He must see my hesitation because he reaches up and slides the mask to rest on top of his head quickly, pressing his lips to mine. He’s gone too quickly, and when I blink my eyes open, I find him already headed toward the door.
“Raincheck, love. But good to know it works like the internet said it would.” With a wink, he leaves me standing at the sink, toothbrush in hand, as I try to remember what I need to do next.
The day flies by, and before I know it, I’m helping Addy get into her Anna dress. I’m glad we bought more than one, because she changed her mind at the last minute today.
“Are you excited to get candy?” I ask her as I place flowers in her hair, and she beams up at me.
“Yes!”
Her excitement is contagious, and my cheeks ache from my own smile.
I haven’t done anything with Halloween since I was a kid. Carter always went to parties but never took me, saying they were too much.
Looking back, I wonder if it was for other reasons.
I shake the thought away because even if it was, I don’t care, not anymore.
Carter can do whatever or whoever he wants so long as he leaves me alone.
Just like with everything worth doing, we take her trick-or-treating like a family, together. We came back tired and cold, but Addy had a blast and ended up with enough candy that I’m not sure she could ever hope to finish it.
I go to bed with a smile on my face and Des and Alex on either side of me.
The next morning, I wake to the sounds of voices I don’t recognize and the hustle and bustle of people moving around.
I’m out of bed and to the stairs in no time, but whatever I expected, it sure wasn’t the almost dozen people moving around decorating.
“Mommy!”
Every head turns to look up at me, and I thank whatever higher power there might be that I thought to grab my robe on the way out and not the tiny one from Nathan.
I tie it tight and fight the urge to turn around and go change, knowing how revealing my shorts and tank top are, not to mention my lack of underwear.
This is what I get for letting the guys buy me pajamas.
Moving down the stairs, I can’t help but look around. Wreaths, garland, lights, nutcrackers, and ornaments decorate… everywhere.
Addy wiggles out of Nathan’s arms and comes at me full sprint. I scoop her up and pepper her little face with kisses the way I do every morning until she’s left giggling like crazy.
“It’s so pretty,” she says once I let her breathe again, and yeah, it is.
The house is like a winter wonderland, and Christmas threw up on everything while still not looking tacky.
“It’s beautiful, just like you, Princess.”
“See, I knew she’d like it,” Oliver says, coming into the room with Des not far behind him.
“I didn’t say I thought she wouldn’t like it. I just wasn’t sure if she would like someone else doing it.” Des rolls his eyes before shouldering past Oli and coming over to press a kiss to my lips.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning,” I say, smiling up at him before I remember there are people I don’t know all over the house. I feel the heat as it rises up my chest and settles on my cheeks. Des, being the cheeky ass he is, winks, and I smack his arm, which only makes him laugh harder.
“So you're not mad we aren’t doing all of this?” Alex asks, waving a finger in the air around the room.
I look around and quickly shake my head. “No, I’d never be able to do all this; besides, I’ve never really decorated for the holidays.”
His lips pull down in a frown, and I see the displeasure on the rest of their faces as well.
