Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Levi

I cracked my eyes open, immediately regretting the decision when sunlight assaulted my retinas. The bed felt massive and empty, though the tangled sheets told stories of a decidedly not-empty night. I stretched, groaning as various muscles protested the movement.

Santa had definitely put me on the naughty list after last night. To be fair, I’m pretty sure we all made that list. Multiple times. In various configurations.

I grinned at the ceiling, remembering Emery’s creative use of a candy cane. That woman was going to be the death of me, and what a way to go.

Rolling out of bed, I grabbed my flannel pajama pants off the floor and pulled them on. Something sparkly caught my eye and yup, that was definitely glitter in places glitter had no business being. Damn Emery and her craft supplies. Though the ornament making had been worth it, even if I was probably going to be finding evidence of it until next Christmas.

The house was quiet as I padded down the hallway, but not the tense silence I remembered from childhood Christmases. No sounds of my mother’s passive-aggressive comments about my father’s infidelities, or my father’s increasingly desperate attempts to maintain holiday cheer while they sniped at each other.

Instead, soft laughter drifted from the kitchen, along with the smell of coffee and something sweet. I paused in the doorway, taking in the scene before me.

Emery was wearing one of Max’s t-shirts that hung to mid-thigh, her hair a mess as she measured something into a bowl. Max stood behind her, chin resting on her head as he helped, which mostly seemed to involve running his hands along her sides. Ronan was making coffee while sneaking glances at the other two with a soft expression I never thought I’d see on his face.

“If you’re trying to be subtle about feeling her up, you’re failing spectacularly,” I announced, making Emery jump and splash vanilla extract everywhere.

“Like you’re one to talk about subtlety.” Max didn’t move his hands from Emery’s waist. “I seem to recall someone trying to convince us all that body shots were a traditional Christmas Eve activity.”

“Hey, that almost worked!” I crossed to the island, stretching as I went.

“Only because Emery was already three glasses of wine in.” Ronan turned to hand me a mug of coffee.

“I maintain it was a brilliant idea.” I took a grateful sip. “Though maybe next time we skip the actual shot glasses and just-”

“Do not finish that sentence.” Emery pointed her whisk covered in icing at me threateningly. “There are cinnamon rolls that need to go in the oven, and if you get everyone distracted, they’ll burn.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we burned something.” I waggled my eyebrows at her.

She laughed. “Behave or you don’t get any rolls.”

“That’s not what you said last night.” Three groans met my terrible pun, but I caught Emery biting her lip to hold back a smile as she slid the pan into the oven.

“Twenty minutes until the rolls are ready,” Emery announced, setting a timer.

“Perfect amount of time to open your gift!” I rubbed my hands together excitedly.

“We agreed no gifts.” Emery looked over at the tree.

I snorted. “Like I listen.” I went over to the tree and pulled out a bag I’d stashed behind it the night before when no one was paying attention.

“You didn’t...” Emery started, but then Max walked over and pulled out a similar bag from behind a chair.

Ronan sighed heavily, but reached into a drawer and produced an envelope. “We’re all terrible at following rules, apparently.”

I watched as Emery’s eyes filled with tears, her bottom lip trembling. “But I didn’t... I couldn’t afford...” She wrapped her arms around herself, looking impossibly small in Max’s oversized shirt.

“Hey, none of that.” I crossed to the kitchen in three strides, pulling her into my arms. “You’ve given us more than you realize, Christmas Spirit.”

“He’s right.” Max ran his hand down her back. “You turned this house into a home.”

Ronan set his gift on the counter and joined our little huddle. “Before you, we were just three guys sharing space. Now we’re...”

“A family.” I pressed a kiss to the top of Emery’s head. “Though a very non-traditional, definitely not family-friendly kind of family.”

That got a watery laugh out of her. “Still...”

“Still nothing.” I cupped her cheek. “It’s just something small. If you want, you can gift me a blow job later.”

She pushed me away and rolled her eyes. “I’ll just have to make up for the illegal gift giving on Valentine’s Day.”

Ronan groaned. “Oh, God, what have we signed up for?”

She playfully swatted his ass before following Max to the living room.

We settled onto the sectional, Emery tucked between Max and Ronan while I claimed the floor in front of her.

“Me first!” I thrust my bag at her before anyone could object.

She reached in, pulling out a soft bundle wrapped in tissue paper. As she unfolded it, her eyes went wide. “Levi… this is beautiful.”

It was a hand crocheted blanket with snowflakes that I’d picked up from the holiday market. I’d seen it and immediately thought of her. I would have loved to give her some extravagant gift, but also didn’t want her to freak out. Besides, Valentine’s Day was right around the corner. I’d spoil her rotten then.

Max cleared his throat, holding out his own gift. She opened it and inside was a leather-bound notebook with her name embossed in gold on the cover.

“It’s perfect.” She opened it carefully, revealing cream-colored pages with subtle lines.

“You can write down all the ways you plan on torturing us for the different holidays.” Max grinned and then ducked as she lobbed the empty bag at him.

“Your turn.” I nudged Ronan, who was watching with suspiciously bright eyes.

He handed over an envelope, and she pulled out what looked like legal documents, scanning them with confusion before she gasped. “Is this...?”

“The title to your car.” Of course he had to outdo us and hunt down her ex. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

“I don’t deserve this.” She looked between the three of us, clutching the gifts to her chest. “I don’t know what to say.”

Max pulled her into his lap. “You don’t have to say anything.”

“And you deserve everything.” I got to my knees and wiped a tear from her cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Emery,” Ronan finished simply.

She nodded, unable to speak through her tears, and we enveloped her in a group hug that probably looked ridiculous but felt exactly right.

The oven timer chose that moment to go off, making us all jump.

“I’ll get them!” Emery tried to stand, but we kept her trapped between us.

“They can wait.” Max nuzzled her neck.

“But they’ll burn.” She groaned as I slid a hand between her legs.

“Let them.” Ronan’s voice was rough. “We’ve got more important things to focus on.”

Emery laughed through her tears, finally relaxing into our embrace. “Merry Christmas, you impossible men.”

Looking at them all, I realized this was nothing like past Christmases. This was better. This was home.

And the cinnamon rolls were definitely going to burn.