Dad nodded. “We both tried to help you, and when Silven suggested some time away, we didn’t think you’d forget so quickly. There are so many who live in Klarhaven and a few in Reinberg, even.”
Mom’s hand covered mine. “The North Pole has its own way of working, Neve. It protects itself—and you—in ways we don’t always understand. And look what it brought you.” Her eyes drifted to the nine men across the room.
I followed her gaze. Dane and Vix were arguing playfully over a cookie, while Blitz attempted to balance a sprig of mistletoe on Cole’s head. Dash was teaching Pierce some ridiculous dance moves that involved a lot of hip movement that was definitelynotappropriate for a North Pole celebration. Kip and Rudy were now giving shoulder rides to young kids, and Don had put the silver antler trophy on his head like a bizarre crown.
“Everything that happened brought you here, to this moment,” Mom squeezed my hand. “To them.”
I watched as my men sensed my attention, nine pairs of eyes finding me across the crowded room. Nine smiles, each unique, each precious to me in ways I was still discovering.
Would I have found them if I’d stayed? If my life had followed a different path? Or was this exactly how it was always meant to unfold? The loss necessary for the finding, the forgetting essential for the remembering?
As I looked at my ridiculous, wonderful, loving herd, I couldn’t imagine a timeline where they weren’t mine. And that made every forgotten moment worth it.
Chapter 35
Naughty List
Iwas still giggling about the antler competition as I walked into the cabin. The image of Don strutting down the runway with a miniature aurora borealis suspended between his antlers was going to be burned into my memory forever.
“I can’t believe how seriously everyone takes that competition.” I flopped onto the couch, ready for a relaxing rest of the night watching Christmas movies with my men. “Though I have to admit I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to show off my own rack.”
The room went silent. Nine pairs of eyes snapped to me with an intensity that made my skin tingle. Apparently, my little joke landed with all the grace of an elf falling off the shelf.
Vix recovered first, his eyes darkening to a shade that meant trouble—the good kind. “Nobody’s seeing your rack except us.”
“Ever.” Pierce’s jaw was tight enough to crack chestnuts as he shrugged off his coat. His movements suggested he was fighting for control.
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t quite suppress the flush warming my cheeks. “It was a joke, you possessive reindeer. It’s classic North Pole humor.”
There was not an ounce of amusement to be found on anyof their faces. My attempt at defusing the tension was having the opposite effect.
Kip plopped down beside me, his thigh pressing against mine. “I’d be more than willing to judge your rack in a private competition if you’re feeling left out.” His fingers trailed up my arm.
“Oh? What would be the criteria for first place?” I straightened in my seat, tilting my head with mock seriousness while trying to ignore the heat spreading through me at Kip’s suggestion.
“Quality construction.” Dash leaned against the doorframe with a smirk that could melt the North Pole’s ice caps.
I laughed, playing along. “Fine. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
The temperature in the room seemed to rise ten degrees as they exchanged glances.
Blitz’s eyes gleamed as he rubbed his hands together like he’d been handed the keys to Santa’s sleigh. “Sounds fair to me.”
Don, still riding his second-place high, was already unbuttoning his shirt. His fingers worked each button with a deliberate slowness that made my mouth go dry.
“Wait, I wasn’t actually…” My protest died on my lips as the men began to move.
They were already rearranging furniture with the efficiency of elves on December 23rd, shoving the coffee table against the wall and clearing a path through the center of the room.
Pierce dimmed the lights while Vix pointed a light toward the center of the room. The casual movie night I’d anticipated was transforming before my eyes into something altogether more... interesting.
Dane connected his phone to the speaker system, and seconds later, music started to play. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything holiday-themed, which would have been a little weird considering what we were about to do.
“Should I get some dollar bills or...” I tucked a strand of hairbehind my ear, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.
Rudy’s eyes sparkled with a rare gleam of mischief as he rolled his shoulders in preparation. “Your undivided attention will do.”
“We’re taking this very seriously, so honest scoring is a must.” Cole appeared with a clipboard, paper, and a pen, handing them to me. “To keep track of your unbiased scores.”
