Saxon bought us both matching footy-pajamas, which we put on right then and there. They were light blue with stars and snowflakes all over them, and they fit perfectly with cute hoods and skid-proof footies. We ran around in circles after that, simply for the fun of it. The best parts of being little were doing it with Donny.
After coffee refills, we hung out, simply enjoying being together. “I have another gift for you two, but it’s coming later. I couldn’t get it to arrive sooner, but it should be here in the next few days.” That meant after he left.
We jumped on him and kissed his face, calling out, “Thank you. Thank you.”
At least, until he started tickling us, which ended with all of us on the floor, rolling around. As we started catching our breath, someone knocked at the door. “I’m not expecting anyone.” I padded over to the door in my footy-jammies, not thinking much about it and threw open the door.
Pierce and Joe stood there with packages in their hands and eyes growing wider by the second. “Uh…Merry Christmas,” Joe said, recovering first.
“Merry Christmas. What are you doing here?” I had to let them in, so I opened the door wider and gestured for them to enter.
“Uh…” Pierce wiped his feet on the mat and took a few steps, then handed me the box he was carrying. “That’s a cake. I got it from a nice bakery. You lift the box up after you set it on the table or wherever.” He gestured farther into the house.
“Let’s put it in the kitchen. Coffee, anyone?” I walked through the foyer, messy with our Christmas shenanigans, and through the living room to the kitchen. I put the cake box on the island bar before pulling out extra coffee mugs.
Donny and Saxon greeted my bandmates, then joined us around the island. The cake was decorated for the holiday with frosting holly berries and leaves and a scriptMerry Christmason top. “This is nice. Thanks, Pierce.”
We cut into the cake, and each had a slice with our coffee. Donny got some frosting on his face, and Saxon wiped it off with a napkin. Donny grinned and blurted out, “Thank you, Daddy.”
Joe snickered, but Pierce’s eyes grew wide. “This is weird but oddly fits you.” He shrugged.
“Wow!” Donny bumped his shoulder into Pierce’s. “Look at you not being an asshole.”
He muttered and rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m learning not to judge.” He looked pointedly at Joe, whom I suspected had a lot to do with not only Pierce’s change in attitude, but them being here at all.
Joe picked up the box he’d carried in and shoved it toward me. “This is for all of you, I guess, but you open it, Kay.” The box had three beaded bracelets that had a compass charm on them. “So y’all don’t get lost,” Joe said as we put them on. There were also matching travel mugs. Joe held up the mug he was drinking out of. “I know you like your coffee. That last one is for Saxon.” It was a nice travel toiletry bag. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you, Joe. This is incredibly thoughtful.” Saxon circled the island and gave Joe a man-hug, sideways, with back slapping.
“Well. I have a feeling you’re going to need it with these two.” He nodded back and forth between Donny and me.
“That was super thoughtful, Joe.” I hadn’t got him anything. Not really. I did give out gift cards for Sweetwater to everyone. That was the biggest music store in the country. So it was fitting, but not really all that inspired, but at least the store had everything they possibly wanted or needed. There were a few seconds of awkwardness, but then Donny poured more coffee, and we all started chatting again.
Thankfully, they didn’t stay long. But when they left, Donny sank down on the couch with a big frown on his face. “What’s up?” I asked, sliding next to him.
“That went well, but I can’t help wondering what would happen if it didn’t go well. Or worse, someone else was at the door. Like a reporter or an over-exuberant fan.”
“I would have shut the door in their face. But I doubt we’ll get anyone else here.”
“Maybe not.” Saxon knelt in front of us, putting a hand on each of our knees. “But Donny has a point, and I think you need more security. Even I can see how big your band is getting. This is only the start.”
“I get it. I’ll think about it.” We had great security at the studio, which was a more public place, and more likely where we’d be targeted, if it was going to happen. Of course, guards accompanied us on tour, but I also knew other famous rockers took more precautions at home as well.
“You should at least put some cameras up and better locks on the doors and windows. Maybe a service to come around when you’re not here,” Saxon said, pointing at the doors on each end of the house.
“Maybe get a better fence and a secure gate,” Donny added.
I nodded. “Fine. I hear you. I’ll call Wolf later this week. He recently added some security to his place.”
With that, we fell back into Christmas celebrations since Saxon would leave in the morning, and we’d be back on the road soon. We wanted to enjoy the time we had. And we did.
Chapter seventeen
Donavan
Sitting at my desk, I stared at the contracts I needed to finish. They were only one set of about six left to review. But my heart wasn’t in it. I loved being a lawyer, but I hated being alone. Kay was back on the road, and Saxon was on a three-on shift.
I’d been alone too much in my life. Often, I chased after Harrison, but he never wanted me to hang out with him and hisfriends. He made friends easily, but I didn’t. Our parents were industry and successful, so going to school with other kids like us should have made it easier, but most of them seemed like snobs. The ones that weren’t snubbing me were into drugs. And that had started in middle school. Seeing that made me stay far away from that scene. If Midnight Hunt or Bramble Punk were into that, I would have been out on this. But Harrison never got involved with people like that. He’d rejected clients who were.
