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"Finally," Teagan muttered. She snatched a dining room chair and stood on it, but she wasn't tall enough, so she stood on her tiptoes.
"Darlin', I know you are not standing on a chair on your tiptoes in the middle of a doorway while your Daddy is right here." Luca handed his chuckling friend his beer. "Get down from there, now." He disappeared from the room and came back with a stepladder and a hammer.
"Now, everything is just perfect," Ro said.
Evie came a few minutes later and then Jason. Over good food, the friends discussed how quickly the past few months had gone, and yet the women, who had known each other for such a short time, had grown close as if they had known each other for years.
After they had eaten, they started the move to the living room.
After crossing into the room, Ro turned. "Ahem." She cleared her throat. She turned and pointed at the doorway. Jason was halfway through the door as Evie had just entered it.
"What?" Jason said, freezing.
"Mistletoe!" Ro bounced on her calves.
"You did that on purpose," Teagan whispered, elbowing Ro in the ribcage.
"Maybe," Ro whispered back.
"Brat," Teagan teased. Ro just shrugged.
"Kiss her, Jason. You have to; it's tradition after all," Ro said.
"Evelyn, would it be okay if I kissed you?" Jason asked politely.
"I-I…" Evie stuttered. She took a second, and then she nodded. Jason leaned in, tipped her chin up and put a chaste kiss on her lips.
"Yay!" Ro cheered.
"Okay, can we open gifts now?" Evie said. The women had decided to exchange gifts today as Evie wouldn't be able to get away tomorrow.
Trident came bounding into the room wagging his tail. Looking around, he decided to curl up next to Evie on the floor, laying his giant head in her lap. Tea and Ro sat on either side of her.
"Tell me again why you guys don't give each other gifts?" Evie asked the three men sitting around the room.
"We do, kind of," Octavius said.
"Kind of?" Teagan asked.
"We give everyone a sizeable Christmas bonus," Luca said.
"But, you are all co-owners?" Teagan asked.
"They are. But, everyone, including them, gets an extra check in December," Ro explained.
"But you can't unwrap a check!" Evie protested.
"Now you sound like Ro," Octavius chuckled.
"We get plenty of other gifts. My parents and siblings send them, and this year, Teagan said she spoiled me," Luca reassured her.
"I did and Trident, too!" Teagan confirmed.
"My mom still acts like I'm five. I will have a dozen presents under the tree tomorrow. I am an only child, and until I give the woman grandchildren…" Jason muttered.
"Hopefully, some clothes are in those boxes," Evie said grumpily.
"Really, Evie? What is it with you and his clothes? It's not like he only wears one dreary color all the time," Ro said sarcastically, adding to the ribbing of Jason who looked down at his mustard yellow sweater.
