“That’s a yes,” she groans. “I also got the good shopping genes, so everyone move aside.”
They bring the bags into the living room and I watch as Evie lights up at the sight of all the presents. Even though the tree is filled even more than when we saw it last night because Santa must have made a delivery.
Brynn pulls out a box, and hands it to me. “Merry Christmas, sis.”
She turns away to unpack the other gifts, and I hold back my tears looking at the perfectly wrapped box with a bow on top. I don’t move to open it; I just stare at the shiny paper and rub the ribbon between my index finger and thumb.
“Oh Brent, don’t forget about all those presents youhave for Bailey in the closet you think no one knows about,” Brynn announces as she’s handing a box to our brother.
“What?” I look at them and see the shit eating grin on Brynn’s face as she reveals the secret.
“I was going to get them,” he grumbles.
“You don’t need to do that. I didn't get anything for you guys,” I tell them honestly, feeling worse because I wasn’t even sure I would come.
The guilt hits me again. Instead of having my freak out yesterday, I should’ve gone last minute shopping. Then again, I don’t know what I could have even gotten because they are essentially strangers to me now.
“It’s okay, you came. That’s the best present.” Brynn smiles widely and I can see the tears she’s trying to hold back.
“Open more please!” Evie calls out, and the room fills with chuckles.
We all watch Evie open her presents, getting excited every time a new toy is revealed. When she opens some clothes, she just ends up throwing them to the side and tries to find something more exciting. Watching her has me smiling without even noticing. I’m not a fan of kids, but she’s so cute and entertaining.
After Evie is done with her presents and is thoroughly entertained playing with her new toys, Brynn tells everyone to open the presents she brought. I hesitate to open mine because of my guilt, but Brynn gives me a small nod of encouragement.
I carefully pull back the paper, not ripping into it like crazy.There’s a plain white box that I open to reveal a shirt and it says, “Auntie.” I chuckle, mostly because I would never wear something like this.
“Really?” Chandler sounds like she’s crying. I see she’s holding up the shirt and looking at the back.
I pick the one I have up as well and see it says, “Baby Wheeler…x 2.”
My eyes shoot up to my sister and I see her already crying. “You’re pregnant? With twins?”
“I am,” she sobs. “I told him I wanted one and of course he didn’t listen.”
“Fuck yeah.” Vince high fives Colton and I don’t miss the way Brent glares at the two of them. He’s always been overprotective, and that clearly hasn’t changed one bit.
Still, he gives Brynn a half hug while she remains sitting. “Congrats, shorty.”
She scoffs at the nickname and I let out a small laugh because it’s been so long since I’ve heard him call her that. Us Collee’s are tall, and my brothers all range from six foot four to six foot six. I’m six foot, but Brynn is the shortest of all at five foot nine and I was always jealous that she wasn’t a giant like me. Though, I wasn’t jealous of the shit our brothers would give her for it when they were being playful.
“Are you going to congratulate me too, bro?” Colton stretches his arms out like he’s offering a hug.
Brent looks at him deadpan. “No.”
“You love me, don’t even pretend,” Colton ribs him.
“I tolerate you. Don’t push it.”
“Bailey, remind me to tell you later about the fight these two got into a couple years back.” Brynn practically bounces in her seat.
That piques my interest because I can’t see Brent getting into a fight, especially with his teammate. He and our brother Brandon used to get into arguments, but when Brandon would attempt to turn it physical, Brent always had the advantage of being sober, and didn’t really need to fight him to end it.
But this fight with Brynn’s husband? That sounds like something I want to know.
“We don’t need to relive that.” Brent shakes his head.
Brynn just looks at me and winks. It’s like we have a secret and it makes me feel closer to her. It helps the tightness in my chest loosen a bit. Maybe everything with us can be okay.
