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Silence stretches between us while I can practically see the wheels turning behind her eyes.

“It was the guy,” she accuses with a grin.

“Okay, it was,” I say, giving up.

“Oh my God, tell me everything!” She squeals.

“I will when I get there. I still have an hour to go, and I just want to get home.”

Home. I don’t miss how smooth and natural that rolled off my tongue.

“Did you guys ever end up telling each other your real names?”

“Nope.”

Cami starts laughing, but I see in her face she’s hiding something. “Well, that’s lame. At least you had a fun night.”

“It was all right,” I say with a smirk. It was more than all right.

“Well, I’d better go,” she says. “I still have to get one of the cabins ready. Jack and I have been running around nonstop getting everything at the ranch all set.”

“I can help when I get there,” I promise.

“Oh, it’s almost done. We’re so happy that everyone’s going to be together this year.”

The warmth in her voice makes something settle inside me. Maybe this year will be different. I won’t be as sad as I have been before.

“Have you heard from Weston? Is he coming?” I ask. My brother lives up in Bozeman and stays busy. He’s a workaholic like me.

“Yes, he’s coming.”

That surprises me. Weston rarely slows down. Ever. He works practically as much as I do. “Really? I’m glad to hear he’s coming home, too. Sounds like everyone will be home this time.”

“Jack talked to him.”

“And?”

“Apparently, he’s exhausted, too. You’re not the only one getting put on a mandatory break.”

I laugh, but we both know it’s true.

“I think he’s finally burning himself out.”

That sounds familiar.

“Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with,” I say.

“I will.”

Weston Jessop is my other older brother. There’s Jack, Weston, me, and Tucker. The fixer and the attorney, who is somehow everyone’s emergency contact. He’s brilliant, successful, and completely incapable of resting. Apparently, we’re both the worker bees of the family.

“It’s going to be a great Christmas!” she says. “I’ve been baking so much. I can’t wait for you to try everything.”

I smile. “I won’t turn down a cookie.”

“Jack says I overdid it.”

“Did you make the Christmas sugar cookies with the icing?”