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“Ryan, you okay?” I ask, pushing away from the table to stand. I start a slow walk towards her, stopping when she snaps her eyes open, uttering afuckbefore closing the distance between us.
“Look up,” she whispers.
I tip my head back, glancing at the green and red hanging from the ceiling as I bark out a laugh. “Mistletoe.”
“Mistletoe,” she echoes quietly, pressing her hands to my shoulder. “Thisissomething, Chase.”
“About time you caught on, I’ve been trying to tell—”
“Stop talking.” She presses her lips to mine as her arms wrap around my neck.
Laughter and murmurs sound around us, but I ignore them all, banding my arm around her back as I cup her cheek with my free hand and tip her head back as she plays with the hair on the nape of my neck.
“You owe me fifty quid, Bailey,” Daisy shouts, cutting through the haze that’s fallen around us, and I pull away slowly, dropping a kiss to Ryan’s nose before stepping back. She doesn’t let me go far, curling her arm around my waist and tucking her head against my chest.
“That’s not fair. You can’t make me pay just because Ryan is a bad friend.”
“Wait…” Ryan blurts, guilt washing over her face as she stares at Bailey. “What the hell do you mean I’m a bad friend?”
“I bet Daisy you’d come and talk to mebeforegoing public with Chase, but no, little miss can’t-keep-her-lips-to-herself just had to snog him after Christmas Eve dinner. I thought we’d be waiting until at least New Year’s Eve before you caved and came to tell me you’re in love with my big brother.”
Ryan sputters, reeling back as her eyes widen. “Wh-I-uh … you knew?”
“Oh please. I saw you sneaking out of his room two weeks ago, and you were wearing his old Christmas jumper that day you were baking gingerbread. You’re hardly subtle, Ry.”
Daisy laughs. “Not to mention you two stomp around like a herd of elephants.”
“Didn’t you realise when I asked you about grandchildren, Ryan?” Dad interjects, smiling broadly when Ryan snaps her head in his direction. I bite back my laugh, running my thumb up and down her spine.
“I … wait,” Ryan says, her eyes darting slowly over each member of my family. “So what I’m getting is that apparently every single person in this room figured it out?”
“Will it make you feel better if we say we didn’t?” Kai asks, sidling up beside me to cup a hand over my shoulder. Ryan bobs her head, pouting slightly. “Okay, we didn’t figure it out. You’ve been the paragon of secrecy. What a surprise that you two are doing the whole couple thing. Wow, never would have guessed.”
“Laying it on a bit thick there, dude,” I deadpan, and his grin broadens.
“We figured you’d tell us when you were ready, Ry,” Bailey says finally, a soft smile on her lips as she stares at her best friend. “Though I’m pissed I’m down fifty quid because of it. Reckon you can convince your boyfriend to fork it over instead?”
Ryan snorts, her eyes glazing over as she looks at everyone in the room. “I’ll see what I can do, Bails.”
“Perfect. And don’t think we aren’t going to talk about this. I want details.”
“Really?” I ask, my brow furrowing. “I’m your brother.”
“Ew. Notthosekinds of details, you perv.”
“Okay,” Mum says, winking at Ryan as she tugs her away from me. “Time for girl talk. Tidy up, and it best be sparkling when I come back in here later.”
“You’ve got it, love,” Dad says, shooing the girls from the room before he turns to me. “Right. Grandchildren, Chase. I want more.”
I laugh, clapping my hand against his shoulder. “I’ll see what I can do, old man.”
“See that you do, son.” He turns to Eli and Kai, holding his hand out to the pair, who grumble under their breaths as they each hand him a twenty. I baulk, snapping my gaze between the three of them, though they only offer me broad grins and shrugs.
“Seriously, Dad? You bet on my relationship? I’m not surprised at these degenerates, but my own father?”
“Oh, your mother and I have been betting on you and Ryan for a long time.” He chuckles, turning away and starting to clear the table without elaborating.
I turn to Eli, raising my brow question but he just shrugs. “ You aren’t fucking subtle, bro. but I will say, if you want to marry her in March 2025, I won’t be mad about it.”
