page97 (2/2)

“Whatever,” Dad grumbled, but then Emerson threw herself at hi but catch her and love on her “What’s inally happier all of a sudden “Did Santa come yet?”

“Papa said Santa only co But how can I sleep with everyone lared around at everyone in the living room as alked in “They need to use their inside voices”

With Re for Aunt E was already set when I’d texted her earlier, but I kneas anyone’s guess how this would turn out I’d planned out hoould handle everything in my head, but I wasn’t overly confident I could pull it off

Two steps into the living roo across the roonant with twins I didn’t kno she could walk around so easily with soher off-balance, when I had become so damn clumsy with just the little bump I had

She looked beautiful with her hair pulled up in a si Lyric stood beside her, his eyes eating up the sight of his wife He looked so happy, I couldn’t help s the life he wasfamily

But ht back to Luca, unable to keep thereen button-doith the sleeves rolled up to show his massive forear and a drink in his hand, he looked like he was at ease in the rooht tension in his shoulders, the set of his jaw that not even the s to him could fully hide

Aunt Emmie said he knew the plan and was on board with it, but I was scared he would cause a huge scene once he realized I was pregnant

As if he could feel aze I watched as he stiffened, then slowly smiled His eyes warmed and then started to run over me But when they landed on my waist, his entire body turned to stone and he took a step back, as if I’d physically pushed him

Quickly, he righted himself and started toward me With each step he took, I could hear the conversations around us pausing until the entire room was so quiet, all I could hear was the faint holiday round

I tightened ton’s, and I felt his thue frohter smile ontoo S, but the color of his eyes toldto disappoint me

He stopped only feet froton hesitated for just aLuca’s hand As I looked froe pass between the two of them, but I didn’t understand it and didn’t want to ask about it when I could feelwith Uncle Jesse’s and Aunt Layla’s

We needed to show them that we could be adults Which was exactly how they should have been acting too Not fighting Not holding grudges They needed to let the past go, because we had

And even if that

For me

“I see you have ratulated for” Luca dropped his hand as soon as he could and then reached for me