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Chapter Twenty-Two
Ace
“Prekleto sranje!” I bark, kicking the piece of shit Christmas decoration I’ve just knocked over and sent flying. Baubles scatter everywhere, many of them shattering on impact with the cupboards and baseboards, because of course Thorn got glass decorations. Asshole. Who puts decorations up in the kitchen anyway?
It’s a fucking nightmare trying to work around all the gaudy shit he’s put up everywhere, and I’m behind on my baking schedule. If I don’t catch up soon, Christmas will be ruined. And it’ll all be on me. I need to make this the most perfect damn Christmas we’ve ever had. I want to bring our group’s traditions together with what Raven and Nix do, and include Baxter. I thought it would be nice if we gave Nix a little taste of our own Christmas childhood traditions too so that she feels like she has a bigger, more extended family.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s a shit idea. Rebel’s always rubbing me for being too sentimental.
Take Raven’s ring for example. I put way too much thought and effort into its design and meaning. I took on extra fights to pay for it so that the commission cost wasn’t deducted from the money I sent home. And now she’s wearing it again.
On the ring finger of her left hand.
Are we engaged?
I mean, I asked and she said yes, but we’ve not spoken about it since. She seemed pissed off that I tricked her at the time but now she’s wearing the ring. What does it mean? Has she come around to the idea of being my wife? Will the others let us wed? I mean, I did ask first both times. Surely that gives me rights or perks or something?
Should I ask her about it, or should I just call home and get them to start planning a traditional Slovenian wedding? It would make my mama’s day. Hell, it would make her entire life.
And mine.
Maybe I could ask for a wedding as my Christmas present from Raven? If she asks what I want I could definitely say that.
“What’s wrong?”
I spin around. Raven has walked into the kitchen. She’s wearing workout gear and her skin has a healthy sheen to it where she’s worked up a sweat. She’s breathing a little hard, making her breasts heave enticingly. It’s completely distracting.
“Pazi!” I shout, desperately holding up a hand to stop her from coming any closer. She frowns but obviously understands the panic in my voice.
“Aljaž?”
I point to the floor, jewel toned bits of glass sparkling under the bright lights. Raven nods when she sees and I move to the cupboard under the sink to get the dustpan and brush to clean up the mess.
When I’m done she still picks her way over to me tentatively.
“I hoover,” I grunt, still in a mood about everything.
“It can wait. What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. I can’t explain it. It’s hard enough to get my words out when I’m calm. I know I don’t stand a chance with the way I’m feeling right now.
In frustration I look around for the phone and when I spy it on the countertop I snatch it up and hit the new voice to translation app I’m trying out.
In a rush, my words come tumbling out of my mouth in a garbled mess. It takes a moment for the software to do its thing, but once it’s loaded I hit play.
A stupidly slow mechanical voice that sounds freakishly like Stephen Hawking fills the room, the tone and pace oddly jarring with my feverish rant.
“No I’m not fucking okay! I’m fucking stressed! There’s so much to do and Christmas is right around the corner. I have to do all of the baking and prep work, which is behind schedule by the way, and the new oven I ordered didn’t get delivered in time! Now the bastard company is telling me that it’s out of stock and on backorder until March. Fucking March! Who needs a new oven in March? And don’t even get me started on all these fucking baubles! Who even decorates the kitchen? I need space to work! I fucking hate everything in here!”
A stunned silence fills the room for a beat and then Raven bursts out laughing.
“I’m sorry,” she says between gasps. “I promise I’m not laughing at you. But that app is hilarious.”
I crack a smile because she’s right. Then a small chuckle slips past my lips. And next thing I know, I’m laughing as hard as Raven is.
“Is that the one you’re trying out for your friend?” Raven asks when she finally manages to get her giggles under control.
“Yeah.”
