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“I’d rather have breakfast in bed with you, but my mom’s making a big breakfast spread. We should probably get over there.”
“Sure, I’ll get ready. I don’t want to leave Claire here alone, though. She came here because she didn’t want me to be alone.”
“She’s coming with us. It’ll be our gift to Owen.”
She laughs. “I’ll tell her to keep her claws retracted.”
“I guess for my parents’ sake that would be good. I thought my mom might have a stroke when Owen dumped that plate in Aunt Mildred’s lap.”
When we get downstairs, Claire is sitting at the kitchen table scrolling her phone while drinking coffee. She was already in bed when we got home last night.
“Merry Christmas,” she says, giving Stella a pointed look. “Did you allow a porno to be filmed in your bedroom last night, or did you guys just have a really good time?”
Stella’s cheeks turn pink. “Sorry, was I loud?”
“No need to apologize. I’m glad one of us got our stocking stuffed. Morning, Ben.”
I pour a mug of coffee and pass it to Stella, then pour one for myself.
“Morning. And Merry Christmas. You’re coming to my parents’ house with us. Hope you’re hungry.”
“So...” Stella sets her mug down on the kitchen table and holds her hand out for Claire. “We’re engaged.”
Claire screams and jumps out of her chair, as excited as if she just won the lottery. She runs to Stella and embraces her, jumping up and down.
“Oh my god! You’re marrying the clit whisperer! I’m so happy for you!”
Stella cringes and laughs at the same time. “He doesn’t know I call him that.”
“I’m the clit whisperer?” I sip my coffee and lean back against the kitchen counter, amused.
“She said you do magical things with your tongue and fingers.”
Stella said that? It might be the nicest compliment anyone’s ever given me.
“You’re moving!” Claire stands back and puts her hand on Stella’s shoulders. “I love Denver!”
Stella’s eyes meet mine. “We’re still working out things like that.”
“Well, of course you’ll move there, he has to live there. We can do girls’ weekends in Breckenridge.” She comes over to me and I set my coffee down just in time before she hugs me. “I’m so fucking happy for you guys. This is amazing.” Her expression turns serious. “Wait—does Owen know? Please can I be the one to tell him? Please?”
“He knows,” Stella says. “I’ll tell you everything later. For now you need to get dressed so we can get over to Ben’s parents’ house. And don’t say anything about Owen’s black eye and fat lip, okay?”
Claire bites her fist dramatically, her eyes wide with happiness. “Best. Christmas. Ever! Seriously, like tied with the birth of our Lord and savior. I’m so sneaking pictures of him today that I can look at to cheer me up when I’m down.”
When she leaves the room, Stella meets my gaze and we both laugh.
“Are you ready for this?” she asks lightly. “She and I are a package deal.”
I walk over and wrap my arms around her waist, kissing her. “More than ready. Never a dull moment with that one around.”
I’ve never felt like I needed to bring a referee to Christmas at my parents’ house, but today...I think we could use a couple of them.
“Really?” Owen demands when he sees Claire.
She takes one look at his face and bursts out laughing. Stella gives her a stern look and she turns serious, clearing her throat.
“Sorry, it was...I thought of something funny I heard.”
“Come in everyone, let me take your coats,” Alice says. “Merry Christmas.”
She beams at Stella and hugs her. “Merry Christmas, future daughter-in-law.”
“Merry Christmas, Alice.”
Mom made a breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy and homemade cinnamon rolls. Her Christmas morning meals are always epic. There are even more family members here than last night, and it takes a while for Stella, Clair and I to get plates made and sit down in the dining room.
Owen’s sitting at the end of the table alone, Cara conspicuously absent. His face looks like shit and I don’t feel even a little bit bad about it.
“How’s the eye?” I ask, my tone cheerful.
“Feels amazing. Looking forward to explaining this to my co-workers. I’m guess I’ll tell them I got mugged.”
“Well, lying is your superpower,” Claire quips.
“Obnoxiousness is yours.”
Claire rests her chin on her fist, her middle finger up and angled toward Owen. Stella gives me an apologetic look and I wink at her.
Owen made his bed. I don’t feel sorry for him.
After everyone’s done eating, Mom calls us all into the living room, which is crammed with extra chairs and stacked with presents. I added a few beneath the tree when we arrived. Stella, Claire and I sit down on the couch, Mom passing out gifts.
I texted her as soon as I knew we were bringing Claire, because my mom gives gifts to everyone who comes over on Christmas. She keeps a stash of extra gifts on hand. Claire is genuinely shocked when my mom passes her two gifts with her name on the tags. There are also two for Stella.
