“Are we ready to start?” Chaos asks, rubbing his hands together like a villain in one of my stories.
Paige perks up. “Christmas mission?”
“Christmas mission,” I confirm.
Chaos throws his hands in the air. “I knew this was gonna be some Hallmark-level shit.”
I grin. “You signed up for this when you hugged me in the hallway.”
“I said sorry about that!” he protests.
Amy pats his arm. “You’re part of the family now, Chaos. Suffer with the rest of us.”
Chaos mutters something about regretting all his life choices, but he follows us inside anyway.
I follow Paige toward the bar where Eagle and Hawk are already waiting, drinking coffee and discussing the Vegas situation. They both go quiet when they see me approach.
Hawk gives me a nod. “You okay, Hope?”
“I’m fine,” I say honestly. “Ready to get started.”
Eagle raises a brow. “Started with what?”
Amy hooks her arm through mine. “Operation Christmas Chaos.”
Chaos freezes. “Why does it have my name in it?”
“Because you’re involved,” Amy says.
He looks personally victimized.
I focus on Eagle. “I already went over the details with Hawk, and he’s the one who helped get Frost out of the clubhouse. I want to decorate the clubhouse from top to bottom. Frost has been lost since his mom passed away, and I think this will help him and the rest of you get through the holiday.” I pause with my eyes on Eagle. “That is, if you’ll let me.”
Eagle’s entire expression softens. “Hawk filled me in. I had to ask why I was losing two members this close to Christmas because we didn’t have anything going on with Vegas right now.”
“His mom loved Christmas,” Hawk says quietly. “She went overboard every year.”
“I want to do that for him.” My throat tightens, but I keep talking. “For her, too.”
Eagle nods once. “You tell us what you need.”
“I actually already have a list,” I say, pulling out my phone.
Amy leans over my shoulder. “A color-coded list? My girl is serious.”
Hawk’s mouth twitches with a smile. “Paige loves lists.”
Paige bumps his hip. “Don’t make fun of Hope. She’s trying to make your son happy.”
“He needs it,” Hawk admits. “And you’re probably the only one he’d let do it.”
His words hit me square in the chest, and I swallow hard. “My parents should be here soon. They’re bringing decorations so we can get started.”
Paige claps her hands. “I’m so excited. Don’t get me wrong, because it’s like a double-edged sword. I want to help Frost, but at the same time, it’s hard knowing Mom isn’t here,” she says, her tone somber. “She would’ve liked you, Hope.”
I yank her into my arms and hug her tight, trying to absorb some of her pain. Everyone, including Paige, has been so worried about Frost, they seem to have forgotten that Cynthia had another child who’s also hurting.
“I want to incorporate everything your mom used to do and mingle it with my ideas. I’m counting on you to help me with that,” I tell her. “We’re going to make this fun.”
