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I was surprised when I opened a small box that held a little wallet with my initials on it. Inside was a photograph of Nick when he was about five years old and a note from Doris that made my eyes fill.
Nick hasn’t told her about Derrick. He’s chosen to keep it from her, for her own good and I agree with him. Knowing what she did, and that Derrick turned his back on her, only cemented that further for Nick. He won’t break her heart by telling her he went against her wishes, only to have her proved right.
I give her a careful hug too and she whispers at me to be patient with him. I kiss her cheek, promising I will. She never replaced his mother, but she has raised him since he was fifteen years old. Their bond is beautiful. She knows him better than anyone and I’m honoured she’s welcomed me.
Nick kisses her when he opens a personalised carved wooden jewellery case, it’s circular, also initialled, and big enough to fit his watch and any other items of jewellery on his bedside table.
We’ll be exchanging our gifts to each other tomorrow but not to be outdone by my surprise gift last night, Nick hands me a little box that has another charm to fit the bracelet Adam and Jenna got me. It’s a small heart that has ‘second chances’ imprinted on it. Okay, now I do cry as I wrap my arms around him and he falls backwards, both of us crashing to the floor, making everyone laugh.
The place looks like a tornado tore through it by the time everyone is done unwrapping all the presents. Doris starts to flag around nine-ish. Stone offers to take her back home.
We all settle down into the available seats, Jordan and Alessa take the sleigh. I claim the corner of the sofa and Nick sits on the floor leaning back between my legs, his hand running up and down my calf as he listens to Archer telling everyone a story about his nephews in Disneyland.
Adam is at the record player choosing the next album. We switched from Christmas music about two hours ago, each of the boys taking a turn picking what goes on next. Jenna got first choice though, no surprises she chose Whitesnake. I watch them all laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Although the rock music is now flowing and there is plenty of alcohol being consumed, this isn’t your typical rockstar party. It’s a family gathering, and I love that I can call each and every person here a friend. Including the scary MMA fighter, who presently has his girl on his lap and is feeding her cake. I smile at them. I didn’t know Meg when her whole hellish nightmare unravelled, but I’ve come to know her well since, and she is a beautiful person who deserves everything Joey is lavishing on her.
I notice Jenna waving me over to the kitchen. I tap Nick’s arm to let me out. He shifts to let me go but tilts his head up, pulling me by my top so I have to duck down. He kisses me before letting me go.
Jenna almost combusts when I finally make my way over to her.
“You guys are so cute.”
I roll my eyes and take the offered glass of champagne, then she jumps up to sit on the counter, I lean my hips back against it right beside her. We look out at the assembled group.
“Did you ever imagine you would end up here, like this, loving these rockstars?” she asks.
“If you’d told me six months ago, I would be here, with him, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
“True love always wins.”
“For once, I’m going to choose to agree with you and your romantic musings.”
“It’s true,” she nudges my arm. “I know your heart was broken but I’m so glad you guys have a second chance. I thought you were perfect for each other back then too. He’s your penguin.”
I roll my neck to look at her. She’s grinning wide.
“I helped him with his charm,” she says, as if she’s been dying to tell me. “I wanted him to get a penguin, but he went with the engraved heart instead.”
“Thank you, it’s beautiful, all of it,” I lift my wrist and the charms jangle together. Nick added his to the bracelet for me.
“Everyone is so happy,” Jenna gushes. “I love it. It’s the best Christmas gift.”
“Not everyone,” I say nodding my head towards Brooke. She’s talking with Joey and Meg but has one eye on her phone. I wonder if she is waiting for or talking to Ciro. I’ve never met him so I can’t say anything about him. Brooke deserves a lot more than just being someone’s booty call. Sometimes, I see a longing in her eyes that she hates for anyone to actually notice, she’s always busy deflecting things like that, joking about not wanting to be tied down.
“Do you really think she is only interested in hooking up where and when she can?”
Jenna looks thoughtful for a moment. “I think she thinks she is happy with that.”
“What’s this Ciro guy like?” I ask, after making sure no one is within earshot. “Could that be more?”
“He’s really insular. One of those guys who stands in a room and everyone sees him, because he’s hard to miss, but no one wants to approach him. He has this whole, ‘look at me and I’ll back hand you across the face’ thing going on.”
“Wow, okay,” I take a sip of the champagne. “How’d he end up hooking up with Brooke?”
“Have you seen her,” she indicates her best friend, who is now, thankfully laughing at something Joey is saying, her phone isn’t in sight. “It’s a sex thing. I don’t think it will ever go anywhere,” Jenna sighs. “Even if she wanted it to.”
“You think she likes him?”
“No, she likes someone in work. I think it’s the Assistant District Attorney.”
