Page 29 of A Happy Armitage New Year

Relative silence fell, except for Ian saying, “Okay, that was totally freaking worth it.”

“You knew that was coming?” Matthew started to laugh, shaking his head at the same time. “Seriously? You could’ve said something. Christ.”

Jessica asked, somewhat tentatively, “Nate? Is this the kind of thing that happens a lot around here?”

I turned back around in my chair to find her leaning her chin in her hand, half covering a smile and half face-palming.

Behind me, Ian said, “You might as well tell her the truth.”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “Pretty much. You get used to it? I mean, last year there were zombies eating the inflatable Santa. Don’t ask. Okay, ask, but not when Jonathan’s listening.”

“Revenants,” Matthew chimed in, and I glanced over my shoulder to give him a look of disbelief. “What? He’s very insistent about the difference,” he said defensively. “I can’t help it at this point.”

“Revets!” Jonathan squeaked. “Do revets eat apples?”

“No, they eat Christmas decorations,” I told him. “Your apples are safe.”

“You know, I think I’m going to really like it here.” Jessica grinned at me, looking years younger and more carefree. “I can’t wait for my first offensive coffee mug.”

“I promise.” I grinned back at her and held up my own cup in a toast. “Happy New Year, and I think you’ll like it too. I never thought I’d be a part of this pack, and look at me now.”

A distant shout echoed down the stairs, followed by a thump and a groan, and Matthew put his coffee down and strode out of the room, grumbling about how much it cost to put in new drywall in this fucking place.

Yep. A few hours into it, and it’d already been a year like any other. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The End

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