
The claustrophobia morphed into anxiety. He just had to lay low. Stay off everyone’s radar. Cinch the deal with the Sinclairs, have a fun time with Holly…and everyone would win.
Kat’s husky voice sounded across the yard as she held up both hands. “And before you all ask,no,Devin won’t be done with his deployment and back stateside until after New Year’s. Andno,I don’t want to talk about how sad it is he’s missing the holidays.”
The family murmured their reluctant acceptance.
Kat tightened her ponytail with an air of authority. “We’re going to have a great Christmas anyway.” Her tone left zero room for argument.
“Of course we will. Now, we’ll have to shuffle everyone around roomwise, but we’ll make it work. You can bunk with Holly in her old room. Olivia and the kids will take yours and Chloe’s room, since it’s bigger.” Grace winced. “Nick, I’m afraid this means you’ll be in the media room—it has a pullout sofa that all our guests say is like a cloud.”
“Totally fine.” Nick held up both hands in surrender. Where he slept was currently the least of his problems. “I haven’t even unpacked yet.”
“Perfect.” Grace lightly clapped her hands together. “Oh, this is wonderful. I just wish Chloe could be here.”
“I offered to pay her ticket,” Thomas reminded.
“I know, dear.” Grace touched his shoulder. “UCLA is so far away. It’s fine—we can FaceTime her while we open gifts.”
“Yoo-hoo!”
Nick shielded his eyes from the sun and squinted toward the house.
A woman stood at the front door, one hip cocked and the other resting against the frame. She wore white leggings, ashort, flared red skirt, and a white T-shirt with black suspenders. A Santa hat perched on her head, clashing with her red hair.
Nick gulped.Holly?
His mind reeled. No. But it was. Strains of “Santa Baby” poured from the house, adding to the mixed messages firing in his brain.
Ryan’s gaze darted between Holly and his siblings and back again. “What in the—”
“Is anyone else seeing this?” Olivia stared, wide-eyed.
