He laughs when Krampus’ one finger salutes him.
I squeeze his hand underneath the table, reminding him that he does have a heart, one that’s already growing on me.
“You’re the only one with a kid, Drac,” Phantom reminds him, “unless you count Bigfoot’s mysterious family.”
A girl shoots Phantom the iciest of stares before she curls up against Bigfoot’s chest.
“My mom’s going to keep Giovanni that night, just in case things get a bit rowdy again.” He shoots a look at Jigsaw, who only shrugs.
“Didn’t realize punching a guy for taking your present is a crime around here.”
“Only when that crime puts the other in the hospital!” Drac fires back. “Besides, it was all part of the game.”
“Last year we did a white elephant exchange,” Krampus whispers in my ear. “It was a disaster.”
I giggle, picturing a bunch of burly bikers duking it out over cheap presents and booze.
Krampus leans closer to me, his knee brushing mine under the table. “You think you’d want to join us, Mindy?”
“I don’t know, Rich. I barely know these people.”
He nods, but just once. “We’ll make sure you get to know everyone. There are always not enough girls to participate, and I think you’d be a great edition.”
“Let me think about it, okay?”
He nods just as Amber comes around holding out a metal coffee can that already has names in it. “I already threw your name in, Mindy, so no backing out.”
One by one, people reach in, drawing slips and immediately shoving them into pockets like they’re state secrets.
When the can reaches me, I hesitate for just a second before pulling out a folded piece of paper.
I don’t look at it yet.
Krampus watches me, a ghost of a smile tugging at his mouth. “No peeking,” I scold him.
He laughs. “You sound very serious about this.”
“I am,” I say proudly. “I take Christmas very seriously.”
When I finally unfold the paper, my heart excitedly jumps.
I tuck it away before he can see it, smiling to myself because I got someone I actually wanted.
Around us, the noise swells again, people are already planning on what diabolical gift they give their person this year, as laughter bounces off the walls.
For the first time since I moved here, since everything started spiraling, I feel it settle in my bones.
I’m not alone.
And somehow, standing in the middle of all this leather, laughter, and pie crumbs, Thanksgiving here at Rich’s clubhouse kinda is starting to feel like home.
We’re all excitedly talking among ourselves and laughing when shit hits the fan.
A scream silences the room.
No one realized it, but Amber was mid-sentence arguing with Hannibal over something when she suddenly went quiet, like dead quiet.
Her hand drops to her stomach, then looks down at the puddle around her feet.
