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Chapter 18
There was a beautiful, fresh dusting of snow, not too cold, the night before Christmas Eve. Teagan was always confused on how each day seemed to take forever to come to an end, especially Mondays. Weekdays dragged by to get to the weekend, and yet the end of the year just appeared. The days are long, but the years are short, she muttered under her breath as she wrapped the six-pack of beer soap for the white elephant exchange. She had thought long and hard about what to bring.
Traditionally, a white elephant exchange was about the most nonsensical, crazy, useless gift you could buy, or re-gifting something you had around the house. One year, she had attended one at a middle school youth group Christmas party where she had been a guest. She didn't have anything to bring, so as a last resort, she'd snagged a roll of toilet paper on the way out of the house. It was a big hit among the other preteens.
Teagan had thought about the people who were going to be present. All three of the men were spankos, and while she wasn't sure about Jason, she knew that both Luca and Octavius had used soap to wash mouths out from time to time. Handmade soap made with craft beer seemed like the absolute perfect gift for this crew. She couldn't wait to see their faces. She didn't have a lot of practice buying, wrapping or receiving gifts. She had, like Thanksgiving, never been on the receiving end of much and never really had anyone to give to, either.
This year was different. This year was special. She had someone special to give gifts to. Several someones. "Are you ready to go, darlin'?" Scissors went flying through the air as Teagan jumped from the floor to a defense position.
"Jesus, Daddy!" She had given him a key a few days before, and she knew he was picking her up. They were going to ride together to Ro's, and then she was going to stay at his place for the weekend.
"I called out to you a few minutes ago," he said, bending to pick up the scissors. "Good thing these didn't stab my eyes out."
"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I was lost in thought."
"I'd guess so. Want to tell me about it?"
"I don't think there is a lot to tell. I was just thinking how I haven't had a lot of time to shop before, and I hope everyone likes their gifts."
"I am sure they will love them. Are you ready?"
"Yes! Let's go. Ro has promised hot apple cider and sugar cookies. Oh, and she said her mom isn't going to take no for an answer for Christmas dinner," Teagan said as Luca held her coat open for her.
"Her mom doesn't take no for an answer for anything," Luca replied.
"As soon as Ro told her your parents were on a cruise and your sister couldn't travel because of her impending due date, she all but demanded we come. But, we can still do Christmas morning together," Teagan explained, getting into the car.
"Good. I have a couple surprises up my sleeve."
"What surprises?" Teagan asked suspiciously.
"They wouldn't be surprises if I told you ahead of time, now would they, darlin'?" Luca teased.
"Ugh. I don't like surprises."
"You will learn to like them."
"You can't order me to like surprises, Daddy."
"No? Watch me."
"It doesn't work that way." Teagan giggled at Luca's raised eyebrow and quirked lip, sure signs of his teasing. When they pulled up in front of Ro's, Teagan was dismayed to see that they were the last ones there. "Are we late?"
"No, we are ten minutes early," Luca said, looking at the clock.
"Dammit. How come we are last? Why isn't Evie last? She's always last."
"Darlin'." The warning word was for her language. She recognized it instantly.
"Oops."
"Don't oops again. The next time, we will have a trip to Ro's bathroom, and God only knows what kind of hippy soap she has in there." Teagan's boisterous laughter had more to do with her white elephant gift than his statement, but Luca was clueless and grinned back at her. Hand in hand, they walked into the house.
The awkward tension from the week before was gone. There was a relaxed, festive joy in the air, mixed with cinnamon and the sweet aroma of fresh, hot, baked sugar cookies coming from the oven.
"Tea is here!" Ro's voice announced their arrival to Jason, Evie and Octavius.
"What am I, chopped liver?" Luca replied, sweeping Ro up into a bear hug.
