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“I don’t have victims,” Olivia says.
“Yeah, you do,” Gage says. “The way you boss them into things like curfews and budgets and respectable behavior…they’re your victims.”
“She’s working with Slade Sullivan,” Hayden says.
“Oh,” I say. “The hockey player?”
Callan eyes me. “If you’re thinking of the asshole who likes to get himself into bar fights while drunk, and who recently abused a fan for taking his photo, that’s the one.”
“We’re cleaning up his reputation,” Olivia says. “And I really need to go now because”—she checks her watch—“shit, I was supposed to be at his place five minutes ago.”
She says her goodbyes and leaves. Callan walks her out while Bradford and Hayden get pulled into a conversation with their parents in the kitchen, leaving me with Gage.
“Have you seen or heard from Cecelia?” he asks.
“No.”
“Good. I take it you didn’t tell Bradford about running into her.”
“No, and I take it you didn’t either.” Bradford hasn’t raised it with me, so I assume Gage didn’t mention it.
“I didn’t. He’s got enough on his plate.” He throws some of his scotch down his throat. “You let me know if you hear from her and I’ll deal with it.”
“Gage,” Ingrid says, coming toward us. “Luna has woken up.”
He nods and leaves us to go check on his daughter.
Ingrid smiles at me. “I hope you’re having a lovely birthday, Kristen.”
“Oh my God, I am! It’s been maybe the best birthday I’ve ever had.” I grin. “I mean, I got three new pairs of shoes! What girl wouldn’t call that her best birthday ever?”
Ingrid laughs. “Those boys of mine can be smart at times.”
Hayden, Gage, and Callan all gave me a pair of shoes for my birthday. None of them were aware the others were gifting me shoes, but they’d all paid attention the night we met and they discovered my love of shoes. The fact they’d all managed to get my shoe size over the last couple of weeks touched my heart in a way I don’t think it’s ever been touched. None would disclose their methods, and Bradford had no idea either, so that’s still a mystery, but if there’s one thing I know for sure now, it’s that the Black men are resourceful. Well, I don’t know about their brother Ethan, though, because he didn’t come home for Christmas, but I imagine he’s just as resourceful.
I walk with Ingrid to where the rest of the family are. We’ve almost reached them when my biggest gift turns up. Jenna and Beckett make a surprise entrance, their arms filled with gifts and their faces full of smiles and Christmas cheer.
Jenna throws her arms around me and whispers into my ear, “You didn’t think your family would miss your birthday, did you? Oliver and Grayson are on their way too. I would have invited Mom, but I really didn’t think Ingrid would appreciate that.” She kisses my cheek. “Happy birthday, Kris.”
And there go my tears.
I look at Ingrid who I just know planned this and I stand in front of her crying again, like I did a couple of weeks ago on the night I met her. I mouth, “Thank you,” and then go back to my sister who is unloading gifts all around.
My brothers arrive and the party really gets started.
Grayson and Bradford really are on their way to becoming besties. They’ve golfed once since their lunch and spend a lot of the night drinking and talking all things skiing which Grayson loves just as much as Bradford.
Oliver and Bradford meet for the first time and my husband continues charming his way into my family.
Jenna meets Bradford’s brothers and demands they share more stories about Bradford from his younger years.
Ingrid is the perfect hostess and Edmund loosens up with me, asking questions in an effort to get to know me.
By the time Bradford gathers me into his arms just after 9:00 p.m., my heart is so full that it might burst.
He takes me home while I promise to do bad things to him as soon as I get him alone. I think, though, that we both know I’ve had a little too much to drink and am a little too tired to make good on those promises.
I take hold of his coat in the elevator on the way up to our condo and pull him close. “It’s a good thing I didn’t make you wait for your Christmas present until tonight, isn’t it?”
