Trace bought Harmony a silver cuff for her arm. She gushes over it until Travis jumps up.
“My turn,” he announces. He passes out his gifts, and we take turns opening them. Travis always buys me clothes for Christmas. I think he doesn’t believe I’m capable of clothing myself. I’ve explained to him a thousand times there is nothing wrong with buying your clothes at the farm store. I hold up my colorful angora sweater for Harmony to appreciate. She grins.
“Oh, Travis. This is beautiful,” she says, holding up hers in complementary colors. Is he setting us up for a catalog model-worthy date night? We’d look like something from a Hallmark movie. I’ll keep it, though, and bring it out when I visit him.
“Do you want to go next, bro?” Travis asks.
“Sure.” Standing, I wander over to the tree. Since I’m usually a crap brother the rest of the year, I try to splurge a little at Christmas. I bought Trace a couple of pieces from the knife set he’s been drooling over. Not the entire set—that would cost me the equivalent of a mortgage. Who knew knives could be so expensive.
Travis always claims just paying his living expenses while he works to finish school is enough present for him. I don’t agree. I bought him a set of high-end headphones for when he’s studying and a new laptop to replace the one I got him when he left for undergrad. He squeals and hugs it to him. I mean, that other laptop is getting pretty banged up.
“I made you something. Don’t expect much,” I tell Harmony, giving her a rolled-up tube. It’s the sketch I did of her. She opens it slowly and stares at it. I thought it was pretty good, but her reaction makes me nervous. I’m sure she gets this kind of thing all the time from her fans. It was stupid of me to think she’d want another one.
“It’s amazing,” she whispers. “You drew this?” Her blue gaze glances up at me. I shrug. Slowly, she stands and hands Travis the drawing. She throws her arms around my waist in a fierce hug. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever gotten.” Her lips meet mine in a searing kiss.
“Hey, I didn’t get that kind of thank you,” Travis mock whines at us.
“You missed your chance in high school,” she teases, stepping back.
“Dumbass,” I add without breaking eye contact with her. She grins back.
“But then, you wouldn’t have Trace in your life.”
“True,” Travis agrees.
“And I’m starting to think I like the older brother a little better.”
“Fair.”
“Besides, it’s my turn now,” she says, turning to the tree. Somehow, she manages to do a happy hop thing to it. All she needs is an elf outfit to complete the look. My mind turns for a moment to Harmony in a sexy, filthy elf suit. I don’t even try anymore to keep the thoughts at bay. I think they’ll be the only thing left to occupy me at night soon.
“Okay, I don’t have anything yet for you guys. But I thought you might enjoy a weekend in Nashville when I get back. I can take you to tour the studio and meet a few A-listers,” she says.
“That sounds great,” Trace says as he looks at a grinning Travis. “We can definitely carve out some time to do that.”
“That will be so much fun.” She pulls out a wrapped package from under the tree and lays it in my lap. “I made you something totally not as amazing as your drawing, but I hope you’ll use them until I can get the real thing.”
She watches anxiously as I pull the paper from a small box. Inside is an array of homemade frames. “I thought you could add more photos to the wall in your office. Maybe of you and Travis as adults.”
“That’s a great idea,” Travis says.
I slowly pick through the frames looking at each one as I lay it on the table. She’s used the supplies I found in the office to make them. One has a picture of us at Travis’s high school graduation. Another is obviously meant for a photo of Reacher. I hold it up for him to see, but he ignores me choosing to focus on the bone in front of him instead.
“Thank you,” I say, looking up at her worried face. “You’re not replacing them.” There’s no way I’m letting her trade for a bunch of soulless metal frames bought at a store. Each one of these says something about her and how she sees me. There’s even one with cowboy stickers she must have dug out of somewhere.
“I know it’s not much, but?—”
“I love them.” Taking her hand, I pull her down until she’s straddling my thighs. “I love them,” I whisper, pulling her to me. I kiss her gently on the lips.
“You never mentioned, Travis, that your Christmas festivities were X-rated,” Trace teases. I don’t care if they’re uncomfortable. This will all end soon, and I’m not passing up any opportunity to kiss Harmony before she leaves.
“They used to be very Hallmark,” Travis answers. “I’m not sure what happened. These are more interesting though.” Harmony shifts off my lap, and I let her go. If I didn’t have my little brother and his boyfriend sitting in the same room, I’d never let her go. “Speaking of, we need to think about heading out of this winter wonderland. We need to make miles while it’s still daylight.”
I stand mechanically from the couch. Harmony leaves to pack her bag. I help pack up the presents, including an extra I slip in with Harmony’s box. Trace helps me clean up while Travis hauls everything to their truck.
I can’t think of a thing that can prevent the inevitable from happening. She’s about to sweep out of my life just like she swept in. Fate is just too much of a bitch to care.
“Ready, sweetheart?” Travis asks as Harmony wheels her suitcase out of the back room.
