“Gremlin, I hope you’re ready to wash more dishes,” I joke. “Now that you’ve gone pro.”
“I hate doing dishes,” he grumps,
“Then I suggest being on your best behavior,” I tell him, throwing him a wink.
It’s not long after that the plates start being passed around, everyone piling so much food on their plates it’s unhealthy.
Periodically, Krampus squeezes my knees underneath the table, making me jump every time.
“You’re a little jumpy tonight,” he whispers in my ear.
“Sorry, just nervous, I guess.” I turn my focus over to Phantom and Autumn. “So, Autumn, how did you and Phantom meet?”
Everyone laughs, but I’m not quite sure why.
Phantom speaks first. “Well, it’s kind of a crazy story, but the gist of it is that Autumn was my ghostbuster.”
“What?”
Autum smiles. “I talk to ghosts, sweetie.”
“Seriously?” I question, taking a bite of mashed potatoes.
Phantom laughs. “I had this crazy ass bitch of an ex that stalked me into her afterlife. It was exhausting keeping up withher angry spirit every day, so Drac called Autumn, and she came to help me get rid of her. I just never knew I’d meet the love of my life in the process.” He kisses her cheek, making her blush.
She clears her throat. “Speaking of ghosts, Krueger has something to say.”
Everyone quiets down.
“Which one is Krueger?” I whisper to Krampus.
He points a finger up at the wall, straight at a portrait of an angry looking made with one eye. “That’s Krueger. He’s Drac’s dad that passed away about a year ago.”
“That’s so sad,” I mumble just as someone passes me one of my own pies.
Autumn closes her eyes before announcing, “Krueger just wants to say how much he loves each and every one of you, but he also wants to remind you to stay safe out there.” Her gaze turns to Krampus. “He says you, especially, need to watch your back, Rich. There are people and things you don’t see behind the scenes that you need to pay more attention to.”
“I’ll do my best,” Krampus grunts, looking grumpier than usual.
“Yeah, Krampy. Keep your eyes off Mindy’s goodies and start being more vigilant!” Gremlin shouts from across the table. “OW! What the fuck was that for?” he asks, glaring across the table at Rich.
“For you even existing,” Rich grumbles, threatening to kick him again.
Autumn finishes her speech with a few other words of wisdom from her ghost friend before settling in next to Phantom, resting her tired head on his shoulder.
“Talking to ghosts takes a lot out of her,” Phantom tells me, rubbing soft circles on her arm as another one of my pies make its rounds, this time it’s a warm apple pie with a side of ice creamfor those who like it à la mode. Everyone finds it delicious, and I lose count of how many compliments are thrown my way.
Halfway through dinner, when everyone is full and leaning back in their chairs, Drac stands up and taps his fork against a glass.
“I have an announcement,” he says begrudgingly. “Since Christmas is coming up, and we all somehow survived sitting in the same rooms without killing each other, I was thinking we do Secret Santa again this year.”
A pin drops in the silence just before the room erupts into chaos.
“Not again!” someone shouts. “I got fucking robbed last year.”
“Do we draw names out of a helmet?” Gremlin asks, rubbing his hands vigorously together. “I’m the king of gift giving,” he informs me with a wink.
“We’re gonna have ground rules this year,” Drac yells, drawing people’s attention. “No kids, no drama, and no weapons,” he shouts pointing his fork around the room. “Gifts can be funny, biker-themed, or come straight from your heart, if you even have one. I’m looking at you, Krampus.”
