“I was fine living with blue balls when I thought Lis didn’t want to have sex with me, but now I know she’s as horny as I am, I think I might spontaneously combust if I don’t get to be with my wife soon.”
On cue, I see Lisa through the crowd, her lipstick perfectly in place, her silver dress shimmering in the lights and her eyes sparkling as she plays hostess. She smiles so genuinely at everyone she speaks to, sweeping through the groups like aChristmas fairy spreading joy and good tidings to everyone under her wings. I have never told her she’s beautiful out of duty or obligation, she really is stunningly gorgeous whether she’s dressed to impress or in her pyjamas—even the ones with the holes in them—with messy hair and not a lick of makeup.
“So, you didn’t just…?” Again, he trails off rather than saying something inappropriate in front of the group of kids that run past.
“That’s between me, Lisa, and the mop and bucket.” I give him a serious look and he bites on his cheeks. “Prick.”
“Arsehole.”
I turn back to watch Lisa as she throws her head back and laughs at something her uncle Gordan says to her dad, a now awake Mary balances on her hip in a pose so easy it looks graceful. Oscar runs to her to say something, she beams down on him and tweaks his nose before he runs off again to play with the many children currently going feral, hopped up on sugar and Christmas fuelled hysteria.
“You know, if you want to take off, I’ll get the kids home.”
I snap my head toward my best-friend, considering kissing him. “Really?”
“Yeah, go on, make up some excuse and head home, we’ll give you at least an hour. Go do nasty things to your wife.” He points his finger in my face. “But keep it respectful.”
I bat his hand away and shoot to my feet. “Thank you. Love you, Jakey.” I’m running toward my angel before he can respond.
Nel is stood with the group when I reach them. Without words, I take my beautiful and chubby-faced baby girl from Lisa, kissing those red, teething cheeks and plonk her into Nel’s arms. My sister looks a little shocked but dutifully holds her niece while questioning me without words.
“I need to borrow Lis for a bit, you’re good?”
“Sure,” Nel says, no less shocked. “I have to go change though.”
“I’ve got her,” Gordan pipes up, taking the babe and tickling her neck, which Mary finds most unimpressive.
“Oh, okay.” Nel frowns slightly. “Once I’m divorced from Mr Claus though, I’m coming back to claim my baby cuddles.”
I smile at my sister, so glad she’s embracing the aunt role in a way she didn’t quite capture with the boys. No fault of her own, but it’s still heart-warming to know she loves the kids as much as Jake always has.Thank you, I mouth to her which she accepts with a small and still slightly confused smile as I lace my fingers with Lisa’s and pull her away.
“Where are we going?” Lisa whispers, practically jogging to keep up with my long, determined strides.
“Home.”
“What?”
“I’m exercising my marital rights, wife.”
We’re just outside the main hall in the little reception area when she comes to a stop and tugs on my hand. “We can’t just leave.”
“Jake’s got eyes on the boys, Nel has Mary, toasts aren’t for an hour. We can get home; I’ll make you come at least twice and be back here before anyone knows you’re missing.”
Her amusement can’t be hidden, no matter how hard she’s trying. “Harry, I’m the host, everyone’s been looking for me all night.”
I step forward until I’m crowding her, my hands landing on her narrow waist and squeezing enough to make her squirm. “Then let them keep looking for you. They’ll find you in an hour.”
She’s considering it. I can see the heat in her eyes and when she tilts her head slightly to one side, I press a gentle, open-mouthed kiss to the slender column of her neck. The hitch in her breath tells me I have her, that she’ll come home with me and let me draw out her pleasure. But when I open my mouth to encourage her out the door, a loud commotion followed by a pained cry comes from the hall. My need andwant are lost because a father knows his own child’s distress and Lucas’s is piercing the air and turning my blood cold.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Don’t want you passing out.”
LISA
We do leave early in the end, but with a snivelling Lucas in the back seat. Seems as though the cocktail of festive excitement and mob culture when mixing with the neighbourhood kids was enough to have poor Lucas running around in a stupor and too distracted to notice the door someone opened right in front on him. He ran headfirst into the offending door and now has a bump on his head the size of half a ping-pong ball.
“You doing alright, bud?” Harry calls from the driver’s seat.
