AllFreeNovel
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Everly
Like air freshener to mask the scent of sex in the air? Or disinfectant for all the surfaces you should probably clean before you put any food out?
Kenzie
Why are we friends?
Gracie
Consider it our good deed. She’s mentally unstable. That makes our friendship kind of like charity.
Everly
Whatever. I’m just saying what you all were thinking.
Lindy
OMG. Bye. I’ll see you tonight.
* * *
“Baby. The ceilings in the condo are only ten feet tall. This tree is taller than that.” Easton pulls my white cashmere hat down over my ears and kisses me. “We need to look over there, where the smaller ones are.”
“But I got enough lights and decorations for a big tree.” I fake pout and bite down on my bottom lip until my husband groans. Yup. That always gets him going. His thumb replaces my teeth, and he gets all growly.
“Unless you want me to throw you over my shoulder and drag you home right now, you need to stop doing that.”
I circle my arms around his neck and press up on my toes. “You’re not exactly deterring me, Easton.”
“Aunt Lindy, Aunt Lindy,” my nephews Atlas and Asher call out to me as they run my way. The eight-year-old twins are followed more slowly by their older sister, Saylor, and teenage brother, Cohen, with my brother Jace and his wife, India, behind them.
I drop my arms and turn to hug the boys.
This is the longest I’ve gone without seeing my family. But between the drama still brewing and the intense media scrutiny we’ve been under, laying low has been easier than dealing with everything.
Saylor pushes the boys out of her way and wraps an arm around my waist. The little blonde pixie is the spitting image of her mother, down to her quiet demeanor. “Missed you,” she softly tells me, never wanting to bring any attention to herself. Which works for her because her brothers demand every second of it.
Cohen, who at fifteen is already as tall as his father, wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes. “You getting this tree, Aunt Lindy?”
“I don’t know...” I drag out as I look at my brother and his wife. “Easton says it’s too big.”
India shakes her head and kisses my cheek. “They always think it’s too big, but they always make it fit.”
Jace coughs, Easton chokes, and Cohen groans and walks away, declaring he’s getting hot cocoa.
“Hey, why don’t you guys go with your brother? We’ll meet you at the car in a few minutes,” India tells the kids, then watches them walk away before she smacks Jace. “You’re terrible. That is not what I meant. And now my son thinksit’stoo big.”
Jace grabs India’s ass. “Come on, pretty girl. You know it is.”
He doubles over when she throws an elbow at his kidneys.
“I’ll stop,” he groans out.
I enjoy the way Easton’s hand lands protectively on my hip as he pulls me into him. “Enjoying the day off, man?” E asks Jace.
“Yeah. Catching up on some family time. How about you guys?” He looks between us, and I’m pretty sure he’s not plotting Easton’s death, so that’s something.
Easton squeezes my hip, and I lean against him. Well, we’ve been to three different stores, getting holiday stuff, and now your sister wants a tree that won’t fit in the condo. So I’m not really sure how the rest of the day is gonna go.”
