When Wyatt sat on the edge of the chair and it wobbled, he began laughing uncontrollably as he caught himself before falling. “I guess it’s Claudie. All this time, I thought he was in the kitchen making me pie. Doesn’t chocolate pie sound out of sight?”
“I think you need to lay off the mushrooms.”
Gem wheeled in and gasped when she saw the goodies. She dragged one skate behind her, using the rubber toe stop to slow down. “Wyatt Blessing! I was only joking when I said to put everything we have on the table.”
“Ah, but you didn’tsayyou were joking,” he pointed out. “Welcome to Wyatt’s buffet of dreams.”
Gem rolled over to the bowl of giant marshmallows and popped one into her mouth. “Isn’t it divine? Alas, fruit juice isn’t anything to write home about.”
“The wine tastes delicious,” I remarked.
“I’ll never know. Maybe something like Niko’s tea would taste good. I want to enjoy it all before it fades.” She rolled around me. “It feels so heavenly to get out of that dress! The fabric was itchy and the lights a nuisance. I would have had to sleep with an eye mask on for all eternity. The first thing I want to do tonight is have Claude dye my hair. This frosted look was fine for the party, but I want my color back.” Her cutoff pink sweater showed her belly button when she raised her arms and skated excitedly toward Niko, who swaggered in.
Niko wore all black, as usual. His eyes glittered with amusement as Gem twirled around him. He couldn’t see her black leggings with the pink-and-white flowers, but what he could see was her joy.
“We have visitors,” Christian announced on his way in.
I leaned back in my chair, eagerly waiting to give Ren my gratitude. He really came through for us.
Instead, my father strutted in.
Hunter hopped into the room like a rabbit and then his eyes rounded at the obscene amount of food on display.
Wyatt pulled out the chair next to him. “Go on, little monkey. Better eat what you want before your old man wakes up.”
Hunter smiled at him and reached for a candy bar.
I tensed as my father crossed the room with a heavy swagger, keys jingling from where they were hooked to his belt loop.
Then he looked right at me. “How’s my cookie?”
“You can see me?”
“Get your ass over here and give your old man a hug.”
I shoved a chair out of the way and flew into his arms. Crush hugged me tight and lifted me off the ground. I sagged with relief, desperately trying to hold in the happy tears, not wanting to cry in front of the whole damn team. “I missed you, Daddy,” I whispered before he set me down.
“I missed you too, baby girl. Got you an early Christmas gift. That’s why it took me so damn long.”
I quickly wiped my eyes and stepped back.
Crush thrust his hand out, a stuffed toy lamb in it.
I belted out a laugh and took it. “I’m a little old for this.”
“Nah. Just thought you might want a reminder of our talk. It’s not the same one, but— Ah hell. Maybe I should have bought the perfume.”
“It’s great. But if you’re going to start the holiday gift thing again, get ready.”
Wrinkles deepened around his eyes when he squinted at me. “Don’t you dare get me a new recliner.”
“Heaven forbid,” Christian said, striding to the kitchen entryway and peering in.
“Watch it, peckerhead.”
I gave him a playful slap on the arm. “Can you stay long?”
He stared down at the table. “You’re shittin’ me. You bring me salads and bitch about my cholesterol, andthisis what you assholes eat?”
