Page 134 of Robbin’ the Rich

“What?”

The blue house appeared at the end of the block. Christmas lights lined the porch. Christmas lights that absolutely had not been there when we'd toured it. Neither had Belle's SUV in the driveway. Or my parents' car parked behind it. Or the familiar piece of shit Ariel insisted was still perfectly drivable despite evidence to the contrary.

I slowly turned my head.

“Micah Nottingham.”

He pulled the car up to the end of the drive and we got out. He guided me up the stairs.

“What did you do?” I asked.

The front door flew open before we'd even made it up the walk.

“Merry Christmas!”

Instead, Ariel came flying out of the house and threw herself at me.

“We got you a house!” Ariel said.

I shook my head but couldn’t do anything about the grin covering my face. “You did not get me a house.”

“We decorated it,” she insisted.

“You broke into my house.”

“Micah gave us a key, that’s hardly breaking in.”

I looked at him. He held up both hands. “Technically, the realtor gave them a key.”

“That is worse.”

Ariel hooked her arm through mine and dragged me toward the porch.

“Come on, Squirt,” I muttered.

She gasped. “You cannot Squirt me when I am throwing you a surprise party.”

“I can Squirt you whenever I want.”

“That sounded weird.”

“Keep walking.”

The house was full. Of course, it was. Mel had commandeered what would eventually be the dining room. Eleanor and Alex were arguing about where someone had put the tape. Belle was carrying food into the kitchen while Raph followed behind her with approximately six more bags than any reasonable Christmas gathering required. Zella was curled into the corner of the couch, looking suspiciously green while insisting to anyone who asked that she was fine.

Maggie stood near the tree talking to my mother. I think that sight warmed my heart more than anything. My mom had been looking for a community and to feel needed when she started attending Ascension. Well, she found both of those things at Lantern House, my mom helped Maggie and they had made Lantern House even more welcoming. Dad spotted me from across the room and smiled before lifting the beer in his hand in greeting.

“This all seems very illegal. We don’t own the place yet?”

“Since when did things being legal matter to you?” he said as he snaked his arms around my waist. “Plus, once our realtor found out we are close personal friends of ‘The Beast,’ she was willing to do just about anything.”

Raph gave him a nod as he gave a small wave back.

Across the room, Ariel was talking at Van with both hands, apparently incapable of telling a story without reenacting at least half of it.

Van looked deeply unimpressed. Except I knew Van. And I saw the little twitch at the corner of her mouth when Ariel turned away. Interesting. I'd have to file that away for later.

Someone shoved a drink into my hand. Someone else yelled that we needed music. Mel announced that she was not helping us move anything heavier than a throw pillow unless pizza was provided. Within ten minutes, everyone was talking over everyone else. It was chaos. Loud, ridiculous chaos. I stepped away from it for a moment and looked around.