Page 121 of When He Was Mine

“Then stop being an ass,” I replied, unable to resist a hint of teasing.

“I might be an ass, but I love you. Remember that when I stick my foot in my mouth,” Oliver said.

Before we could dwell on our conversation any further, we heard footsteps approaching. Matthew poked his head in the door, announcing that it was time for dinner.

“Time for dinner. What are you reliving your childhood?” Matthew teased, gesturing to the box I had next to me on the floor.

“A little,” I admitted with a smile.

“She was a creepy kid, Oliver. She liked to play with worms and spiders,” Matthew added, teasing me further.

“Shut up. I did not. I didn’t want to hurt them,” I protested, rolling my eyes.

“They were her friends. She used to keep the worms in a box with dirt in her room,” Matthew continued, his grin widening.

I grabbed a small pink rubber ball that had Hudson Brook Seniors written on it in black print and threw it at him. He ducked and I heard it bounce against the wall behind him. He chuckled as he walked way.

“My brother is an idiot. I was just fascinated with crawly things when I was a kid.”

“Are you still? Will I find you with a box of worms in our closet?” Oliver asked.

“No, of course not. The dirt would mess up my manicure.”

He gave a kiss to my temple. “Let’s head down for dinner. I’m starved.”

I fixed the items in the box and Oliver stood up to retrieve the ball from the hallway. After I put the box back into the closet, we went downstairs together.

Sadie and Finley managed to keep their secret until coffee and dessert were served. As Finley stood up to make a toast, he announced to everyone that Sadie was pregnant. Astonished looks were shared around the table, and those of us who were already in the know tried our best to feign surprise. Sadie’s parents didn’t appear thrilled, but they knew their daughter was an adult and ultimately couldn’t dictate her decisions.

Perhaps their concern stemmed from Mark and Kristen's situation. Mark and Kristen had tied the knot when Kristen was several months pregnant, much like my own parents.

Kristen, like my mother, was only twenty-one at the time, but my father, being older and well-established in his career, had provided a stable foundation. Sadie’s parents might have worried about Finley's fledgling company and the potential financial strain it could place on them.

Later in the evening, as I made my way to the bathroom, I overheard Sadie arguing with her mother in Anders’ study about her perceived poor decisions. My heart went out to my best friend, understanding the weight of familial expectations. While her mother was only expressing concern, she likely had no idea that Oliver's intervention had secured Finley's company with a fresh infusion of funds.

Returning to the living room, I found Oliver engaged in conversation with Mark while everyone else played with the dogs. I joined them, holding Trouble in my arms as he licked my hand affectionately. Gratitude swelled within me for Oliver's thoughtful gift of a puppy.

By the time we were ready to leave around 7 p.m., I was yawning, feeling the weight of the long day settling in. We still had presents to open, but exhaustion crept over me. Vlad arrived promptly to take us home, and thankfully, we had fewer items to transport back than we had brought. My mother had prepared an abundance of food, and we all departed with containers of leftovers.

As we were chauffeured home, I dozed against Oliver, feeling content and secure in his embrace. The effects of the hearty meal weighed heavily on everyone, inducing a sense of drowsiness. Despite feeling full long after dessert, Oliver pulled me onto his lap, peppering kisses along my neck as we headed home, cherishing the quiet intimacy of the moment.

“Still mad at me?” Oliver's voice broke through the quiet hum of the car.

“I’m over it. I don’t hold a grudge. You know that,” I replied, my tone softening.

“I offered Mark a job,” Oliver announced, his words sparking my full attention.

“You did?” I exclaimed, suddenly wide awake.

“He’s qualified, and we could use help with budgeting,” Oliver explained.

“Oliver, that’s the best Christmas gift you could ever give,” I said, feeling a swell of gratitude.

“Colson wasn’t paying him well. He’s worth twice what they gave him,” Oliver continued.

“Are you making up that difference?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“I told him we can negotiate, but what I offer will be market. He was intrigued when I mentioned performance bonuses. He could triple his Colson salary just based on those,” Oliver revealed.

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