Page 13 of Maldives & Mistletoe

Not that Theo was willing to admit that to his brother-in-law. If he gave Damian an inch, the man took a fucking mile. So was their way, really.

Eve knocked on the front door of the hut, and stepped back. Adriano swung the door open less than two seconds later. Theo had to laugh at the fact the man already had both kids ready, and a bag for each one. It was a little past six in the fucking morning, and he looked like he had been up for a couple of hours.

Eve took baby Lissa.

Corrine ran out to grab Theo’s hand.

Adriano pointed a finger at Eve, saying, “I don’t know what you women have planned today, but my wife has been telling me to mind my goddamn business all last night. It better be worth it.”

Eve smirked. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

In the doorway, Adriano’s gaze narrowed before he shot Theo a look, shook his head, and then closed the door. Without a word, Eve continued down the path to the next hut. Theo trailed behind her like he had before, but this time, with Corrine bouncing beside him and tugging on his hand the whole way. The little one never stopped talking, and he swore she said twenty words for every single step she took, too.

Kids were cute like that, really.

And busy.

Little monsters.

At the next hut, Tommas and Abriella’s, Eve knocked on the door a hell of a lot quieter than she had for Alessa and Adriano’s place. Theo didn’t wonder why for very long when Tommas was quick to open the door with a half-sleeping Tommaso slung over his shoulder. He already had a finger pressed to his lips.

“Don’t say a word—Ella is still sleeping. I want her to fucking stay that way. You just take him, and go. Got it?”

Eve laughed quietly, gesturing for Theo to come forward and take the tired toddler. “You got it.”

Somehow, he managed to balance holding Tommaso and keeping a grip on Corrine’s hand at the same time. Tommaso’s sleepiness only lasted as long as it took for Corrine’s chattiness to start back up again, but they were almost to the far end where Damian and Lily’s hut was situated when the kids really started getting loud again.

Thing was, they didn’t even have to knock on the front door of the last place. Damian was already outside with Cory on one side of him, and Joe playing with a truck in the hammock in the front sitting area.

Damian shrugged when Theo asked, “Up early, or what?”

“Kids, man.”

Yeah, kids explained everything.

Cory darted forward, and Tommaso finally wanted to be let down to play with his cousin. Theo’s shoulder thanked the heavy toddler for giving it a break.

“Are you coming with aunt Eve today, Joe?” his wife called to the quietest of all the kids.

Joe made a face, glanced between his father and aunt, and then shrugged. “I guess.”

Eve laughed, and met Theo’s gaze over her shoulder. “He really knows how to stroke someone’s ego, doesn’t he?”

That was little Joe.

“You ready to get a start on this day, or what?” Damian asked Theo.

“More like, is Adriano and Tommas?”

Damian chuckled. “Truth.”

Eve worked on getting Joe out of the hammock, and convincing him nobody was going to take his truck while he spent the morning with her. And didn’t he like pancakes? Yes, he did.

“Theo, stop gossiping like a teenage girl and help me get all the kids back to our place.”

Theo rolled his eyes, and ignored Damian’s laughter following him as he headed after his wife. “What are you planning to do today, anyway?”

“Well, it’s not just me. All the girls are going to do something. Won’t be the same when you get back.”

His brow knotted. “I don’t understand.”

“That’s the point. Besides, it’s Christmas Eve. Do better, Theo.”

Damn woman.

Good thing he loved her.