Prologue
Sasha
“Sasha, what if Zoe has horrible holidays because her dad isn’t here? What if she hates me for it?”
I sighed and pulled Angie, my best friend’s wife, into a tight hug. “She won’t hate you. She knows he would be here if he could. He’s deployed. It’s just how it goes. He’ll be here for her birthday in April and make it up to her then.”
Angie sagged against me and returned the embrace. “You really think so?”
“I know so. Zoe’s a tough girl, and she knows how this goes by now.”
“But it’s her first holiday without her dad.”
“I’m here. I’ll be the best godfather she could ever ask for. I’ll be here all the time, I’ll go do all the festive activities with you two, and we can make that disgusting peanut brittle you think is the best holiday treat but tastes like ass.”
Angie pulled away so she could give me her signaturenot-taking-shitlook. “I thought that was your thing.”
“Hey, don’t shame me for having a boyfriend.”
“Ex-boyfriend. He didn’t deserve you.”
I shrugged. “Better luck next time, but I’ll worry about my love life after the new year. It’s just the three of us until then. I promise.”
Angie smiled. “Okay. Thanks, Sasha.”
Chapter 1
Kaylinn
“Are you ready to make a gingerbread house, Reece?” I ruffled my nephew’s curls as the three of us approached the small event facility where they hosted all sorts of holiday activities that started just after Thanksgiving, which is when we decided it would be best to go.
Reece beamed. “Ready! I’m gonna do a chimney and a roof and windows and icicles and–”
“Alright.” His mother, Mariah, laughed on his other side. “We can all make a game plan once we find our table. Maybe we can do a color scheme. Or would you rather just be a rainbow?”
“Rainbow!”
“That’s my boy.” I held my hand out for a fist bump, my yellow, blue, and pink bracelet displayed proudly and matching the rainbow one that he had secured around his wrist.
He bumped my fist with his before taking my hand again.
“Oh no.” Mariah groaned once we stepped through the first set of doors and reached the second.
I followed her gaze to the sign posted on the door. A multi-colored poster taped to the glass instructed families to divide into teams of two, one team per table. No groups allowed.
“What the–” I turned to Mariah with raised eyebrows. “I thought it was for families?”
Mariah frowned.
“I did, too.” She rubbed a hand across her face. “How do pairs even make sense? It’s a holiday thing. Aren’t they all for families?”
“It usually is,” came a voice from behind us.
I turned around to see another woman holding hands with a young girl about four years old. She was short and had vibrant red hair like her daughter. It was just like how mine and Mariah’s blonde curls matched Reece’s to a T.
She smiled. “I’m Angie. I came here last year with my daughter, Zoe, and it was a group thing for families. I guess they think making it pairs is more inclusive for families with only one parent.” She shrugged. “I mean, I get it. Her dad’s not here this time, but we brought her godfather as a substitute, so he’s kind of on his own now.”
I turned to Mariah, whose frown had only worsened.
