Oliver tried it on.“This is so cool!I can’t wait to wear it to school!”
“I, uh, don’t think you should wear it to school, buddy, but you can wear it anytime you come to the clubhouse or whenever we go somewhere.”
“Thanks, Jed!”He wrapped his arms around his neck and squeezed hard.“I can’t wait to see it in the mirror!”He ran to the kitchen table and grabbed a chair, dragging it down the hall and into the bathroom to get a better look in the mirror.
Holy shit!She was going to cry again.If she was going to be a big ole crybaby for the next six months, it was going to suck.She somehow managed to blink the tears away.The cute little cut proclaiming Oliver his property declared his intentions loud and clear.
“Aren’t you going to open your present?”Jed pointed at the bag at her feet.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a similar box to Oliver’s.She held her breath as she opened it.“It’s beautiful,” she whispered with emotion.She smoothed her hands over the soft, supple leather, then traced the patches with her fingers.Property of Jed.She liked the sound of that.
“You didn’t think I’d publicly claim him and not you, did you?”
“When did you get these?”It had to be some time ago.These cuts would have taken time to make.
Jed’s voice dropped.“I ordered them the same day you went shopping with the old ladies.”At her obviously puzzled expression, he added, “Yeah.My heart knew then that I wanted you both, but I let my dumb ass self get in my own way.”
“This looks so cool on me,” Oliver declared as he strutted into the living room.
“Yes, it does.”Sadie chuckled as she agreed.Where did he get that swagger?
“Oh, wow!Did you get one, too, Sadie?”He came closer to get a better look.
“Yes, I did.You want to see how cool I look in mine?”She got to her feet, letting the box fall to the floor, and shrugged it on.Stepping over the trash, she modeled it for both of them.“What do you think?Am I cool?”
“Yep.You are way cool.”Oliver nodded his head.
“Why, thank you.”She returned to her seat and waved at the gift in Jed’s lap.“Are you going to open yours?”
He ripped the bow and paper off, then pulled the lid off the box.His fingers reached out to touch the leather bracelet she’d bought him.It was stunning.The craftsmanship was perfection.“Thank you.”He cleared his throat.“I love it.”
“I’m glad you like it.”He leaned toward her, giving her a quick press of his lips.
Oliver didn’t seem to notice or mind that Jed was kissing his aunt as he declared, “I’m starving.”He dropped to the floor to play with the toys he’d gotten for Christmas.Funny thing, he left his cut on while he played.
“How do you feel about cinnamon rolls?”she asked them both, deciding she didn’t feel like making pancakes and eggs.
“Yes.Sounds good,” Oliver replied as he skimmed the channels on TV.He finally found a kids' show he liked and left it there.
Sadie got up to put the cinnamon rolls in the oven.And yes, she was still wearing her cut.She put away the ingredients she had taken out of the fridge earlier and grabbed the can of cinnamon rolls.
Jed followed her to the kitchen to reheat his coffee in the microwave.He set the cup next to where she was freeing the rolls from the can and arranging them in a baking dish.He stepped behind her so that his hands settled on either side of her, pinning her to the counter.“Definitely going to fuck you in nothing but that cut sometime,” he whispered in her ear.
She felt her cheeks flame hot along with a full-body shiver.
He chuckled in her ear.“You like that idea, don’t you?”He dipped to place a kiss on her neck.She dropped her head back on his shoulder and nodded.In fact, she liked the idea so much that if Oliver was still sleeping, she’d drag Jed back to her room and do exactly that.Holy hell.The man was dangerous to her libido.
He stepped back to allow her to slip the rolls into the oven.Once she was finished, he pulled her back in front of him, this time so that she was facing him.His expression grew solemn.“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and Oliver for Christmas.It was the first Christmas without your brother, and I should’ve been there for you guys.”He dropped his head back and shook his head.“I fucked up so bad.”
“Jed, this isn’t going to work if we keep looking to the past.I forgave you, and I think we need to move forward from here.”
“I like that idea.”He pressed his lips to her forehead.“I don’t deserve you, but I’m a selfish enough bastard to hang on tight.Never letting you guys go.”
This Christmas had been one of the hardest she’d ever experienced.The loss of her brother hit her and Oliver hard.Not having Jed in their lives at the time made things even worse.He might consider himself selfish for wanting to hold on, but she was going to be just as selfish.They loved each other, and they both deserved to be happy.They’d both experienced heartache and loss in their lives, but from this moment forward, they were going to find their way to happily ever after.And if anyone tried to ruin it for them, they better think twice.
15
Tinker
