“Juliet loves quiz night.”
“She’s not going either.”
Faith shook her head. “You know that you have no right to tell Juliet what she can and can’t do, right?”
“Of course I do. I’m her brother. She’s not going, you’re not going. I won’t gain some new gray hair. We all win.”
“Aww, but I like your gray hair,” she told him. “Makes you look distinguished.”
“Yeah?” He glanced over at her before returning his gaze to the road. “You’re still not going. It’s too dangerous.”
“Reuben, it’s quiz night! It’s not dangerous.”
“How many crazy things have happened during quiz night?”
All right, so he might have a point, but . . .
“It’s Christmas time. No one is going to do anything crazy at Christmas.”
“If you think that, then you don’t know the people of this town well.” He pulled into Juliet’s driveway. “And what was Keisha dressed as?”
“I’m pretty sure that she was meant to be a Christmas ornament.”
“Why?” he asked, sounding baffled. “Actually, never mind. I don’t want to know. Wait there.”
She rolled her eyes at him, staring out at the huge house where Juliet lived. Relief filled her.
They’d made it.
She hadn’t ruined Christmas.
Reuben helped her out just as the front door opened and Juliet ran down the stairs.
“Juliet!” Brick yelled as he followed her. “Slow down!”
“Don’t run outside!” Reuben added.
Juliet ignored both of them and threw herself at her brother. He captured her close, a soft look filling his face that had Faith’s eyes misting.
It wasn’t often that Reuben was soft. He had so much on his plate and he never showed that it wore him down. He was unguarded and gentle with her, of course. But she rarely got to stand there and watch him soften.
“Hey there, Faith,” Brick said, coming up and holding his arms out.
Faith stepped into his embrace.
Until she felt someone tug her away.
“Stop touching my woman,” Reuben demanded. “And help me with the bags. Juliet, Faith, get inside where it’s warm. Where is Xavier?”
“He’s on his way home,” Brick told him.
Faith shook her head at Reuben. He was so bossy.
He was just lucky that he was so darn cute.
However, she took the hand that Juliet held out to her and walked inside.
“Oh wow, you’ve done an amazing job at decorating, Juliet,” Faith told her.
