My throat closed. I knew what I wanted to say. I desperately wanted to tell her that we’d already chosen what we were doing and that it felt so right, but I strangled the words before they could come out.
Harrison didn’t hesitate. “We haven’t accepted your offer because that’s not what we want and we’re doing things our way. Thanks, though. It was a very gracious offer.”
The finality in his tone made even Callum look at him with surprise registering on his features. My mother’s smile becamebrittle, but for once, she said nothing. Harrison slung an arm around my shoulders and pivoted smoothly.
“Hey, Brody. You know how we were just talking about career day? Have I ever told you that your soon-to-be aunt Aurelia has superpowers? I’ve seen her at work and it’s basically mind control.”
Brody’s eyes lit up as they met mine. “Cool. Can you make my dad get me a hot pretzel?”
Callum’s eyes widened and he scoffed. “I already bought you one.”
“And it was so good I want another one,” the kid said, grinning.
“I don’t know if my powers will work on him,” I said, smiling back at him.
My mother’s eyes rolled. “Aurelia won’t be working anymore. Her powers will be reserved for tea times and party planning, like any good woman of means should.”
I stiffened, finally ready to explode, but Brody beat me to the punch. He crossed his arms, his little chin jutting out. “My mom’s a teacher, and my aunts run businesses and rescue animals. They don’t just sit around having tea.”
The sweetness in my mother’s smile as she looked down on him didn’t reach her eyes, which glittered with sharp irritation. She subdued it, but it was right there.
“How lovely,” she said, her voice like honey laced with arsenic. “That’s nice for them.”
I almost laughed, but not because it was funny. It was because Harrison’s hand tightened protectively on my shoulder, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe.
Brody grinned up at her like he knew he’d won and Callum chuckled, glancing at his brother. “We should get going, bro. Hockey, remember?”
Harrison nodded, but his gaze came down to mine, silently checking in. I sighed, but I didn’t like messing with my mother. I never had. For years, I’d been the perfect pet, smiling when told, nodding at the right moments, and molding myself to fit whatever box she thought would shine best.
It felt good to finally have someone in my corner, someone who didn’t just support me in private, but who drew a line and held it. Finally, I nodded to let him know I was okay and squeezed his hand, leaning in close so only he could hear me.
“Everything’s in place for theparty,” I whispered. “All we have to do now is wait, and possibly bail me out if I get arrested for murder. You’ll do that for me, right? If I wind up stabbing her with my heel before we’ve managed to buy all the stocking fillers ever invented in the whole wide world, ever?”
Harrison met my eyes and smiled. “I promise.”
CHAPTER 39
HARRISON
I was at the office to tie up loose ends before the holiday. At least, that was what I’d told myself, but in reality, my desk was already clean, emails answered, and contracts signed. All I was really doing was killing time.
Counting down to Christmas Eve wasn’t something I’d done for years. It felt like being a kid again, except this time, instead of staring at a tree waiting for presents, I would be waiting to marry Aurelia under one.
When I wandered down the hall to the break room to grab some coffee, I found Callum pretending to look busy in his office and Jameson doing the same in the copy room across the way. We exchanged guilty looks and, without a word, decided to give up the act.
Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in a conference room with takeout from the cafe downstairs spread across the table. Jameson picked up a sandwich, his sleeves rolled up and his jacket off.
“I can’t decide if I miss having Sterling at the office practically around the clock,” he said. “It’s weird, him being Super Dad now and the three of us here without him.”
Callum snorted. “Do you think he’s got them matching pajamas and a Pinterest account yet?”
I laughed, picturing our formerly corporate drone-like brother hot-gluing a Christmas craft project a few years from now. “If he doesn’t yet, he will soon. I’m happy for them, though. Plus, do you have any idea how much shit we could give him for matching pajamas?”
“Matching pajamas? No, little brother. It’s the Pinterest account we need to focus on.” Jameson’s lips curved into a devious grin. “We should turn it into a drinking game. Every time he mentions something from that site, we take a shot.”
“First, he’ll never admit to it,” Callum said around a mouthful of sandwich. “Second, you’re about to be a dad and I already am one. We can’t go through life completely wasted.”
Jameson sighed. “Fair enough. That being said, why areyouhere? It’s your first Christmas with Brody. Shouldn’t you be making snow angels or something?”
