Reed beams. “Dude, thanks. Merry Christmas to me.”
“Really, Jordan?” Mom chides.
I make a point of glancing at the glass of wine Dad is pouring for her before looking her way and raising an eyebrow. “You might not realize it, but I just did everyone a favor.”
“He did.” Reed nods.“Two work even better, though.”
“Nice try, bro, but that’s all I brought,” I say.
We fall into the inevitable dance of passing all the bowls around the table in an endless flow until everyone’s plate is heaping with food.
“Mom, this is delicious,” Drew says between forkfuls of roast and mashed potatoes.
“Thank you, sweetie,” she replies, smiling.
“It really is great,” I agree.
“Thank you, Jordan.”
A choked laugh slips from Reed. “No ‘sweetie’ for you.”
I grin. “Right? But I’m not Mom’s baby like this guy is.” I rub my hand over the top of Drew’s head.
Drew laughs, pushing his hair back from his face. “Green is a good color on you, and I don’t mean your shirt.”
Mom shakes her head in mock exasperation. “You boys always make holiday dinners interesting.”
Dad lifts his wine. “That’s one word for it.”
“Yeah,” Reed says, stuffing a forkful of pie into his mouth, even though we’re in the middle of dinner. “You know you both love it.”
Nina gasps. “Reed Thorne, you already touched the pie?”
He freezes, fork halfway to his mouth. “Uh… no.”
Ginger raises a brow. “Reed.”
He shoves the bite in anyway. “I have no regrets.”
Everyone laughs, filling the room with a warm feeling—the kind the holidays are notorious for inspiring.
Reed is still defending his pre-dessert pie theft when Dad sets his wine glass down and says, “Before Reed clears the table by himself, I want to thank you all for joining us today. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without each and every one of you. I’d like to make a toast. May this be our best Christmas yet.”
Everyone holds up their glasses and then takes a sip.
I slide my hand onto Ginger’s leg under the table. Her breath catches a little, just enough for me to notice. I lean over and whisper, “I’m glad you’re here.”
She smiles at me. “Me too.”
I squeeze her thigh and clear my throat. “I guess this is as good a time as any to share some news I have.”
The whole table goes quiet. Even Reed freezes mid fork stab. “Ginger and I have been seeing each other for the past month, and now…” I pause, glancing around at everyone. Nina’s nodding her head encouragingly, as if she’s saying “go on, you’vegot this.” I take Ginger’s hand and lift it onto the table, fingers threaded through mine. “And now, she’s officially my girlfriend.”
Mom gasps, then her lips part into a wide grin. Dad tips his head toward me in a “good job” gesture. Drew thumps my back a few times.
Pops slaps both hands on the table. “I knew it!”
Gramps points at him. “I called it back in October.”
