“Fuck, Daisy, you’re killing me.” Despite his protest, he grabbed the back of my neck and brought his lips back to mine. I tightened my legs around his waist and pulled him closer.
“Oh my God! It’s Christmas Eve! Baby Jesus is about to be born and these two are going at it right next to the cheese tray!” Jack’s voice boomed from the kitchen doorway. I kept kissing Evan and held up my index finger. I took my lips away for a moment and turned to Jack.
“Not done yet.” Evan laughed when I went back to his lips.
“C’mon, Daisy.” He pulled back as I ran my hands up and down the dark sleeves of his dress shirt. “I’m sleeping over tonight, remember?” Evan kissed my cheek and whispered. “You can keep thanking me all night long if you want.” He caught my hands and laced our fingers together. I crinkled my nose at him as he lifted me off the counter and set me down.
“What is she doing? Paige went in there a half hour ago to put cheese on a tray. Paige!” I sank my head into Evan’s chest, groaning at my mother’s voice traveling down the hallway.
Jack bounced Jack Junior in his arms as he laughed at us. “Some godparents we picked for you. Sorry, buddy.” The baby was in a full Santa suit and stared at us with wide eyes. For a two month old, he seemed to notice everything, just like his annoying father.
“Now you can explain to your mother how I caught you in mid-grope…”
“Caught her in what? Paige, what’s going on?” My mother split a look between Evan and me with a furrowed brow. I glanced over at Evan, and noticed my lipstick was all over his face. I tried to motion to him to wipe it off. Talk about getting caught red handed. Well, at least this was one holiday when humiliating distractions would be welcome.
“Evan gave me my Christmas present.” I held up the necklace and my mother put her hand on her chest as she approached us.
“How beautiful! Tiffany’s too? Such a nice boy.” Mom gave Evan a kiss on the cheek. “Now give me the tray and I’ll take it into the living room. I’d like to eat before New Year’s.” Mom huffed as she picked up the silver tray and rushed out of the kitchen.
“Oh and Paige, wipe your face.” My mother pursed her lips as she left the kitchen. I dropped my face to my hands as Jack laughed so hard, tears fell down his cheeks.
“Dude, I don’t know how you did it, but you totally got the golden ticket with Aunt Tess. Not you, Paige. I wouldn’t be surprised if she yells at you for corrupting Evan. And we thought tonight would be no fun. Get me a beer, Ev.”
“A beer?” Last thing he needed was to mix. “You think that’s a good idea?” Jack was on a lot of meds.
“Cuz, what are you saving me for?” Jack gave me a sad smile. I nodded and looked away.
“I’ll be right out.” I turned around to clean up and put the utensils in the sink.Fuck, I couldn’t start this already.I tried to swallow back the tears as I scrubbed at the cheeseboard.
Jack came up behind me and put his arm around my shoulder. “Jack, tell Aunt Paige to lighten up. It’s a holiday and we have presents to open.” I shook my head and I kept my gaze lowered. Eye contact would make the waterworks come pouring out.
“Remember what you promised me?” I rolled my eyes and turned to face him.
“Yes.” I let out a long sigh. “I remember. Just…give me a minute, okay?” Jack kissed my temple and rubbed my back.
“Okay. C’mon, Evan. We’ll see you inside, hot pants.”
I huffed as I narrowed my eyes at my cousin. “You’re a jerk.”
“Ah!” Jack nodded. “That’s what I’m talking about. Normal. Perfect.”
Evan laughed as he reached for a paper towel to wipe his face. He crept up behind me and planted a kiss behind my ear.
“See you inside, hot pants.” He slapped my ass as he sauntered over to the refrigerator to pull out two beers, and left to join Jack in the living room.
* * *
Other than a fewdirty looks from my mother, Christmas dinner was perfect. Jack Junior was such a good baby, and was passed around like a football all night long. He was with his father for most of the night, and we all took picture after picture.
“Hey, want me to take him?” Ellie slipped off the baby’s Santa hat as he slept in Evan’s arms. Both boys looked perfectly content right where they were on my uncle’s leather recliner.
“Nah, my godson and I are good. I was telling him all about when we buy his first Rangers jersey.”
“Oh,hellno.” Jack straightened on the couch and shook his head. “He’s an Islanders fan. Don’t make me get something notarized. I’ll haunt the shit out of you.” Ellie joined Jack on the couch and shook her head as she climbed onto his lap.
“Like you won’t do that anyway.” She flung her arms around Jack’s neck with a sad smile.
“I’ll haunt you as much as I can, baby.” Jack kissed her forehead and pulled her into his chest.
