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Jerry appears in the doorway holding an empty cardboard box. “You two done being disgusting? We’ve got Christmas Eve dinner to get ready for.”

I pull away from Dean and wipe my face. “Jealousy is an ugly color on you, old man.”

“I’ve survived worse,” Jerry replies dryly.

Dean kisses my forehead before taking my hand. “Come on, baby. We’re gonna be late.”

I glance around the bedroom one more time.

Our bedroom.

In our house.

“Okay.” I smile and let him lead me downstairs.

* * *

By the time we arrive at the Ashfords’, almost everyone is wearing matching Christmas pajamas.

Jerry is still in jeans and a sweater, which Aspen notices before we’ve even made it through the front door.

“Jerry, you don’t match,” she tells him, pointing at his clothes.

He looks down at himself. “Devastating.”

“You need Christmas pajamas,” Aspen insists.

“I really don’t.”

Dean laughs as he opens the door. “You’ve got about five minutes before Mom fixes that.”

He’s right.

Dean’s mom takes one look at Jerry and disappears upstairs without saying a word.

“Oh no,” Jerry mutters.

I grin at him. “Oh yes.”

Knox is sprawled across one of the armchairs in plaid pajama pants and a black shirt. He lifts his beer toward Jerry.

“Don’t fight it,” he advises. “It only makes things worse.”

“You’re not wearing the full set,” Jerry points out.

“Seniority.”

Rory looks over from the couch. “He complained that the shirt made him too hot.”

“It did,” Knox argues.

“You complain about everything.”

Knox grins at her. “And yet, you keep listening, Aurora.”

Rory flips him off behind Aspen’s back.

Interesting.