The five of us settle around the island as Beau finishes the pancakes, laughter filling the space. Plates slide across the counter. Coffee gets refilled. Someone steals bacon off some else’s plate.
Like I said…domestic.
At some point, Lawson clears his throat.
He glances at the guys first, hesitant, like he’s checking a silent agreement between all of them. Jasper nods. Beau gives a small smile. Lincoln’s eyes soften.
Then, Lawson looks at me.
“Christmas is in two days,” he says gently.
“So it is,” I say, momentarily letting my eyes wander to the Christmas tree they have set up in the corner of the living room.
“We were wonderin’… if you’d want to stay here? At the big house. Just for the next few days.”
My heart stutters.
“You don’t really have much set up at the guesthouse as far as decorations goes,” Beau adds. “And nobody should wake up alone on Christmas morning.”
“And before you start, you wouldn’t be an imposition,” Linc says firmly. “We want you here.”
Jasper grins. “Plus, we’re not doin’ much besides chores and eatin’ too much food. Might as well do it together.”
I swallow, emotion pressing tight behind my ribs. “I’d like that,” I say softly. “I’ll—um—I’ll go pack a small bag after breakfast.”
Lawson’s hand finds mine under the counter, squeezing once. “Good,” he murmurs. “Because we weren’t gonna give you much of a choice.”
Chapter forty-five
Abigail
Thefranticenergyofthe morning has settled into something lazy and warm. The perfect kind of winter afternoon. One that stretches instead of rushing. Snow drifts past the windows in thick, lazy flakes, and the ranch looks hushed beneath it. As if the whole world decided to take a deep breath at the same time.
Lucy is curled up against my legs, warm and heavy, her tail thumping every so often as she dreams.Avengers: Infinity Warplays on the television at the guy’s request.
I’m snuggled beneath a blanket in the middle of the couch with my head resting against Lincoln’s shoulder, his arm comfortably draped around me. Beau is at the other end of the couch, one of my feet propped in his lap as he absently rubs slow circles into the arch. Lawson is in his armchair, one ankle crossed over his knee, a book open in his hands, pretending like he’s not interested in the movie, but I know better. He hasn’t turned the page in at least twenty minutes. Every so often, he reaches into the bag of peanut M&Ms on the side table next to him and pops a few into his mouth. Jasper is on the floor in front of me, hisback against the couch, head tipped back so he can see the TV as I mindlessly twist my fingers through his hair.
It’s all so peaceful.
Safe.
Lincoln’s the first to speak in a while, and when he does, it’s quiet. Thoughtful. “Hey, Abs?” I hum in response, my fingers still twirling strands of Jasper’s hair. “Can I ask you somethin’?”
My fingers still, and Beau’s thumb pauses a fraction of a second against my foot. Lawson closes his book and looks over at us.
“Yeah,” I say softly. “Of course.”
Lincoln doesn’t look at me right away, but I feel his body tighten for a moment before he takes a deep breath, allowing himself to relax. “You don’t ever have to answer anything you don’t want to. You know that, right?”
“I know,” I say, offering him a soft smile.
He nods once. “You’ve mentioned her a few times, but we don’t really know much about your sister.”
The word sister lands heavy in my chest.
Kat.
Something inside me shifts. Curls inward. My hand falls from Jasper’s hair, and he must feel it immediately. His head tilts slightly, as if he’s silently asking my hold on him to return. To ground myself to him.
