AllFreeNovel
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“Up to the ceiling?”
“Higher!”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
We drive to the Christmas tree farm and park up, quickly realising that we are not at all dressed right for this place. Everyone else is in wellies and country looking clothes which seem dead casual but probably cost more than a small car. I’m in jeans, trainers and a T-shirt. I forgot my jacket. The other guys park up and climb out, dressed similarly to me, except Baxter of course. Raven smirks at me as she gets her bag out of the boot and pulls out wellies for her and Nix.
“You could have told us,” I moan.
“Where’s the fun in that?” She laughs. “I happen to like it when you get a little dirty. It’s good for the soul.”
I know she’s teasing but it still makes my dick twitch. I’d happily get dirty with her.
“Let’s do this,” Jax says, stepping forward and taking charge. The rest of us fall into line but I swipe Nix up and plonk her on my shoulders. She squeals in delight and pulls on my ears to ‘steer’ me. I pretend I don’t know my left and right and cause chaos deliberately going the wrong way and crashing into things. The others grumble at me and we get a few raised brows from members of the public but Phoenix is so happy that I don’t care. Only downside is that because I’m holding on to Nix, I can’t hold Raven’s hand and Ace slides in, tucking her arm into his like a proper gentleman out of a romance novel or some shit.
Together we trudge along the rows and rows of trees looking for the perfect one. They all look the same to me but apparently there’s a breed or type or variety or some shit that Jax just has to have. I have to admit, it does smell pretty nice though and it does make me feel festive.
The further we traipse, the muddier it gets. My trainers are ruined. And as they’re a lightweight mesh probably more suited to summer, I’m guessing my socks are trash too. At least six inches of mud cakes the bottom of my jeans, but when Nix spies a muddy puddle and begs me to jump in it, I can’t say no.
I end up splashing Thorn who kicks mud right back at me and if it weren’t for Nix on my shoulders, I’m pretty sure we would have started wrestling in it.
Jax tells us off and we sulk like schoolboys, making Nix giggle even more. Raven just shakes her head at us but I can tell she loves seeing Nix happy. I seem to live for putting smiles on their faces now.
“Mate, will you take Nix for a bit? There’s something I need to do.”
“Sure,” Thorn says, helping me to lift her down from my shoulders and onto his. When we’re done I roll my head and shake out my arms before taking out my phone and doing a quick google search. If we’re going to be a family of seven, we damn well need to be able to go places as a family of seven. In one vehicle. I keep my fingers crossed that I’m not going to have to end up driving some sort of soccer mom minivan and punch the air when I see that Mercedes do a very nice seven-seater GLS. I click on to the website, scroll straight to the top of the range model, digitally configure it with all the bells and whistles on it and hit order.
I mean, I know it’s not that simple, but someone is going to call me to check if I really am dropping over 100k on a car, and when they do, I can pay extra for rush delivery. I want it here in time for Christmas. It’s my gift to the family. I make sure the volume is on loud, waiting for the call to come through, and stow it in my pocket for the time being.
“That one!” Nix shouts, and I quickly catch up to them. They’re standing staring at another damn green tree and I’m cold.
“Wow Nix, great choice! It’s perfect!” I beam at her. Who would have thought choosing a tree would be so...boring? Trust Jax to suck the joy out of everything with his planning.
“Really? I’m not so sure…” Thorn frowns.
“Yes,” I say emphatically. “That’s the one.”
“Okay.”
“Great.” I clap my hands together. “So now we can go and—”
“Choose the other tree!”
Ah fuck. I did promise her two, didn’t I?
“This tree is perfect for the lounge. Why don’t I take it back and start strapping it to the roof with…”
“Me,” Baxter chimes in.
“With Baxter, while you and the others go and choose a tree for…”
“Your bedroom,” Baxter supplies.
“Yeah. Your bedroom.”
“Really? Mummy can I really have a real tree in my bedroom? With lights on?”
“Yes baby, but we need to look at trees that are a little bit smaller because the ceiling isn’t as high in your room as it is downstairs.”
