“Swear jar,” Mollie says. “Wheeler is definitely a ho, though.”
“I am. How do you think I got pregnant?”
We’re all laughing again. Laughing and crying and holding up our glasses to toast to Mom and Dad, and all the moms and dads at the table too.
Ella asks why we’re talking about Santa. It takes us a minute, but then we figure out theho ho hothing. Then we’re talking about our Christmases growing up and how, without fail, some kind of stomach bug or flu would hit our house Christmas Day.
Wheeler has to make a mad dash for the bathroom when she laughs too hard at the story of Duke puking eggnog all overDad. Wyatt asks if anyone knows the recipes Mom used to make all her holiday cookies, and Duke says he’ll look through her cookbooks, which he keeps in his cabin.
Funny, but by opening up about my folks, I’ve helped our whole family honor Mom and Dad in new ways while carrying on new versions of family traditions too.
Ella and June tell us what they want for Christmas this year—two unicorns and fake nails with gemstones on them, naturally—and then we devour the strawberry pie Sawyer and Mollie made earlier.
Patsy adds a healthy scoop of hand-churned vanilla bean ice cream to each of our plates.
“Just because I can,” she says with a smile.
By the time I’m heading out the door, I feel wrung out and so full that I feel like I’m the one bursting.
Duke intercepts me as I’m walking to my truck in the driveway. Wheeler went home a little earlier to put up her feet, so he’s alone.
“So.” He slips his hands inside the pockets of his jacket and falls into step beside me. “How long you been sleepin’ with Billie?”
My heart ricochets off my ribcage like a pinball. “What?”
“You forget I know you better’n anyone. And I know you’ve changed in large part because of Billie Wallace. I also know you wouldn’t be able to spend so much time with her without, well, spending some time between the sheets with her too.”
Sheets weren’t involved.
I’d like them to be, though.
“Because she’s excellent, and you’re excellent, and y’all bring out the best in each other,” Duke continues. “She’s had the hots for you forever. I knew it was only a matter of time before you fell too.”
“I didn’t—Christ, Duke. I cryonce, and all of a sudden, you feel like you can just say whatever the hell you want to me?”
The bastard grins. “Yup. So how was it?”
“The sex? I’m not talking to you about?—”
“The conversation. The connection. Obviously that’s what I’m talking about.”
I grunt.
“So you did have sex.” He lets out a holler. “I was right! Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul. But talk about shit gettingmessy.”
My boots catch on the gravel as I come to a stop. Closing my eyes, I tip back my head. “I’m serious, Duke. No one can know.”
“How do you think Colt will react when you ask him if you can date her?”
“We’re not dating.”
“Bullshit.”
I scoff, something unpleasant rising up inside my chest. “I told you?—”
“Bet Billie would have some thoughts on whether or not you treat her right.” He nods at the phone in my hand. “Hell, I bet she’s texted you about them often this weekend, hasn’t she? Thoughts like,Wow, that was great, and,You’re great,and,I really like you and think you should be my boyfriend?—”
“That’s not what she texted.”
