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As for me, I could only stand there, stunned. I don't know which surprised me more, the job or that he called me his girlfriend.
"That is," Bam went on," if she accepts the job."
I blinked. "Of course I do. I mean, I need the job and who could resist those faces?" I looked around and smiled. If there was anything I could do to help make their stay more comfortable, or better yet, keep them from having to come here at all, I'd do my best.
"Can I get a photo?" Harvey asked.
"For a feel-good story?" Bam looked skeptical.
Harvey shrugged. "It's personal. If I can help Chelsie, then I will."
"We'll take any help we can get." I doubted he'd changed, or ever would, but I'd put aside my animosity toward him for the sake of the kids. For all I knew, he'd steer clear of Bam and my personal life from now on.
Right, that was unlikely, but a girl could hope.
We posed for a photo together, then one with a few of the kids. When Danbury went to sit back with Chelsie, I found myself alone with Bam.
"You were right," I said.
"I'm right about a lot of stuff." He grinned, "You might need to narrow it down some."
I laughed. "You were right about the brownie points. Starting a foundation will be the thing you're known for, long after you retire from playing football."
"I hope so, because I plan to be hands-on," he said. "Both later today and when I retire."
"I'll hold you to that." I had the feeling he'd spent a lot of time thinking about our future together. If he was any other guy I ever dated, I'd find that worrying. With Bam, I found myself falling for him even more. He really was a good guy. Now the world would get to see it.
They could fall in love with him too. How could they not, he was pretty irresistible.
Bam grinned and started singing some cheesy song about reindeers on ugly jumpers.
Before long, the kids started as well. I had no idea what the words were, but they knew them all.
"This confirms what I've suspected for a long time," Bec said as she came to stand beside me.
"What's that?" I asked.
"That men are really just big kids." She laughed. "Look, Hawk and Chase know the words too."
The second verse seemed to involve farting elves, so I wasn't surprised one bit. The kids adored it. Most of them were smiling and laughing even more than when they got presents from Santa.
I filed that away in the back of my mind. For these kids, experiences were more important than presents. Anything which helped them forget where they were for a while was priceless.
The third verse had something to do with Santa burping, which was apparently the cue for the kids to do the same.
I shook my head and laughed. "I'll have to learn this one for next year."
Bec snorted. "Yes, me too. I suppose we shouldn't be too harsh on them, they've worked hard all season, and the toughest bit is yet to come."
When I looked at her questioningly, she said, "The road to the Down Under Bowl. I hear it gets really intense. If we think these last few weeks have been a rollercoaster, I have a feeling we've seen nothing yet."
"Sounds like I need a good, sturdy seatbelt," I said. I didn't regret for a moment that I'd bought a ticket. Hell, I might have bought the whole damn car, but the ride would be worth it.
Carson Thomas walked in just as the song was finishing. His eyes widened and for a moment I thought he'd turn and walk back out. Before he could, Rubie grabbed his arm and pulled him in further. He smiled awkwardly, but let himself be pulled.
"There's our first benefactor," Bam stated loudly.
"Does he know that?" I wasn't sure if Carson was someone I wanted to deal with, or that he'd want to deal with me, but we'd work that out later. I suspected Rubie wouldn't give him a choice anyway.
