29
Maren
“Tongs, please,” I called to Ethan, who snapped them midair with an exaggerated flourish that made me laugh.
He leaned in close under the pretense of checking the roasting potatoes, and kissed me quick before anyone noticed. Emma and Sadie zipped through the kitchen, Sadie’s giant panda laying waste to anything in its path as she dragged it along.
“Maybe we should’ve gotten her something smaller,” Adrian said, picking up the napkins he’d just folded.
Ethan leaned against the counter and stared at him. “You were the one who suggested the box of candies would make a perfect gift.”
“A day-long sugar rush,” I muttered, grabbing the fancy plates from the cupboard. “Genius.”
Miles had been heating the veg in the microwave, and he turned to us now. “Hate to say it, but I’m the genius here. Because where’s Will?” And when we didn’t answer (because the kid had been quietly glued to his new video game since breakfast), he said, “You’re welcome.”
“Could we pause the bragging rights and finish up here instead?” I tossed a dish towel at him, and he caught it with an impressive swipe. “Ethan arranged that Gabe call at dinner, which means we need to be at the table in less than half an hour.”
“So bossy,” Adrian mumbled. “I think I like it.”
The coast was clear, so I pulled him into a kiss on my way to the refrigerator to check on dessert. Loose. Happy. Those were Liv’s words, and I’d spent the past few days letting them settle inside me. Because she was right, and as soon as I acknowledged it, every moment with the men had felt… easier. More full.
“Speaking of gifts.” Ethan appeared at my side holding a neatly wrapped, obviously a book, package.
I looked at it, and then at him. “We weren’t speaking about gifts. We were speaking about running out of time getting Christmas dinner on the table.”
“Stop being a grinch and open it.” He nudged it toward me.
Miles left his station at the microwave, and he and Adrian came closer. “It’s from all of us.”
“Wow, a book so expensive you had to split it three ways?”
Adrian nodded solemnly. “It’s been a slow year for the business.”
“Open it,” Ethan said, barely containing himself.
“Okay, okay, geez” But I was all warm and fuzzy inside. Feeling like I did when I got my first valentine in sixth grade. “We agreed to only get stuff for the kids. I didn’t get you guys a—” I peeled back the paper. “The Pros of Planning: How to Plan Every Area of Your Life for Ultimate Success?”
I burst out laughing.
Miles wrapped an arm around my waist from behind and kissed my neck. “You like it?”
“It’s, uh, hilariously apt. Thank you.” I cupped the back of his head and planted one straight on his lips.
They were so pleased with themselves, allowing me to thank them in turn, as the heat simmered between us like the smell of roast turkey and rosemary. I hadn’t mentioned anything aboutmy revelation to them, but I was fine not doing that just yet. I was fine to keep it to myself a little longer.
I grabbed a stack of plates, and the men followed with trays of food, weaving past Sadie, who had already planted her giant panda in a chair.
“He has to sit here,” she said, tapping her giant panda on the shoulder.
Adrian muttered under his breath, “Logistics nightmare.”
“Family eats together,” Sadie announced, eyes serious, like she’d just delivered the law of the land. “He’s family.”
I stifled a laugh as Ethan set up the iPad at the head of the table. Gabe and Sissy’s smiling faces flickered onto the screen, bright and clear despite the distance. “Hey, kids,” Gabe said, leaning back comfortably. “How’s the Christmas feast shaping up?”
Emma leaned forward, waving. “What are you having for dinner?”
Gabe chuckled. “We’ve already eaten, sweet pea. Time difference and all.”
