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Bam cocked his head. "I better not take your couch. I don't think that would fit through the door."
I snorted a laugh. "It came with the place. I have no idea how they got it in here."
Bam glanced up. "Maybe they took the roof off."
"That or they used a shrink ray," I said. "Would you like a coffee?"
"No, I'm good." He sat beside Karma, who watched him like he might steal her latest meal. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's okay." I sat beside him. "I was just filling her in on our little event."
"Little event?" he echoed. "This is gonna be huge."
I smiled, but at the same time, I was daunted. I filled him in on what Rubie said about Carson making a donation. Not the bit about her plying him with alcohol, but that it would be big.
His eyes widened. "That's killer. We'll be the talk of Storm Valley for years after this."
I wasn't sure I wanted that, but I smiled anyway. "Actually, I've been meaning to ask, why the change of heart? You didn't want recognition for doing good work for the kids, but you're all in for this."
He sat back and regarded me for a moment. "Keeping it quiet didn't help them like I thought it would," he said slowly. "I figured I was doing it for me, but…" He looked embarrassed. "Part of me wanted someone to notice and make a fuss. When they did, everything went the wrong way and ended up all offside." He scratched his head. "And you got caught up in that crazy huddle. I decided to intercept the ball before the opposition does."
I smiled. "Do you often talk in football terms?"
He grinned. "Sometimes. It's hard when you practically live the game. It gets twined up with everything else. But you get the point."
"Yeah, I do," I agreed. "You don't want to put yourself in the position where you have to wear a suit."
He looked surprised, but then he laughed. "Yeah, you got me. I'd rather spend months organising a Christmas in July party for sick kids than wear a monkey outfit."
I looked at him thoughtfully. "You might still have to."
He grimaced. "You're going to make me do that?"
"I doubt I could make you do anything," I said. "But if we make the event black tie, then you'll have to make yourself wear one."
"Casual it is then," he said. "Ugly Christmas jumper preferred. The uglier the better. We could have a prize for the ugliest."
"I don't own an ugly Christmas jumper." I wrinkled my nose. I tended to avoid buying ugly clothes. Also actual Christmas was in summer in Australia.
"I'll take you shopping for one," he said. "Christmas stuff is around for the mid-year version."
"It's probably been there since December," I said.
"Some day, it'll be Christmas all year 'round." He nodded.
"Because the real thing isn't stressful enough," I said dryly.
"Right?" He pulled a face that made me laugh. "But this year it'll be a metric shit ton of fun. We'll make sure of that. I vote Chase dresses up as Santa."
"You don't want the honour?" I asked. He'd be adorable in a jolly red suit.
"Naw, I'd rather be an elf, or a reindeer."
"Ugly jumper and antlers it is," I said.
"I'll add that to our shopping list," he said. "And some mistletoe."
"At a kids party?" I looked at him sidelong.
