“Will you be on my team?” she begs.
“Team?” I ask shooting Elijah a look.
He shrugs. “Pregnant women and children,” he says. “Party games.”
A heavily pregnant Leah takes that moment to waddle into the hallway.
“Fair enough. I’m in,” I say, shooting her a smile.
She grins. “They are drinking games if I know this lot,” she says, “Only it will be juice for Pen, Lottie and me.”
Lottie groans. At fifteen, she’s growing up fast. It’s good to see her smiling again. It was touch-and-go after her birthday, but it looks like Christmas with her family has done the trick.
“I’ve put you in your usual room,” Francesca says. “If you want to go and freshen up before everything starts, feel free.”
“Thanks,” I say, hoisting my bag onto my shoulder, but noticing my case has already disappeared.
“Lottie, you’re with me. Diana needs to be let out.”
Diana takes that moment to come bounding into the hallway. She jumps up, her back legs propelling her high into the air. Elijah catches her mid-flight. She’s followed by a very excited Nick and Lois, April’s half-brother and sister.
“No, you don’t, scamp. No mugging the guests.”
She licks his face, and his eyes soften.
“Kisses will get you nowhere. Come on.”
Lottie grins at her dad and the puppy, who’s almost full-sized now, although she looks tiny against Elijah’s enormous frame.
“I’ll see you all in a bit,” I say, making my way up the stairs.
I reach the top, and the front door opens.
“Kat, you made it,” Pen says.
“Traffic was pretty good,” she says. “Hey, look at your little bump.”
I step onto the landing and out of sight, my heart rate picking up at the sound of her voice.
I close my eyes for a second. It’s not like I didn’t know she was going to be here. This is her family home, and my best friends are her brothers.
“I’ll just drop my things upstairs, and I’ll be right back.”
I move towards my room at record speed, closing the door silently before Kat makes it to the top of the stairs.
Chicken!
I head into the en-suite and jump in the shower. I allow myself a moment to catch my breath and prepare myself for what’s coming before washing away the hours of travel that seem to have stuck to my skin.
I get changed into my dinner suit and open the door.
Kat’s bedroom door opens at the exact same time. She steps out and pauses.
“Jaxson,” she says, in little more than a whisper.
“Kat,” I say. “Happy New Year. You look well, beautiful.”
You look well, beautiful?
