Page 81 of Fake It For Him

“Uh uh.” I shook my head, grinning at him as I drew the covers up to my chest. “If we get into that shower together, we’re going to be late. Again. You grab a shower first and I’ll finish my coffee.”

He let out a long-suffering sigh, his dark hair all messy from having had my fingers in it all morning and his lips slightly swollen. He definitely wasn’t suffering.

I laughed and pointed at the bathroom. “Go, Reid. We can’t be late again.”

“Fine, but you’re making it up to me.” He playfully smacked my ass when I rolled to get my coffee.

Laughing some more, I winked at him. “You know I will, but not now.”

“Fair enough,” he agreed before he spun around and marched his naked ass into the bathroom, those muscles flexing and releasing as he walked and begging me to change my mind about joining him.

I didn’t give in, though. Instead, I finished my coffee and sent Merry Christmas texts to Kara, some of my other friends, and even Mikey. Like I did every year, I scrolled to my mother’s phone number, stared at it for a while, and then locked my screen, my heart aching over not being able to talk to her today.

Thankfully, Calan was coming out of the shower by then and I took my turn, washing and getting ready at double speed so that we were on time. At precisely eleven a.m., we walked into the main house to find Davina and Ross, Freya and Jim, and Finn and Norah around a grand tree in the sitting room.

The Reids definitely knew how to do Christmas. Although they’d decorated the grounds as far back as the engagement party, they’d added even more to the inside of the house now that the holiday had actually arrived.

Sprigs of holly were on every table, tinsel wrapped around the banisters, and freestanding Santas were on the mantel, the bar, and other surfaces. Mistletoe hung from the door arches and a variety of sparkling snowflake decorations hung in clusters from the ceilings.

I’d seen no fewer than four Christmas trees in their home, all decorated lavishly, but this one was obviously the main event. It stood at least fifteen feet tall and there wasn’t a branch that remained bare.

Underneath it was a mountain of gifts, but it would only be us here today. The other guests from last night had gone home, and by the looks of things, the Reids were about to spoil each other rotten. I’d helped Calan pick out some gifts for them all, but I wasn’t expecting to receive any.

He and I had already exchanged small gifts this morning. Although his to me hadn’t been as small as we’d agreed to. It was a bracelet with small, heart-shaped Swarovski crystals on it that matched the earrings Freya had gotten me.

Mine to him had been a cool nightstand organizer that doubled as a phone-docking station, had space for a wallet, watch, sunglasses, and a few other things. It was a novelty item, but I’d thought it was pretty cool—and very useful. It hadn’t been expensive, but he didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, he’d raved about it like it was the best gift he’d ever received.

I smiled, shaking myself out of my thoughts as Davina and Ross got up from the sofa they’d been sharing to greet us. They looked festive and gorgeous in matching but elegant Christmas-themed sweaters.

Davina smiled as she hugged us. “Merry Christmas, beautiful children. We’re so happy to have you all here.”

Ross shook hands with his son before offering me a gruff, quick hug. “Merry Christmas, Ella.”

“To you too.” I hugged him back, then exchanged hugs with everyone except for Norah.

She and I had never even spoken, so I didn’t hug her, but I did offer her a genuine smile. After we’d greeted each other, she smiled at me. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve been wondering when you and I would have the chance to get to know each other a little bit.”

“Same here,” I said honestly. “Want to have coffee later?”

“I’d love to.”

Finn hovered a few feet away from us, his expression uncertain, but he didn’t say anything, simply waiting for his girlfriend to return to him while Calan went to get us some more coffee.

I accepted my mug gratefully, taking a seat next to him on the rug in front of the fire. Freya and Jim were on the floor with us even though there was plenty of space left on the sofas. This felt cozier to me though, and they seemed to agree.

As we sipped our coffee, Davina stood up and walked over to the Christmas tree. “Everyone has had something to eat this morning, right? We’ll be having lunch soon, but there are also some cookies if you’d like them.”

She waved a hand absently toward the bar, but no one took her up on her offer. She smiled and her eyes filled with tears when she looked around the room. “All my little chickens back in the coop for Christmas. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. We’re also so blessed that you’ve all found such exceptional partners and that our family is growing.”

Ross got up and joined her, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her into his side to press a quick kiss to her temple. Then he flashed us a knowing grin. “Before Mom gets all emotional, let’s open some gifts.”

He released Davina and started reading names off the tags stuck to the gifts. He handed them out and insisted on hugs and pictures being taken with all his kids before he let go of the boxes. There was lots of laughter and jovial banter, and I was beyond flattered when Ross called out my name. “This is from Freya.”

I turned to her with big eyes. “What did you do? You’ve already given me a gift.”

She giggled. “Yes, but that wasn’t a Christmas present and this is. Besides, you and Calan got me something and I like shopping for the people I love, so obviously you were going to get something.”