Page 44 of Graves & Griggs
We’re laughing so hard that we don’t hear the door open.
“What’s so funny?” Skyla demands, her head poked around the door.
Yet again, we all scream—Blake included this time—and quickly attempt to cover Skyla’s remaining presents.
“GET OUTTTT!”
“Agh! Sorry!” she says as she scrambles out of the room, calling through the doorway. “Jackson requested we do a cocoa bar, and I was just coming to let you guys know it’s all set up.”
“COCOAAA!” Jackson cheers as he jumps to his feet, pulling his little brother up with him. They take off running through the door.
I laugh as I watch them go, Seraphina and the twins quickly following behind.
“I’m almost done in here!” I call out as Blake stands and heads out with everyone.
Once the last present is wrapped, I clean up the supplies and grab all the presents, setting them underneath the Christmas tree. Well, I try. These kids are so fucking spoiled, and having six adults that live together already creates an abundance of gifts during the holidays. Factor in four kids and our new guests, and, well, all I can say is thank God I fuck one of the richest men in the country because my trust fund couldn’t hang with this shit.
Speak of the devil.
Someone smacks my ass, and I turn to see Asher standing behind me. I stand up straight to face him, smirking as I look up at him.
“You know the rules: you smack it, you fuck it,” I tease with a waggle of my brows.
“Don’t tempt me,” he grumbles before placing a kiss to my lips.
Fuck, I love him.
When he pulls away, he shoots me a wink that sends my heart beating out of rhythm before he moves over to Skyla at the cocoa bar. Wrapping an arm around her, he presses a kiss to her neck before she moves to put on a Christmas movie.
Once the kids are settled, us grown-ups all get our own hot chocolates. Asher and I pour a healthy amount of booze into ours.
“Blake?” Asher offers.
I scoff. “You trying to give away all my booze? I’m on an allowance!”
Asher gives me a “you’re an idiot” look before lifting the bottle in offering once more. She just smiles and shakes her head no, so Asher puts it back in the liquor cabinet.
Chapter Twenty
Blake
Ilike Liam. If I had to choose a favorite of Skyla’s men, it would absolutely be Liam. Maybe it’s because he kind of reminds me of Zayden—the humor part, hold the unhinged. Or maybe it’s because he’s been a godsend with the kids. Every time I turn around, he’s playing some game or baking something with them. Doing anything to distract them from the fact that their dads have basically been MIA since we arrived at this house full of strangers just before Christmas.
I know it’s nearly impossible for me to keep them completely sheltered from this life. I mean, this is our life. It’s one that we’ve all chosen, and there’s no changing it. I think it’s the least I can do as a mother to try, though.
We all sit back, casually chatting as we watch the kids watch the movie. Well, Jackson and Brooks are watching the movie. My boys are currently fussing over Seraphina, getting her pillows, blankets and doing everything they can to make her comfortable, and that little girl is eating it up. I don’t know if they’re behaving this way because they see their dads acting like that with me or what, but it’s fucking adorable.
We only make it twenty minutes into the movie before a fight breaks out, which, honestly, is a record for them.
“Move!” Aries snaps.
“I did,” Ryder scoffs.
“You’re still touching her!” Aries says before he shoves Ryder away from Seraphina.
Ryder looks away, clearly trying to conceal his tears as Seraphina looks to Aries.
“You need to say sorry! You hurt his feelings.”
